Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Kashmiri Pandit organisations have expressed their serious concern over the encroachment of the land of historical Sheetal Nath Shrine in Srinagar by the land mafia.
Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust which took the serious exception of issue called an emergency meeting today to discuss the situation arising out of the recent attempts to usurp the land of the famous Sheetal Nath Temple in Srinagar. It said as per the reports some constructions were being raised in the premises of the temple in an unauthorized way. Some documents were also laid before the members of the Trust implying complicity of the office bearers of the famous and historical Sheetal Nath Temple.
Chairman of the Trust Roshan Lal Pandita while expressing serious concern said the community is gradually loosing the priceless heritage and which is the reason that a bill for the protection and preservation of the temples and shrines in Kashmir. He added that Kashmiri Pandits can not be resettled in Kashmir unless the symbols of their faith are preserved and protected under a constitutional mechanism.
Deputy Chairman of the Trust Shiban Khaibri said that the time for bringing an ordnance in this regard has come and he appealed to the Lt. Governor to take this historical step. He added that generations of Kashmiri Pandits would be indebted to the Lt. Governor for this noble mission.
Shadi Lal Koul Rais, general secretary of the Trust informed that in the coming days a delegation of the Trust would be meeting the Lt.Governor to apprise him about the condition of the temples and shrines in Kashmir and also to request him to bring an ordnance in this regard.
Advocate Kashmiri Lal stressed on intensification of movement in this regard.
The Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) has urged the Government to look into the matter and safeguard the land and other property of this historical shrine which is looked after by Sanatan Dharam Yuvak Sabha.
President KPC Kundan Kashmiri made an appeal to Lt Governor, G C Murmu urging him to issue orders to Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to get the encroachment from the shrine removed immediately under the Migrants Property Act. He has also submitted a letter to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah demanding protection of heritage places of Kashmiri Hindus in Valley whose encroachment is at galore now.
Kashmiri also demanded action under law against the tres passers saying that Kashmiri Pandits are emotionally attached to Sheetal Nath being an epicenter of KP activities since a long time and community will not tolerate any attempt to usurp its land or change its nomenclature.
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