Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: A joint delegation of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PPBMT) met the Select Committee members, entrusted with looking into various factors relating to the passage of Kashmiri Hindu Temple and Shrines Bill.
During the meeting the delegation impressed upon the Select Committee members, the need to have a complete and inclusive Bill and pass it without further delay so that hundreds of shrines and temples scattered all over Kashmir are safeguarded from the greedy eyes of land mafia and other anti-social elements.
PPBMT while dispelling the doubts raised by few vested interests regarding the Bill, candidly said that the word Kashmiri Hindus does not imply only Kashmiri Pandits but all Hindus who have been residing in Kashmir since centuries regardless of caste or region. The Trust lambasted those trying to divide Kashmiri Hindus between Dogras, Punjabis or Pandits.
The Trust presented documents in support of their claim and said that it was a purely religious aspiration of the people to safeguard their thousands of years’ old temple and shrines from encroachment and sale of their assets.
PPBMT made it amply clear that the Trust was not against any body’s livelihood nor was interested to wrest control of anybody or group, managing any Shrine in the Valley. It only wanted to have an objective, constitutional mechanism in place which would ensure a transparent management of the Shrines and Temples in Kashmir.
The Select Committee was represented by its chairman and Law Minister Saifullah Mir, Senior National Conference leader Mustafa Kamaal,CPI (M) leader Mohd. Yusuf Tarigami, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, and Abdul Gani Veeri MLA.
Dr Arjan Nath Pandita, President of the Trust, Dr R L Bhat chief its spokesperson , Ravi Jee Bhat of Jeewan Sahib Trust Ludhoo, M K Raina of Jawala Jee Trust, Khrew, representatives of Martand and Zeesta Devi Prabandak Committee, A K Raina of All India Kashmiri Samaj, noted saint Swami Kumar Jee, B L Saraf (retd) Session Judge , P N Goja, Jai Kumar.
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