Despite repeated requests, the authority that looks after and maintains the Iqbal park has not removed a three dimensional figure of Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal.
The figure, according to admirers of Iqbal is an insult to the great poet who had his roots in Kashmir.
The issue first came up for discussion during Yusuf Khan’s tenure who installed the figure after inaugurating the park. However, the newspapers refused to carry the concern of the Iqbal lovers because they wanted to keep Yusuf Khan in good humour.
The matter was again raised during a `meet the press’ session at Srinagar Hotel in 2012. The then chairman could not keep his promise of removing the statue for reasons best known to him. The statue remains there to this day to reflect the authority’s lack of understanding of Iqbal, who must be taking painful turns in his grave for having a statue of his at a public place in Srinagar.
The statue in Iqbal Park is alien to the very philosophy of Iqbal and needs to be removed now even if some retired person raises his brows.
Iqbal lovers have urged the authorities to run a programme on Iqbal in the park on a daily basis. “This will be the greatest tribute to the great communicator,” they said.