Shia leaders split over J&K’s Muharram call

The Jammu and The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to allow a procession on Muharram in the Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk, almost after 30 years, has triggered a contentious reaction from leaders within the Shia community.

People’s Conference leader Imran Reza Ansari has welcomed the government’s decision and urged other Shia leaders to join the procession. Meanwhile, another popular Shia leader, associated with the National Conference, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, has raised a question mark on administration’s selective allowance of this procession, even when gatherings on both the Eid and Amarnath Yatra was cancelled. Ansari, who also heads the Shia Association, has decided to lead the procession on 10th of Muharram also known as ‘Ashura’.