STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) on Wednesday decried the apathy of the government towards the rebuilding of the hoary shrine of Jawala Baghwati at Khrew in Pulwama even one month after the fire at the ancient temple. While appreciating the constant concern of the government for the restoration of the Peer Dastageer Shrine in Srinagar, PNBMT spokesperson Dr R L Bhat pointed to the fact that not a word has been heard from the government regarding the restoration of the shrine at Khrew.
Addressing a meeting of the trust, PNBMT President Jawalaji Samiti Khrew, M.K Raina said that as reported in the press and media, the caretaker minster had called a high level meeting to take stock of the progress of restoration work at Peer Dastgeer Sahib. “The meeting was informed that Rs 14 crore of Rs 18 crore sanctioned for the shrine had already been spent and that the shrine would be thrown open by June 2015. The urgency of the restoring the shrine had been evident when the government had taken all the necessary measures on the day of the incident itself. The then government had been equally prompt in restoring the shrine at Chrar-i-Sharif in its original shape”, he added.
Raina underlined the fact that Jawala Mata is the Ishtt Devi of thousands of Hindus spread over four districts of the valley. “The devotees were shocked when the hoary shrine suffered total damage in the 2nd week of December last year. Though Samiti immediately restored the Puja at the shrine, the government has not initiated any action on its restoration so far”, he rued.
The meeting appealed to the government for ensuring fair treatment towards the preservation of the sanctity of shrines of all faiths. It further reiterated commitment of Hindus of Kashmir for the Shrine Bill and deplored the government for its apathy towards the preservation of the temples and their properties damaged in the floods.
The meeting was held to chalk out the future strategy for the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill. B.L Saraf, M.K Raina, R.L Bhat, B.L Zar, H.N Pandita, M.K Jalali, H.L Bhat, C.L Pandita, B.L Bhat, Rajinder, Shiban Khaibri, S.L Koul, M.L Ganjoo and Shadi Lal Koul were present in the meeting.