Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust organised a webinar to take stock of the recent political developments and also to discuss strategies for the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill, for which the PNBT trust has been relentlessly struggling for the last more than a decade.
Secretary Sundri Lal Koul coordinated the webinar and apprised the members about the activities of the trust undertaken in the last one month under lockdown conditions and invited the members to make their presentations and also to suggest their views for the future course of action.
The members were unanimous in their appreciation of the recent meeting by Ashwani Chrungoo, senior BJP and KP leader in taking up the matter regarding the Temples and Shrines Bill with Lieutenant Governor.
In the memorandum that was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor, the demand for bringing an ordinance for the protection and preservation of the temples in Kashmir was prominently raised by the KP leader.
The members also expressed concern that the previous political dispensations have only shown lip sympathy to the cause and the all important bill could not be brought, despite its tabling in the assembly.
The members expressed dismay that all the previous Chief Ministers and other important political leaders in the state had expressed their support to the bill whenever the members of the trust met them, yet the bill could not be passed.
The members said that there is also a looming threat that with the passage of time and the uncertain law and order conditions in Kashmir the temples and shrines are at an increased risk of completely vanishing from the eco system of Kashmir.
The members enquired when there can be an Auqaf act and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Act, why not a Kashmiri Pandit Temple and Shrines Bill for the protection and preservation of the temples in Kashmir.
The members of the Trust who attended the webinar included Roshan Lal Pandita, President PNBMT, Virender Raina President Panun Kashmir, BL Bhat Chairman Nagdandi Ashram, HL Bhat Executive Temple Committee Tral Anantnag, Sundri Lal Koul Coordinator Hindu Welfare Baradari Vessu, Shadi Lal Koul General Secretary PNBMT, Kashmiri Lal Bhat Advocate, Dr RL Handoo, Bansi Lal Zar and Sanjay Pandit, President Umabhagvati Asthapan.
President Roshan Lal Pandita appealed the members to be absolutely pro active in the coming days.