Srinagar, Oct 13: J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday clarified that no direction has been issued by the Board regarding uniform Friday sermons and said Imams and Khateebs themselves will decide the topics.
Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement calling it BJP interference, Andrabi, as per GNS said those making statements should first watch the press briefing given on Saturday.
“J&K Waqf Board is a religious board. Masjids, Dargahs come under it and scholars and teachers come under it. If we don’t talk about problems in our society, who will? The aim of Deen is to remove social evils from society,” she said.
She said thousands of scholars are associated with the Board and no decision is taken by the Chairperson alone.
“Here doctor does not take decision, here scholars, our teachers take decisions. Whatever is a religious matter… The board had said that whatever Dargahs and Masjids come under the Waqf Board, they will talk on one topic so that it has impact on society. If youth is distressed, doing suicide, drug problem is there, every Imam is talking different thing. Scholars thought if in ten Masjids we talk on one particular problem, its impact will be felt on society and youth,” she said.
She said there is no role of government machinery in it.
“There is no hand of any government machinery in it, nor will it decide. Rather the Imams and Khateebs themselves will decide what their role will be. Time changes, role also changes and they want social reform through Deen,” she said.
She said Dr Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also spoken on same lines in his Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid, which she welcomed.
Taking a dig at political leaders without naming, Andrabi said whenever Waqf Board tries to do good work, politicians pick half-truth and create controversy.
“There are many ways to create controversy. Showing right path to youth is necessary which our Ulema do. No political leader can do it because political leaders don’t have that much religious knowledge. Our Ulema of J&K have great knowledge and those associated with us are known at international level,” she said.
On allegations of BJP-RSS agenda, she said, “Where is politics here? This is work of Ulema, how they will teach, what they will teach and how society will improve. If politicians want that youth should not be told about drugs, then fine, don’t tell.”
“Which decision? I am laughing. Which decision has been issued? Can Ulema not talk about their own things? Will our politicians now not even allow them to talk? They are independent, they are enriched with Deen. What direction has been issued? No direction has been issued,” Andrabi said.
She added, “First step is that if today we have to talk against drugs in Poonch, they will talk. It’s their wish. If politicians want not to talk on social evils, on daughters whose marriages are not happening, on cutting of Waqf, then don’t talk. There is no directive from here. Leave Ulema independent. Don’t do politics on Waqf Board. Waqf Board has done work which opens eyes. Stop doing politics in religious matters. You are failing in your own works, to divert that you are doing politics on Dargah issue. Today there is no Dargah issue. Our politicians have always done politics on Waqf Board because their donations have stopped.”
She said the Board will continue to work for Deen as long as she is on the chair.
