975 temples, 428 Hindu religious places crying for protection: PNBMT

PNBMT STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Speaker JK Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta on Sunday released the list of Hindu Temples of Kashmir in the shape of a book titled Hindu Shrines of Kashmir prepared by the Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBMT) here at KP Sabha, Amphala.
The function was presided by the noted community thinker Dr K.L Chowdhury, while Swami Kumarji, Surendar Ambardar MLC and Dr R.L Bhat, the author, and Dr A.N Pandit, President PPNBMT adorned the presidium and Pradeep Koul Khodbali conducted the proceedings.
The speakers lauded the efforts of the Trust to put the struggle for the passage of the Shrine Bill on a firm footing. They said that the list would form the basis for the work of the Shrine Board to be established under the Shrine Bill.
Authored by Dr. R.L Bhat, Spokesperson of Trust, with inputs from countless other people, the Hindu Shrines of Kashmir is a historical document of the temple heritage of Kashmir Valley. It contains District, Tehsil and Village-wise lists of over 1,400 temples, shrines, sacred springs, Dharmashallas and other Hindu holy places, religious properties and lands. The book lists 975 temples and shrines and other 428 places of religious significance, spread over 647 villages, Mohallas and other locations in the 10 districts of the Valley.
The book Hindu Shrines of Kashmir identifies 347 places holy to Hindus of Kashmir that have been destroyed, seriously damaged, vandalised or otherwise occupied and desecrated by public and the government agencies. The survey proves that the government lists of the temples destroyed during the past two decades in Kashmir is only half the picture as it shows that at least double the said numbers were destroyed, damaged and otherwise undermined during these years of terrorist depredations.
The model Bill has been prepared by the Drafting Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) Brij Lal Bhat with members Kashi Nath Bhat, former Additional Advocate General, Bushal Lal Saraf, District and Session Judge (Retd.), Bansi Lal Pandita, Chief Prosecuting Officer (Retd.), Kashmiri Lal Bhat Senior Advocate, H.L Bhat Social Activist, Surendar Ambardar Social Activist and Dr. R.L Bhat (Convener of the Committee).

Source: statetimes.in