 Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 30: Bharatiya Janata Party which enjoyed the power for nearly three years in Jammu and Kashmir forgot all the promises which it had made to people of Jammu.
Purmandal, an ancient pilgrimage near Jammu is in shambles, as it has been ignored by the successive regimes. A temple inside the complex has become abode of stray cattle.
"It's unfortunate that the BJP leaders who always talk about protecting religious places did not pay any heed towards Purmandal, what an irony!" said an analyst.
A little bit of attention from the authorities and some publicity would have brought this important place on the tourism map of Jammu but despite its religious and Hindu mythological importance, the place has failed to attract attention of the authorities. Some people see a conspiracy in the neglect of the complex including the sanctum sanctorum and other temples around the complex. This, according to them, has been done with the object of denying it the importance it deserves for obvious reasons. "They do not want another place of pilgrimage elsewhere in Jammu," they disclosed.
Shockingly, the complex did not come up for maintenance during BJP rule. The extent of official neglect can be gauged from the fact that the complex lacks basic facilities including drinking water and toilets. "There is no toilet for women. They have to go into the open," said a group of pilgrims.
According to the pilgrims, nobody comes to the complex from outside the state. However, during Manmas, some people from Jammu and its peripheries come here for some rituals, they said.
The pathetic condition of the place was brought to the notice of the authorities time and again without results.
Some people believe that the complex if maintained and publicized properly can boost Jammu's pilgrim tourism further. The attention of the governor has been sought. |
