JAMMU: Taking strong note on the statements of different quarters over the reconstitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) by including local Member Parli-ament, MLA, Deputy Com-missioner and SSP as its members, Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP), Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday said that such statements have been made casually without reading the provisions of the Act.
“The Mata Vaishno Devi is a Hindu Shrine and the Act by which the Shrine Board is constituted provides that the Chairman of the Board shall be the Governor of the State and if the Governor is non-Hindu he will nominate a Hindu as his representative as Chairman,” VHP State President Leela Karan Sharma told reporters, here on Friday.
He said MP, MLA, Deputy Commissioner and SSP could be Hindu, Muslim or of any other faith so they cannot be nominated as members of the Board, which is against the provisions of the act. VHP is of the opinion that the Board be reconstituted by including the local members of the State who have faith in Sanatan Dharam, person of integrity, social personalities and scholars, he said. He also took strong note of the Government Boards constituted for Mata Sukrala Devi, Mata Bala Sundri, Shiv Khouri and other Shrines.
These boards, Leela Karan said, have not made any effective improvement and not rendering any accounts and even the religious sanctity of the respective Shrines is not being maintained and Puja-Archna as per the religious practice being followed from centuries is not being performed.
“These Boards also be reconstituted having faith in the Sanatan Dharma,” he said and warned that any government interference or diversion of funds of these Shrines for purpose other than the maintenance of Hindu Shrines will be opposed by the VHP. Suresh Chander Working President and Shakti Dutt Sharma Secretary were also present in the press conference.
