EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 21: Properties belonging to temples, shrines, cremation grounds as well as other religious and social institutions continue to be under assault of criminal and anti-social elements in Kashmir. This was stated today by the amalgam of various temples shrines and ashrams of Kashmir in a press conference held here today.
Shuban Pandita who is the coordinator of the amalgam stated that burning of Radha Krishan Swadhava Bhawan at Motiyar Rainawari is the latest example of a long process of vandalism, encroachment and misleading disinformation about religious places of minority Hindu community.
Administration instead of verifying facts hurried to claim that no religious property was damaged. They uploaded image of a different temple to support their claim and to intimidate individuals who they considered potential people capable of exposing deception filed cases against them, he added.
The Displaced Community has been moving from pillar to post, protesting, demonstrating and mobilizing public opinion to underline need to protect, preserve and safeguard socio-religious property left behind in the valley of Kashmir, said Pandita.
In a joint statement issued by the amalgam it was stated that successive governments have failed to address the issue of encroaching of temples and shrines, in some instances by government agencies by building road /office on encroached temple lands. Leaders urged upon the LG administration to take the issue with all the required seriousness and take appropriate steps including restoring pre-1990 status of these civilization symbols, identifying and punishing the guilty and compensating the losses incurred. |
