CM expresses grief over Iraq shrine, appeals for peace, harmony

Jammu, Feb 23 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief and sorrow over the unfortunate incident that took place at the thousand-year-old holy shrine of Hazrat Imam Al-Askari in Iraq yesterday and asked people to maintain peace and harmony and not fall into the trap of vested interests.

While expressing shock over the incident, the Chief Minister appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

''Though these incidents are a matter of grief and concern to all those who have faith in Islam, one should not take any step which gives the vested interests an opportunity to exploit the situation,'' Mr Azad added.

Reminding the people of the supreme sacrifice made by Hazrat Imam Hussain--the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)--in Muharram, he said Hussain stood against oppression and unlawfulness but even his enemies reconciled to his codified law in which compassion, peace and reconciliation were on the top agenda.

Appealing all the communities to maintain the centuries-old harmony and amity, the Chief Minister said a peaceful reaction to the desecration attempts against religious institutions would be a befitting reply to the perpetrators of such heinous acts.

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