PNBMT launches second phase of shrine bill struggle

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 3: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust spearheading the movement for passage of Shrine Bill, began the second phase of struggle by holding meeting of the temple welfare committees. Executives and other representatives of the Prabandak Committees raised a unanimous demand calling for the enactment of Shrine Bill and setting up of an elected Shrine Board to preserve the temple heritage of Kashmir.
This was stated by Dr R L Bhat, the chief spokesperson of the PNBMT, at the conclusion of the meeting held at Gosain Gund Ashram, camp Bohri, Jammu. This was the first of the series of meetings planned with the Prabandak committees of different districts of Kashmir valley. The meeting presided over by the noted social activist H L Jad was conducted by the general secretary S L Koul.
Members of the temple bodies said that the only solution to the preservation and protection of the temple heritage of the Hindus of Kashmir was an elected Shrine Board. The committees pointed out that though they have been fighting the encroachers and other violators of the religious properties, they find it very difficult to even take possession of the full land and endowments since they lack legal powers. Temple Welfare Committees of Logri Pora, Verinag, Silygoom, Saaliya, Manzgam, Haanand Chowalgam, Divsar, Wanpoh and other places reported  that there is huge encroachment, defacement and loss of the temples and temple properties.
The meeting was also informed about the community efforts to prevent, destruction, sale and encroachment of religious properties at Jawalaji, Ramachandra Temple, Vaital Bhairav, Baba Dharmdass, Durga Naag and other places.
Those who attended the meeting included temple Prabandak Committees of Wanpoh, Mangam, Divsar, Kulgam, Logri Pora, Haanand Chowalgom, Luku Bhavan, Jawalaji, Paap Haran Naag Saaliya, Fateh Pora, Devasthanam Committees Of Verinag, Tehsil Committee Traal, Nagubal, Anantnag Prabandak Committee, Mahasamelan Nagdandi Ashram, Swami Atmaramji Ashram Gosian Gund. Members attending the meeting pointed to the commitment by the leaders of both PDP and BJP that they would enact the Bill, for creation of a democratically elected Shrine Board. They reiterated that an elected Shrine Board set up under the Bill was the only solution to this perpetual attack on the religious lands. The members cited specific instances where even the revenue records have been forged and the land title changed.

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