Government duty-bound to pass Shrine Bill: PNBMT

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 5: General body meeting of Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, spearheading the Shrine Bill movement has demanded that the Government should fulfill its promise of enacting the Shrine Bill. The general body meeting held here today was attended by representatives of organizations, trusts and intellectuals. They pointed out that Government and other political parties have expressed their total commitment to protection of the Hindu shrines and temples of Kashmir. The community is waiting for the politicians to fulfill that duty.
Those present in the meeting included Swami Kumarji, Dr P N Trisal, A N Sadhu, A N Pandita, R L Bhat, R K Bhat and R K Raina (ASKPC), B L Saraf (Kapal Mochan, Shopian), B L Pandita, (Swami. Kral Bab Ashram) A K Raina (AIKS), M K Raina (Jawalaji Khrew), B L Bhat (JKVM), Shuban Khaibri, C L Pandita, , A K Braro, (K P Sabha), Mohan Lal, R K Koul (Arya Samaj), Virender Raina (PK), Sundri Lal Koul (Vessu) Chunni Lal Raina (Kandi Khas), Shadi Lal Koul (Secy, PNBMT), Rohit Bhat, M K Bambro (Nagubal Committee Anantnag), Ashokji Batargam, Opinder Ambardar, Ashokji Karshangam (Gosain Gund Ashram), T R Raina, Manmohanji Thaplo, Jaikumar, M L Ganjo, and Kashmiri Lal Bhat.
The speakers at the meeting were emphatic that the struggle for transparent and democratic management of the temples and shrines of Kashmir is a united aspiration of the Hindus of Kashmir and that they would not allow individual interests or isolated trusts or the Dharmarth employees to sabotage the movement for their personal and vested interests. “Will the president of Dharmarth care for any temple if he is removed from his post tomorrow?” asked the speakers. The movement for the Temple and Shrines Bill is a struggle of the Hindus mass of Kashmir who is naturally, normally and inalienably concerned with this heritage and faith.
The general body reiterated that they are not opposed to any Sadhu Maharaj or Purohit worshipping at any temple or shrine. The bill will not displace any of them or interfere with the mode of worship. The speakers, however, were emphatic that the temples and shrines must not be treated as the private properties and cannot be allowed to be sold, mortgaged, or otherwise alienated for private use or to fund private enterprises by anybody.  The bill is only to protect the religious properties against that misuse and to manage them in an open democratic way by an elected Shrine Board composed of all Hindus of Kashmir including Pandit, Dogra, or Punjabi Hindus living in Kashmir.

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