| PPBMT dispels all doubts, objections about Temple, Shrines Bill | | Resolve to continue struggle till Bill is passed | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 27 : A joint delegation of Kashmiri Pandits under the leadership of Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PPBMT) met the select committee members, entrusted with looking into various factors relating to the passage of Kashmir Temple and Shrines Bill.
The marathon meeting with the select committee members lasted for three hours. The delegation impressed upon the select committee members, the need to have a complete and inclusive Bill and pass it without further delay so that hundreds of shrines and temples scattered all over Kashmir are safeguarded from the greedy eyes of land mafia and other anti-social elements.
Encroachment and natural decay is one of chief causes that has damaged and defiled scores of historical shrines.
The meeting took place under the backdrop of certain rumours and doubts being raised from certain quarters about the Bill.
In order to have a comprehensive view point of all concerned people, the select committee decided to meet all delegation sit on one table in order to have first hand account of various queries and questions being raised.
Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust which has been given the responsibility of carrying forward the struggle for the passage of Kashmir Temples and Shrines Bill by the community dispelled all fears and rubbished the contention of some parties, opposing the bill on flimsy grounds.
Of late a comprehensive and inclusive Bill without any option clause has been opposed by Dharmarth Trust, and some Sadhus under whom only a small fraction of more than 600 shrines are functioning.
PPBMT while dispelling the doubts raised by few vested interests regarding the Bill, candidly said that the word Kashmiri Hindus does not imply only Kashmiri Pandits but all Hindus who have been residing in Kashmir since centuries regardless of caste or region.
The Trust lambasted those trying to divide Kashmiri Hindus between Dogras, Punjabis or Pandits. The Trust in its presentation made it tacitly clear that all Kashmiri Hindus are care takers of all Temples and Shrines in Kashmir whether they are under Dharmarth Trust or under certain Sadhus.
The Trust emphasized that there are hundreds of Trusts managing various shrines in Kashmir and only five Trusts cannot be allowed to high jack the historical Bill which aims at preserving all Shrines in Kashmir.
The Trust presented documents which supported its claim that those temples and shrines under Dharmarth or Sadhus were not safe as land belonging of these shrines was sold by these very custodians in league with land mafia, citing the cases of sale of lands belonging to Sri Jawala Jee Temple and Budgam temple.
Dharmarth Trust, in order to play to the galleries tried to derange the course of the discussion by harping upon the secular character of the Dharmarth Trust.
PPBMT made it amply clear that the Trust was not against any body's livelihood nor was interested to wrest control of anybody or group, managing any Shrine in the valley.
Arjan Nath Pandita, president of the Trust, R L Bhat chief spokesperson of the Trust, Ravi jee Bhat of Jeewan Sahib Trust Ludhoo, M K Raina of Jawala jee Trust, Khrew, representatives of Martand and Zeesta Devi Prabandak Committee, A K Raina of All India Kashmiri Samaj, noted saint Swami Kumar jee, Justice B L Saraf, P N Goja, Jai Kumar were present ion the occasion.
The select committee was represented by its Chairman and Law Minister Saifullah Mir, Senior National Conference leader Mustafa Kamaal,CPI (M) leader Mohd. Yusuf Tarigami, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, and Abdul Gani Veeri MLA.
Meanwhile talking to our correspondent the spokes person of PPBMT R L Bhat said that they will continue to wage struggle and go to any extent so that the Bill is passed without any dilution or without any opt out clause. |
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