The Hurriyat Conference has condemned the “takeover” of the Eid Gah Srinagar by LG Manoj Sinha led administration.
In a statement, Hurriyat said, Eidgah in Srinagar Kashmir was purchased by Mir Mohammad Hamdani in the 15th century. He gave it to the public for offering the congregational Eid prayers. Many eminent scholars and saints have delivered their sermons here such as Sheikh ul Aalam and Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom.
Hurriyat said, Apart from being a historic public space for congregational prayers, it also serves as a playground for the community esp, Shahr-e-Khaas which has a severe dearth of public parks. In fact, Kashmir’s first cricket and football games were played here.
“Eidgah also houses the Martyrs Graveyard which has over 1000 people who were slain in the last 33 years. But now the administration in Kashmir wants to take over the sacred space of Eidgah claiming that it would build a ‘hospital’ despite the availability of space elsewhere,” read Hurriyat’s statement.
For Kashmiris, this space is holy and part of their historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. The space should be preserved and any move to strike at the heart of Kashmir’s spirit must be abandoned, the statement read.