Pandits seek passage of temples and shrines Bill

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 25

Expressing concern over delay in passage of temples and shrines Bill to protect religious places of Hindus in the Valley, displaced Pandits claimed on Tuesday that they have documentary proof that some trusts and individuals are illegally selling the properties attached with temples and shrines in the Valley.

It has said that passage of the Bill will be the biggest confidence building measure (CBM) for the community which is living as refugees in their own country.

These allegations were levelled by Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT), which has spearheaded a campaign for passage of Kashmiri Hindus Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill, facing opposition from political parties in Legislative Assembly. The Bill is pending in legislature since 2009.

Community members alleged that temple land is being sold and leased in Kashmir for last 25 years and a vilification campaign has been launched against the trust. “We are open to talks with any trust or individual allowing passage of the Bill to safeguard the ancient religious places belonging to Hindus in Kashmir,” claimed RL Bhat, a spokesperson for the trust during a press conference.

Displaced Hindus are seeking enactment of a law for constitution of board on the pattern of Muslim Auqaf Trust, which manages the affairs of Muslim religious places and Gurdwara Parbandhak Board, which manages Sikh shrines in J&K.

The Bill proposed constitution of Kashmiri Hindu Shrine Board comprising two official members to be nominated by the government and 10 elected members.

It is pertinent to mention here that National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather, as Leader of Opposition during the PDP-Congress government, first brought a private member’s Bill in 2006 and it was introduced for passage in 2009 and since then it is being deferred.