| Webinar on passage of Temples, Shrines Bill held | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 14: All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) organized a webinar on ‘Temples and Shrine Bill’ in collaboration with Prem Nath Bath Memorial Trust (PNBMT) who are spearheading this initiative to formalize a legal framework to protect and manage Temples and Shrines in Kashmir, since 2011.
The PNBMT has been mandated by the community’s front-line organisations and the majority of ‘Temple and Shrine Committees’ to deal with the issue and take it to its logical conclusion. During the webinar, the panelists focused on a broad sweep of our heritage represented by our centuries-old Temples and Shrines in Kashmir and their existing management, impact of violence unleashed by the jihadi terrorists on these Temples and Shrines, the necessity of the enactment of a law to protect and manage these heritage sites and suggest a way forward.
The subject of the webinar was introduced by President AIKS Col. Tej Tikoo, Ph.D. with his welcome address and opening remarks. He urged the panelists to enlighten the well-attended audience about the importance of a law to safeguard the identity symbols of Hindu Sanskriti in Kashmir, the necessity for it in the light of our experience during the past over three decades and the way forward. The panelists, who spoke on these issues, included Dr R L Bhat, Shiban Khaibri, Dr Ramesh Bhat, Sanjay Saraf and AK Raina. The seminar was moderated by Vijay Kashkari, Vice President AIKS. The General Secretary AIKS, Maharaj K Pajan proposed a vote of thanks. Secretary AIKS Sunil Kaul rendered the necessary technical support.
Dr R L Bhat informed that there are over 1400 temples situated in the 600 villages of the valley. Giving out his perspective, he said the bill was submitted to the legislature twice in 2006 and 2009. The bill was discussed in the legislature in 2015 but was not passed due to the threatening posture adopted by a member of the legislature. He suggested that the intervention of the Parliament is needed for the passage of the bill. Shiban Khaibri expressed dismay over the attitude of the government even though it is convinced that leaders of all the political parties support and acknowledge the dire need of a provision that can grant legal framework for the protection of the temples and shrines in Kashmir. |
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