Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: BJP general secretary (Org) Ashok Koul today assured full support to Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) in passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill on behalf of his party.
Ashok Koul, who was the chief guest at a meeting of the Trust organised here, today said not only BJP but its other sister orgnisations have no problem in passage of Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill.
He said the Hindu religious places of Kashmir represent our ancient culture and architecture and they are cultural monuments whose preservation for posterity is must. “The BJP has supported the issue and will continue to support it in future too”, he added.
Koul urged the Trust representatives not to be disheartened but continue the struggle and make a public posture on the Bill.
He said when party did not hesitate in abrogation of these controversial articles and took a firm stand same will be done on the Shrines and Temples Bill which is only the matter of time, he added.
Koul said that situation has completely changed in J&K since 2019. He said under Smart City Project many shrines have been developed in Srinagar City and some community trusts and temple committees have taken control of many shrines and temples and they are doing a good job so the Trust needs to have a liaison with them.
Koul, while asking the community people to participate in coming elections en mass said that in J&K under delimitation the Parliamentary constituency of Anantnag comprises of 10 Assembly segments in Kashmir valley and seven in Jammu. The KPs have a over 50,000 vote in this constituency. He appealed the community to cast their vote and take active part in democratic process by getting themselves enrolled as voters in their respective constituencies in Kashmir.
He said the land records have been changed and land of shrines encroached at various places but some DCs have now identified this land and got it vacated.
Earlier convener of the Trust Kashmiri Lal urged the BJP leader to clear his party’s stand over the issue.
In his address former MLC, G L Raina highly eulogized the role of Maharajas right from Maharaja Gulab Singh to Maharaja Hari Singh in construction of temples in Valley which were vandalized and razed to ground during Pathan and Mughal rule. He said the contribution of Maharajas in no way can be forgotten in preserving our ancient culture.
Those who attended the meeting included H L Bhat co convener BJP KDD, Roshan Lal Pandita chairman of the Trust, Sundri Lal its general secretary, Manmohan Thaploo, Kuldeep Raina, Virender Raina, president PK, Bansi Lal Zar, Chand Ji, B K Wantoo,Behari Lal Zar, I K Raina, M L Bhat, and Ashok Kumar.
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