Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 15: A delegation of Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) met the Advisor Farooq Khan today and submitted a memorandum demanding the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill for protection and management of Hindu shrines in Kashmir.
The PNBMT delegation was led by its chairman, Roshan Lal Pandita who was accompanied by vice chairman, Shiban Khaibri, president, Panun Kashmir, Virender Raina and chairman, Samajik Vikas Sansthan, Kuldeep Raina.
The delegation apprised the Advisor of the deteriorating condition of the temples and shrines in Kashmir. The delegation informed the Advisor that after the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir the temples became vulnerable to all kinds of loot and plunder. The temple properties were usurped and appropriated by the unscrupulous elements and in many instances the so called managements were also involved in the illegal sale purchase of the temple properties.
The delegation also apprised Farooq Khan about the decade long struggle of the PNBMT for the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill. As a result of the efforts of the Trust, the Bill could be brought to the floor of the Assembly but due to political reasons it could not be passed then. The delegation informed the Advisor that the temples of Kashmir are a priceless heritage of mankind and need to be preserved for posterity.
Advisor Farooq Khan promised to take the matter forward with his most favourable opinion. He said that he was cognizant of the condition of the temples and shrines in Kashmir and in his opinion a Bill on the lines of Auqaf Trust or Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee needs to be enacted. He further added that he is well aware of the entire topography of Kashmir region and very much conscious of the temple properties spread across the length and breadth of the Kashmir valley.
The delegation presented the book’ Temples and Shrines of Kashmir’ to the Advisor Farooq Khan. The book has enumerated more than 1400 temples and shrines properties of Kashmir.
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