Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 18: Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PPMT) criticized the State Government for not being serious regarding the passage of Temples and Shrines Bill for safeguarding hundreds of Hindu holy places in Kashmir.
The chairperson of the Trust Dr. Arjan Nath Pandita while taking a dig at the State Government at a meeting here said that despite the promise made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Apex Committee meeting that the Government would pass an ordinance as a sequel to the passage of Temple and Shrines Bill nothing tangible has been done by him till date regarding the matter.
It may be recalled that PPMT is waging a continuous struggle since last two years for the passage of Temple and Shrines Bill to safeguard the holy places in Kashmir which are under the threat of encroachment and defacement. The Trust has started a widespread programme to garner support for the Bill within the community and outside. The chairperson of the Trust said that the meeting was in continuation of the series of meetings being held by the Trust.
Noted social activist Dr. R L Bhat informed that the land belonging to scores of temples in the Valley has either been encroached or damaged by forces inimical to the religious freedom and pluralism enshrined by the Constitution. He said that a long and unified struggle is needed to get the Bill passed by the Government. The participants in the meeting expressed serious concern over the encroachment of tens of kanals of land belonging to Sharika Devi the presiding Goddess of Srinagar city at Hari Parvat. The Government has been urged to take immediate remedial steps to stop the encroachment of Hindu holy places which according to them has now become a routine affair.
To press its demands the Trust has decided to hold a protest march on 2nd September, 2012 from Ambphalla to Governor’s House.
The meeting was presided by Prof. O. N Kaul. Prominent among those who spoke in the meeting include Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Sundri Lal Kaul, Dr. M TKrishen, M K Garu, Rajiv Bhagati, Opinder Ambardar, and Kashmiri Lal Bhat, Shadi Lal Koul conducted the proceedings of the meeting.
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