STatE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) hoped that the ruling government would fulfill its promise of enacting the Shrine Bill and bring the Bill in upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly.
The General Body meeting of PNBM Trust was held here on Saturday. The meeting was attended by A.N Pandita, R.L Bhat, B.L Saraf, A.K Raina, B.L Bhat, Shiban Khaibri, Man Mohan Thaplo, M.L Ganjo, B.L Zar and Kashmiri Lal Bhat.
Chief Spokesperson, Dr R.L Bhat said both the ruling parties have assured the trust that they are committed to enact the Bill for the protection and preservation of temples in Kashmir and the community is waiting for them to fulfill the promise.
“The trust was in possession of the original documents of sale deeds and attorneys disposing off the temple properties, executed by different trustees, the Dharmarth and even individual Sadhus. The meeting authorised the PNBMT to put all the documents in its possession before public so that the dark deeds of the so called caretakers of temples and shrines of Kashmir are exposed,” he added.
The speakers emphasised 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. The speakers noted that Hindu Shrines of Kashmir by Dr R.L Bhat, published by PNBMT is a significant document, which has opened the eyes of the public about the temple heritage of Kashmir as well as the vandalisation going on there.
“Nobody is opposed to any Sadhu Maharaj or Purohit. The Bill will not displace them or interfere with their worship. However, the temples and shrines must not be treated as the private properties nor sold, mortgaged, or otherwise alienated. The bill is the only way 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 Pandits, Dogras, or Punjabi Hindus of Kashmir,” he stated.