Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, held a meeting today to discuss the various contours of the Temples and Shrines Bill and also the emerging political scenario in the UT of J&K.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Shiban Khaibri and those who attended included Shadi Lal Koul Rais, general secretary, Sundri Lal Koul, secretary, Sanjay Pandit, executive member and Kashmiri Lal Bhat, chief patron of the Trust.
Chairman PNBMT, Shiban Khaibri while addressing the gathering said that the Trust may have to adopt different tactics now since the Government seems oblivious towards the demand of bringing the Temples Bill. He said that the Temples Bill was not allowed to be passed in the Assembly due to parochial considerations. Khaibri said that the leaders of all the political parties including the Chief Ministers of the day expressed their complete and unconditional support for the bill yet, it could not be passed.
Shiban Khaibri said, ” Are we the children of a lesser God that our temples can languish without care and protection”. He exhorted the members to prepare themselves for a long haul to come onto the streets and protest otherwise the bill may never be passed.
Khaibri said that the passage of the Bill would be a litmus test of the sincerity of the Government towards the settlement of the Pandits in Kashmir.
Dr.R.L.Bhat who was on a tour of the Valley gave an account of the condition of various temples and shrines. He said that in the absence of a Constitutional mechanism, the eco system in and around the temples in Kashmir is shrinking day by day.
Kashmiri Lal Bhat said that in the days to come a meeting of the heads of various KP organisations and leading individuals and opinion makers would be organized to chalk out an intensified agitational program so as to awaken the Government regarding the passage of the all important Temples Bill.
Sanjay Pandita, executive member appealed to the members to remain focussed on the goal.
Sundri Lal Koul gave an account of the organizational activities of the Trust and conducted the proceedings of meeting
The prominent who were present on the occasion included H.L.Bhat, B.L.Bhat, B.L.Zar, M.M.Thaploo, B.L.Handoo, Naveen Koul and Bushan Lal Nadimarg among others.
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