Patna, Sept. 7 -- Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh on Sunday criticised the vandalism of the Ashoka Stambh at the Hazratbal shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, and said it is a national symbol of our country, and anyone responsible for damaging it should be punished.

Speaking to the reporters, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh said, "The Ashoka Stambh is the national symbol of our country. If anyone damages it, they should be punished."

A controversy erupted at the revered Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar when a mob vandalised the Ashoka Emblem on the foundation stone, sparking a heated debate about national symbols and religious sentiments.

The Hazratbal Shrine is a revered religious site in Srinagar, housing the holy relic of the Prophet Moha...