Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) has expressed grave dismay at the attempt to divide the Hindus of the state into Kashmiri Hindus and Hindus in general. Responding to the recent press statements of legislators Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and Harshdev Singh, spokesman of the Trust, Dr R L Bhat has pointed out there is no distinction between the Kashmiri and Non-Kashmiri Hindus as per the provisos of the Kashmiri Hindu Temples and Shrines Bill.
He said all the Hindus of Kashmir whichever caste, creed or surname they profess are treated equally under the Bill. PNB Trust, the nodal organization spearheading the campaign for the passage of the Bill, was shocked to see this distinction of Kashmiri and Non-Kashmiri Hindus being made by the people who have stood for the removal of all special provisos and distinctions in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that it is the Dharmarth Trust which initially began to sell the land of the shrines and temples under its management. The glaring instances of this are the sale of all the land of the Ramchandarji Temple in the heart of Srinagar city.
Most of the land of the Samadhis of the Maharajas in Srinagar, also under Dharmarth Trust has been sold. Today only the Samadhis stand there. Last year the then president of the Trust sold 100 kanals of the land of Mata Jawalaji shrine at Khrew in Pampore district. After prolonged agitation by the Hindu of Kashmir the deeds were cancelled.
He said that last year, there was an attempt to sell land to the tune of 166 kanals in Budgam by Sadhu Mandal. The agitation of the community with the welcome aid of the then Revenue Minister and DC Budgam, got it stopped.
He said the documents founding Dharmarth Trust have absolutely forbidden any sale of the temple lands, calling it equal to gav hatya. It is the violation of these basic tenets by the Dharmarth and others that has forced the Hindus of Kashmir without distinction to demand that a democratic transparent mechanism be laid. The Bill seeks to address that concern. No right thinking person should be opposed to that, said the PNB Trust deploring the vested interests who are misleading the people.
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