Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: A meeting of Executive Committee of Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust was held under the chairmanship of R. L. Pandita to take stock of the prevailing situation of temples and shrines in Kashmir.
The members expressed dismay over continuous silence and inaction of the UT Government in respect of the long pending demand of Kashmiri Pandit community in making a legislative for protection centuries old temples, shrines and other symbols of faith of Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley.
While various pieces of legislation, framing new laws , making amendments to existing laws under the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 are all being done in the UT , there is absolutely no headway , towards fulfilling this sensitive and critical demand of the hounded out community, they said.
Speakers expressed anguish and indignation over treating almost all issues of the exiled community with gross indifference and just adopting attitude of avoiding , deferring , ignoring and even indirectly rejecting instead of favourably considering such genuine demands.
Speaking at the occasion, Shadi Lal Pandita general secretary of the Trust gave a detailed account of how even after meeting leaders of almost all political parties, assurances given by them regarding passing of Temples and Shrines (protection) Bill have till date proved only false promises.
Shiban Khaibri vice chairman of the Trust wondered as to what precisely was keeping the present Government from passing an Act or promulgating an ordinance by virtue of which the temples , shrines, and other symbols of faith could get the same type of protection which other communities’ religious places are getting under respective laws.
Khaibri said that by providing legal protection to all these symbols of faith could result in one small but important confidence building measure by the Government.
Kashmiri Lal Bhat a senior Executive member, referred to the long struggle and spearheading of a peaceful movement by the Trust for the last 10 years for passage of Bill and wondered as to the circumstances, reasons and objectives behind keeping the issue in deep freezer by the Government. Sundri Lal Koul, secretary of the Trust referred to the recent order of the Division Bench of the High Court which has vindicated our stand on the issue.
Chairman R. L. Pandita informed that such a callous and cold attitude by the UT Government and the erstwhile State governments towards protecting symbols of KPs faith had really surprised the community.
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