PNBMT’s concern over deteriorating condition of shrines, temples in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust organised a meeting at Gosain Gund Ashram today in which a large number of community members along with the members of the Trust participated. The meeting was held as a build up to the forthcoming Chetna Diwas on December 27 and also to collect feedback from the community members regarding the issues confronting the community. A series of such meetings were also organized at Lale da Bagh , Bhawani Nagar, Gole Gujaral, Anuradha Puram and Subhash Nagar to mobilise the community members for their active participation in the forthcoming mega event.
In today’s meeting the members took stock of the recent political developments after the abrogation of Article 370 and also discussed strategies for the smooth passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill for which the KP community and the Trust is relentlessly struggling for the last more than a decade. Secretary Sundri Lal Koul apprised the members about the activities of the Trust and invited the members to make there presentations and suggest the future course of action.
The members expressed concern that the previous political dispensations could not pass the all Important Temples and Shrines Bill despite showing concern and sympathy for the same all along.
The members expressed dismay that only lip service and false promises have been made all along in the past regarding the Passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill. Moreover, with the passage of time and the deteriorating law and order conditions in Kashmir the temples and shrines are at an increased risk of completely vanishing from the eco system of Kashmir.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the senior leader of the community R.L.Bhat and was presided over by the Chairman of the Trust , Roshan Lal Pandita. President KP Sabha K.K.Khosa , who is also the chosen community speaker this year at the event of Chetna Diwas was also present on the occasion.
Members expressed concern that when there can be an Auqaf act and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Act, why not a Kashmiri Pandit Temple and Shrines Bill for the protection and preservation of the temples in Kashmir. Members also gave suggestions as to how we can make the forthcoming Chetna Diwas successful and a momentous occasion for the community.
The meeting among others was addressed by Dr.R.L.Bhat who while addressing the members of the trust told them to be absolutely pro active in the coming days and make the forthcoming Chetna diwas a big success and also said that the trust may have to adopt agitational path and come on to the streets for the passage of the all important Temples and Shrines Bill in Kashmir.