Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: Resolving to intensify its ongoing struggle on passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) today expressed its shock over increasing encroachment of land belonging to Hindu Shrines and Temples in Kashmir Valley by mafia groups.
The Trust, which held a meeting in the Sharda temple complex at Bantalab today said the community will not tolerate grabbing of Hindu shrines land and other property by the mafia groups in league with some Revenue officials and urged the Government that further delay in the passage of Shrines and Temples Bill will be viewed seriously by the community and it will be left with no alternative but to come to streets in protest.
The participants were so agitated over the negative role of the Government which was adopting delaying tactics on the passage of the Bill urged the Trust to clarify why Government was delaying the legislation on management of Hindu Shrines and Temples in Kashmir when through legislations it had constituted the Wakaf Board for Muslims and Gurdwara Prabandhak Board for management of Gurdwaras in the State.
An emotionally surcharged Janki Nath Pandit asked the community to come on roads and fight for its rights which were usurped by Government for years together. In this regard he quoted some verses from Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta also.
Pushkar Nath Koul also urged the community to be ready for a decisive battle for the attainment of the goal. The meeting appealed the community to attend the Chetna Divas programme on December 27 in memory of Pt Prem Nath Bhat who attained martyrdom on this day in 1989 in large numbers and show community’s resolve and commitment on passage of the Bill.
Subash Chatta stressed on co-opting all the Prabandhak Committee members with the Trust to seek latest information of shrines and temples of Valley.
Others who addressed the meeting included Prof G L Koul, Ram Krishan Koul, Vijay Raina etc.
The meeting was attended by the cross section of community. Dr K L Choudhary presided over it while Swami Kumar Ji was chief guest. Dr R L Bhat gave brief of the Trust’s struggle while chairman of the Trust Dr A N Pandita proposed vote of thanks. The programme was compared by H L Bhat.