Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 10: Strongly opposing the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Palaces Management Bill, 2009, Hindu Dharam Sthan Raksha Manch (HDSRM), J&K today said that it will not be a right solution to save the encroached and damaged religious places and shrines in Kashmir valley.
The Manch which an conglomerate of various religious and social organizations warned the Government against the passage of the Bill saying the same will be unconstitutional and against the fundamental rights of the citizens of the country.
Such a decision will have serious repercussions all over the country, convener of the Manch Vijay Shastri told reporters here, today.
Shastri while referring to the Bill, which was introduced in the last Assembly Session to take the management of the Hindu Shrines and religious places in Valley said it was a fraud with the community at large and Manch will not allow it to happen.
He said there was a widespread opposition to the Passage of the Bill from all quarters and from Hindu MLAs and religious and social organizations cutting across party lines.
He said the renowned saint Swami Ram Dev has also opposed the Bill which is designed to divide the Hindu Samaj at large and infringe upon the fundamental rights of Hindus to manage their religious places independently and the State Government was forced to drop the Bill.
Opposing the Bill Shashi Khajuria secretary Dharmarth Trust said unfortunately a small group of Kashmiri Pandits has again started the campaign to force the State Government to bring the controversial Bill in the Assembly which we are opposed to.
He said the temples and shrines managed by Dharmarth Trust, Chinar Trust and other trusts are totally safe and pooja was performed in these temples during the peak time of militancy also. These shrines and temples remained open during this period also with devotees visiting these temples and shrines daily, he added.
He said no militant and Muslim damaged the Shrines and temples run by these trusts over the years and these were the temples and shrines which were being looked after by Pandits which were damaged after they fled from Valley.
He said the Dharmarth Trust has a fleet of employees for management of these shrines which also included Muslims, Sikhs, Dogras of Jammu and Kashmiri Pandits. He however said that in case the Kashmiri Pandits want to restore the shrines and temples which were managed by them and have been damaged during turmoil, the Dharmarth Trust and other organizations will also render help and assistance to them in this regard.
However, Shastri said till return of Kashmiri Pandits to Valley the shrines and temples managed by them should be protected by the security forces and police personnel.. He demanded that adequate security forces be deployed around these shrines and temples for their protection.
The representatives of other organizations who were in the press conference included S K Raina Ishwar Ashram Trust, Jaswant Singh Jamwal, president Hindu Niyas Peeth J&K and Vipin Sharma, Shri Chander Chinar Trust.
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