KL Report
SRINAGAR
After the son of J-K’s last monarch expressed his displeasure over migrant pandits’ interference in Hindu temples, a war of words has started in state with pandit body accusing the Karan Singh-led Dharmath Trust of “sale and loot” of temple properties.
The erstwhile Sadre Riyasat of the state said that the Hindu shrines present in Kashmir are not the personal property of Kashmiri pandits and that lakhs of devotees around the globe visit these temples.
It claimed that to look after over hundred Hindu temples in Kashmir since 1846 when grandfather of Dr Singh bought Kashmir from British people.
In reaction, All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC) said that Dharmarth Trust was resorting to open loot and sale of temples in Kashmir Valley and was trying to hide its own shortcomings by stooping so low as to issue open threats to the Kashmiri Pandit community.
“It was a very serious matter and Kashmiri Pandit community was feeling unsafe saying the Trust has tried to instigate local people against Kashmiri Pandits which equals to threats that resulted in mass exodus in Kashmir,” APMCC said in a statement.
But, Dharmarth Trust has been arguing that it managed the affairs of these temples when these Pandits fled from Valley.
“The one temple that was damaged in Rainawari was reconstructed at a cost of over Rs 20 lakh. The budget of the Dharmarth Trust is published every year and its accounts scrupulously audited. We, therefore, strongly refute the wild and malicious statements questioning the integrity of the Trust,” the Trust said in a statement.
But, APMCC reacted, saying: “We won’t allow anybody to usurp the properties of Kashmiri Pandits.” All temples inside Kashmir valley, APMCC said, belong to Kashmiri Pandits and reiterated its demand of constitution of Kashmiri Hindu Shrine Board covering all temples, shrines, holy places, hillocks, holy ponds and lakes and cremation grounds from Jawahar tunnel to Uri and Ladakh.”
In reaction, the Dharmarth Trust said, “Attempts by a section of the Kashmiri Pandits who are living securely in the Dogra heartland to vilify Dr Karan Singh and the Dharmarth Trust are highly condemnable and will be counterproductive for the community.”
Dr Karan Singh, who is a sitting Congress MP in Rajya Sabha of Indian Parliament has his two sons occupying two seats in upper house of J&K legislature on tickets of PDP and BJP, respectively.
