New Delhi: In an attempt to revamp temple
sites in Kashmir, a Kashmiri Pandits organisation here organised a programme to highlight the state of the Hindu
shrines in the Valley.
The All Party Migrant Co-ordination Committee (APMCC),
had earlier in March this year alleged that nearly 500 temples
in the Valley have been encroached and had demanded a CBI
probe into the matter.
Participating at the event held at Shri Ram auditorium
yesterday, BJP national spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said,
"We need to keep our eyes open to any act which is detrimental
in the restoration of our religious places in the Valley."
Sitharaman, while referring to the records brought into
light by the APMCC on alleged encroachment of various temples
and shrines in the Valley said it is a matter of concern.
"This needs to be checked, if it has happened then it is a
matter of concern. We need to take the issue with both the
Centre and state government," she said.
On the occasion, Vinod Pandit, chairman of APMCC demanded
the opening of historical Shardha Peeth in Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir (PoK) and appealed to the Government to initiate a
concrete dialogue with Pakistan in this regard.
Pandit also asked the government to establish the much
awaited Shardha Peeth University without any delay and also
recommended the passing of Temples and Shrines Bill in Jammu
and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which will serve as
confidence building measure for Kashmiri Pandits willing to
return to their homeland.
The chairman said, "These are the long pending demands of
Kashmiri migrants which need immediate attention to save the
5,000 year old cultural heritage of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley
and outside."
The event also witnessed the screening of a documentary
named "Yatra to Harmukh Ganga, Gangbal".
Harmukh Ganga or Gangbal as it is known in local
echelons, is a religious place of KP's situated under the
foothills of Harmukt range in North-East Kashmir at a height
of 12,000 feet.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 18, 2011, 15:55