The Jammu and Kashmir administration declared on Monday, in an official order, that the picture of National Conference founder and former chief minister of Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah will no longer be carried on the Jammu & Kashmir Police medals for bravery and distinguished service. Sheikh Abdullah’s image on the medals will now be replaced with the National Emblem.

"In modification to the para 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal Scheme, the Sher-i-Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah embossed on side of the medal shall be replaced with 'The National Emblem of the Government of India' and the other side inscribed with the J&K state emblem shall be inscribed as 'Jammu and Kashmir police Medal for Gallantry' and Jammu and Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service'", stated Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal said in the order.

The police medals were instituted in 2001 and are given on New Year, Republic Day and Independence Day in two categories -- gallantry and meritorious.

Sher-i-Kashmir' was a reference to National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

After the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of J&K State by centre on August 5, 2019, J&K government has scrapped the state holiday commemorating the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah also known as 'Sher-i-Kashmir.'

NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar termed replacing Sheikh Abdullah's image from police medals as an attempt to “erase our history and identity”.

"With due respect to the National Emblem, these attempts to erase our history, identity and icon show the nefariousness of the incumbents. People of J&K have struggled on many fronts to be where they are now. They fought oppression. No one can change that. Not by replacing/changing names,” Imran tweeted.

Another NC leader Tanvir Sadiq tweeted, “As John F Kennedy said, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death. Sher-e-Kashmir is not just a prefix that you can erase. Sher-e-Kashmir was, is and will always be the only Sher-e-Kashmir.”

Image source: Twitter