Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 19: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) while expressing its satisfaction over the recent directives given by Government to all District Development Commissioners to remove the encroachments from shrines and temples has reiterated its demand of passage of Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill as only option to protect the age-old monuments and Hindu religious places in Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, today, senior and founder Trustee advocate Kashmiri Lal Bhat said that without constitution of a Shrine Board the temples and shrines of Hindus can’t be properly managed and protected in Kashmir. He said hundreds of temples and shrines in the Valley suffered a lot of damage due to 35 years long turmoil, their land and other property has been encroached by unscrupulous elements over the years.
He said though Trust has been demanding constitution of the Shrine Board for last over two decades but the Government has not shown any seriousness in this regard so far.
Kashmiri Lal while expressing the hope that the new Government led by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah will take appropriate steps in fulfilling the long pending demand of the community, said the CM is fully abreast of the matter as Trust has already brought this vital and important issue in his notice also.
He solicited support of legislators of all political parties in framing a law for protection of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples in Valley so that these age old monuments which are symbols of rich cultural heritage of Kashmir can be preserved for the posterity.
Kashmiri Lal, while reiterating the demand said that passage of Shrines and Temples Bill will act as a Confidence Building Measure (CBM) for return and rehabilitation of the displaced Pandits to Valley. He expressed the hope that the Government will seriously ponder over the issue and bring the Bill in coming Session of the Assembly in this regard.
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