In an online meeting held on Sunday, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, reportedly instructed khateebs to deliver uniform sermons across all mosques under the board’s purview. He insisted no written order had been issued, stating the board had never formalised such a directive. The meeting, which was streamed to a limited audience of imams, was meant to discuss community issues but ended with a directive to standardise preaching.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed the move as an unacceptable interference in Muslim religious matters, calling it a direct attempt by the BJP to meddle in faith. "This is a direct attempt by the BJP to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims and is completely unacceptable," he said in a televised statement. The PDP, Peoples Conference and Awami Ittehad Party echoed the criticism, labeling the directive an assault on religious freedom.
Imams voiced strong resentment. Tariq Hussain Qari, head of the All Imams Association, said participants were denied a chance to raise concerns, while Mohammad Akram warned that "this diktat is not acceptable." Former board member Suhel Kazmi added that political parties should not control religious bodies.
Andrabi defended the board’s stance, explaining that the suggested uniformity aimed to address social issues such as drug abuse and youth problems in sermons. "We are willing to discuss these concerns collectively, but scholars will decide what to preach," he said. He reiterated that there was no written order and that the initiative was meant for communal welfare.
The backlash has amplified fears of political encroachment on religious institutions ahead of the upcoming state elections. The chief minister’s demand for a withdrawal of the directive signals a potential standoff, with the board likely to issue a clarifying statement before the next legislative session.