Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 8: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust has decried the apathy of the Government towards the rebuilding of the hoary shrine of Jawala Bhagwati at Khrew in Pulwama district of Kashmir Valley even one month after the fire at the ancient shrine. While appreciating the constant concern of the Government for the restoration of the Piir Dastagiir Shrine in Srinagar, PNBMT spokesperson Dr R L Bhat has pointed to the fact that not a word had been heard from the Government regarding the restoration of the shrine at Khrew.
As reported, the caretaker Minister had called a high level meeting to take stock of the progress of restoration work at Piir Dastagiir Sahib. The meeting was informed that Rs 14 crore of the 18 crores sanctioned for the shrine had already been spent and that the shrine would be thrown open by June 2015. The urgency of the restoring the Piir Dastagiir Sahib shrine had been evident when the Government had taken all the necessary measures on the day of the incident itself. The then Government had been equally prompt in restoring the shrine at Chaar-i-Sharif in its original shape.
The holy shrine of Jawala Bhagwati at Khew in Pulwama is even more ancient. Speaking at the meeting of the PNBMT, the president Jawalaji Samiti Khrew, M K Raina underlined the fact that Jawala Mata is the Ishtt Devi of thousands of Hindus spread over four districts of the Valley. The devotees were shocked when the hoary shrine suffered total damage in the middle of December last year. Though Samiti immediately restored the Puja at the shrine, the Government has not initiated any action on its restoration so far.
The meeting was held to chalk out the future strategy for the passage of the temples and shrines bill. among those present included B L Saraf, M K Raina, R L Bhat, B L Zar, H N Pandita, M K Jalali, H L Bhat, C L Pandita, B L Bhat, Rajinderji, Shiban Khaibri, S L Koul, M L Ganjo, Shadi Lal Koul. The meeting, asking the Government to ensure that the same treatment was meted out towards the preservation of the sanctity of shrines of all faiths, reiterated commitment of Hindus of Kashmir for the Shrine Bill deplored the Government apathy towards the preservation of the temples and their properties damaged in the floods.
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