Srinagar , Sept 14 (KNS) : Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) General Secretary and President of the All J&K Shia Association, Molvi Imran Ansari, has responded to J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi’s comments on Tehri/Niyaz and pigeon feeding at shrines across Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Ansari said that if cleanliness is the concern, the focus should be on addressing cleanliness rather than targeting centuries-old religious traditions.

He said that feeding people, distributing Niyaz and offering food as Sadaqah are deeply rooted in Muslim religious and cultural traditions. Referring to the Qur’an, he said, “And they give food, in spite of love for it, to the needy, the orphan and the captive.” He added that feeding people and sharing food in the name of Allah has always been an important part of Muslim life, including at Ziyarat and shrines.

Ansari further pointed out that pigeons and other birds are fed around the holy sites of Makkah and Madinah and at several other sacred places. “The answer to cleanliness cannot simply be to stop people from feeding birds or distributing food. The answer is proper management,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He cited the example of the Haram of the Kaaba, where despite millions of visitors and continuous movement of people, dedicated sanitation workers regularly clean the premises and waste is removed continuously. He said a similar approach should be adopted at shrines in J&K, including designated feeding points, proper Niyaz distribution areas, adequate bins and timely waste disposal.

Ansari also questioned whether the existing sanitation arrangements at shrines are adequate, asking the authorities to clarify how frequently these sites are cleaned, how many sanitation workers are deployed and whether the present system is sufficient to maintain hygiene.

“There should be no compromise on cleanliness at our sacred places. But cleanliness and religious tradition are not contradictory,” Ansari said, adding that with proper planning, organised distribution and regular sanitation, both can coexist.

He urged the authorities to regulate where necessary, improve sanitation where required and educate devotees, rather than treating centuries-old religious practices as the solution to what he termed a management problem.(KNS)