Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust will launch the second phase of public awareness campaign for the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill to dispel the disinformation being spread in some quarters regarding the struggle of the Shrine Bill. This was stated by Dr R L Bhat, chief spokesperson of PNBMT at the conclusion of the meeting of the general body of the Trust, held here today.
The meeting conducted by general secretary Shadi Lal Koul was presided over by Dr A N Pandita Chairman PNMBT, and attended by Drs B L Hando, R L Bhat, Virinder Raina, Sundri Lal Koul, B L Zar, Kashmiri Lal Bhat, B L Bhat, H L Bhat, M K Bombro, Shiban Khaibri, Pradeep Koul, Rajinder Razdan, M K Raina, M L Ganjo, Manmohan Thaplo, and other members. Speakers at the general body meeting made it clear that the struggle for the enactment of the Shrine Bill was not directed against any individual or trust operating in the Valley. It is the unequivocal demand of the community for setting up an elected Shrine Board and not a nominated one. The Shrine bill struggle arose when the community came to know that certain established trusts and managements were selling temple lands and properties in Kashmir after the terrorist disruption in 1990’s. It is a struggle against the vested interests who have been misusing and misappropriating the religious lands in collusion with the land mafia.
It was pointed out that this misuse of the religious lands and properties is the reason why, the community does not want any unauthorized, illegal caretakers to meddle in the name of preservation of temples but wants a comprehensive legislation in the form of Shrine Bill for a transparent management by elected representatives of community elected through universal suffrage and not selective nominations. Towards this end, the community has rejected any grouping to usurp the religious lands for ulterior motives and has entrusted the responsibility of coordinating the community struggle to the Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, which does not have any particular stake in the temples in Kashmir. The general body of the Trust is not confined to any particular area or organization but is comprised of representatives from all over Kashmir.
Accordingly the General Body of the PNBMT has decided to launch the second phase of public awareness campaign to inform the community about the various mechanizations to break the community consensus on the Shrine Bill and press upon the powers that be for an early enactment of the Shrines Bill.
Follow our WhatsApp channel