Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: The Kashmiri Pandits staged a protest demonstration in front of Press Club here today against the delaying tactics adopted by the State Government in passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Bill.
Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust a nodal organization which is spearheading the present movement for the passage of the Bill had given the call for today’s protest on the beginning of autumn session of State Legislature.
The protestors, who were with placards and banners in their hands besides demanding the passage of Shrines Bill took Government to task for hoodwinking the displaced relief holders on enhancement of cash relief issue.
Raising slogans in support of their demands they urged the Government not to further delay the passage of Shrines and Temples Bill introduced in Assembly over four years back and also announce immediate enhancement of cash relief for migrants.
The protestors also jostled with police for a while when they tried to take out a procession ahead of Dogra Chowk after police foiled their attempt.
The speakers addressing the demonstration took the Government to task for delaying the passage of the Bill. They said the Hindu shrines and temples in Kashmir have suffered enormously due to terrorists, miscreants and antisocial elements. Hundreds of shrines, temples and their related properties were burnt down.
Besides the land mafia has been vandalizing the Hindu religious lands over these years. Thousands of kanals of makbuuzaati ahle hanuud, religious lands of Hindus, have been encroached upon. Shamshan Ghat have been invariably occupied. Land records of the shrine lands have been tampered with, they added.
They said on April 18 the Chief Minister gave a commitment to bring an ordinance in place of Bill without any delay so that the arrangement for the preservation of the ancient shrines and temples are expedited. Yet nothing has been done and demand that the Bill be passed in the present session at Srinagar besides an immediate decision be taken on enhancement of relief to displaced relief holders.
Addressing the protestors Swami Kumar Ji said he during his recent visit to various shrines in Valley he was shocked to see their position especially of Jeewan Sahib Shrine at Ladhoo in Pampore and Roop Bhawani Shrine in Lar Ganderbal.
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