Srinagar, Sept. 7 -- Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Saturday strongly condemned what he called the "vandalism at Hazratbal Dargah, where a few devotees defaced the emblem installed on an inauguration stone."

Terming the act as "highly unfortunate and disgraceful," Sharma said the "attack was not just vandalism but a direct assault on the dignity of the National Emblem and, by extension, on the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the nation".

"The National Emblem is the very symbol of India's identity and existence. Any attempt to insult it is vile, cowardly, and deeply hurtful to every Indian," he stated in a statement issued here today.

Targeting National Conference and accusing one of its MLAs of trying to shield the culprits ...