 Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 2: The Hindu Temples and Shrines in Kashmir valley are facing imminent threat to their very existence, following the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community in 1989-90.
These temples have been there in the valley for hundreds of years, some for over two thousand years and most of them having faced historical vicissitudes, demolitions and reerections but even their ruins and debris were utilized elsewhere and over hundreds of years, they have been standing in grandeur and splendid greatness. Following forcible exodus of Kashmiri Pandits , there have been innumerable instances of damages inflicted to and wanton encroachments of many temples, shrines , cremation grounds, Shishu Samadhis and other properties belonging to such religious shrines in Kashmir valley. The state government, on April 9 2017 officially admitted that nearly 208 temples had been completely destroyed in various acts of vandalism. The number, however, is grossly understated.
The Trust has been nominated unanimously by the entire Kashmiri Pandit Community as a Nodal Organization for launching a peaceful, legal and democratic movement for passage of Hindu Temples and Shrines Bill to provide statutory protection to these symbols of our faith and heritage, the temples, shrines, cremation grounds, Ashrams, Sishu Samadhis, Holy springs and other such marks and figures in Kashmir valley. Kashmiri Pandit community, in exile, therefore, want enactment of a law at par with and similar in purpose as The Waqf Board Act and the Gurudwara Brabhandhak Act for Muslim and Sikh communities respectively.
Addressing media persons, Dr. A. N. Pandita holding patriarchal position in the Trust reiterated the stand of the entire community on early passage of Kashmiri Hindu Temples and Shrines Bill which is pending since 2007 with the government and pursued vigorously by the Trust since 2012. The Bill taking the shape of an Act would prove as a catalyst of protection from encroachment or any other illegal interference of any form to these temples in the valley. He gave a sequence of developments of the struggle launched by the Trust in this regard.
General Secretary Shadi Lai Koul gave a brief account of the activities undertaken by the Trust from time to time, like meeting the cross sections of the political, social, cultural and other organizations and various leaders to impress upon them to support our just and genuine cause. He said that the Trust wanted promulgation of an ordinance immediately in the matter followed by regular passage of the Bill so that our symbols of faith and belief are protected from further violations and encroachments in the valley.
Secretary of the Trust Sundri Lai Koul appealed the government to underline seriously the palpable sense of the feeling of alienation of exiled Kashmiri Pandits, who having been discriminated against by successive state governments, at least in the important issue under reference, needed to be heard and given justice. That can be possible only by conceding to our just demand which is the much longed for Temples and Shrines Bill, to be passed without any further ado.
Er. M .M. Thaploo, Hira Lai Bhat, Dr. B.L Handoo, Kashmiri Lai Bhat, Writer Pradeep Kaul Khudbali, Or. Ramesh Bhat, M. K. Raina, M. K. Bambroo, Rohit Bhat and others too were present. |
