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| Fresh controversy engulfs Kashmiri Hindu Shrines Bill | | Dharmarth Trust, others oppose it | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: With J&K Dharmarth Trust, Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Sadhu Samaj voicing their opposition, a fresh controversy gripped the much talked about Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Management Bill today.
At a joint press conference here today, the leaders of J&K Dharmarth Trust (JKDT), Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) and Sandhu Samaj representatives openly opposed the Bill and demanded that the proposed Bill lying with Select Committee of the State Assembly be either reviewed or withdrawn.
They warned that they have no objection in the passage of the Bill provided the 45 temples of Kashmir managed by the DT and other Hindu organizations outside the J&K are kept away from the Shrine Board formed after the passage of the Bill.
The JKDT president Brig (retd) GS Jamwal said that the passage of the Bill in the present form will result to controversy forcing the Hindu organizations to challenge the same in the court of law. He said all the 45 Hindu shrines in Kashmir which are managed by the organizations like DT and other trusts run by non Kashmiri Hindus are safe and they have neither the threat of encroachments nor have been damaged as their respective trusts maintained them properly during the period of the turmoil.
He said a controversy is being created to divide the Hindus on the name of Kashmiri Hindu and non Kashmiri Hindu by certain vested elements and appealed the Government either withdraw the Bill or review it by taking the objections raised by the DT and other organizations into consideration.
Brig Jamwal alleged that the Bill has been introduced in 2009 and during last five years the Government did not bother to seek the views of the organizations managing the Trusts in Valley. He also made it clear that the Government has no authority to control the religious places of Hindus and alleged that the DT was also deceived by the Government while taking over the control of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board .
``We were assured that after the formation of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board the DT will be paid the money for the management of rest of Shrines in State by the Board'' said Jamwal but the same was not considered after the formation of the Board and the said clause was deleted from the Bill.
However rejecting the issues raised by the DT and other organizations Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust at a parallel press conference said that they are for the passage of the Bill and inclusion of all Hindu shrines of Kashmir including those run by JKDT and other organizations in the Board.
They rejected the contentions of the JKDT, SDS and Sadhu Samaj and said that the shrines' land was also illegally disposed off by these organizations in Valley during turmoil and gave the example of Baba Dharma Dass Shrine whose hundreds kanals of land was clandestinely sold in Valley. Besides the Sadhau Samaj sold 100 kanals of land at Budgam and the same was retrieved with the interference of former Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister and DC Budgam. Over 100 Kanals of land belonging to Jawala Ji Shrine at Khrew in Pulwama district was also sold by the former president of the Trust by signing the attorneys and same was cancelled later after the KPs raised a hue and cry and brought the issue in the notice of higher ups in the Trust also, said Trust Spokesperson, Dr RL Bhat.
He asked JKDT to clarify the position about the holy spring of Khrew which was also the part of the Shrine and has been encroached by the people and its land taken by the Government.
In view of the deteriorating situation in the Valley and increasing influence of Pan Islamic elements the passage of the Bill is must for the protection and management of all shrines in Kashmir including those run by JKDT, SDS or Sadhu Samaj, said Virender Raina another member of PNBMT. |
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