Restore Temples to Make J&K a Paradise Again

Jammu: The Kendriya Prabandh Samiti Meeting of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, held in Jammu from June 29 to 30, appealed to the Governor of J&K to remove the encroachments from temples in the state and restore the traditional mode of worship in all the temples so that the trust of Kashmiri Hindus can again be decisively restored in the administration of Kashmir.

In a resolution adopted at the meeting, the VHP said the development of Hindu pilgrimage places and Teerth Yatra can help J&K become a paradise on the earth again. A total of 225 VHP leaders from various parts of the country attended the meeting. It is for the first time that the Prabandh Samiti meeting was held in J&K. It is also for the time when all the resolutions passed at the meeting were dedicated to the same state. It shows the seriousness of the matter and the situation prevailing in J&K.

The resolution said J&K is called ‘paradise on earth’ not only because of its natural beauty but also because of its pilgrimages, Hindu holy places, Hindu temples and historical places. All these collectively make Kashmir a paradise on the earth. Without these holy places, neither can this place be called a paradise on earth, nor can the place retain its ‘uniqueness’. The holy places of pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir will have to be developed, their grandeur enhanced, adequate security cover will have to be provided, the traditional modes of worship reinstated, only then will the real soul of Kashmir be strengthened. Not only this, it must be remembered that the Sharda Peeth is also associated with Adi Shankaracharya and great scholars like Kalhan and Abhinav Gupt. The VHP requests the Government of India to request the Pakistan Government to make arrangements to open Sharda Peeth and hand over its management to the Hindus so that its pristine traditional mode of worship can begin again. The VHP stressed on ‘Sharda Corridor’ so that visa-free and permitless travel is started.

The VHP also requested the Government to get Ladakh route opened after talking to the Chinese government for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. It is the shortest and safest route to Kailash Mansarovar and one can reach the destination camp in only two days using the road through Leh.

About the facilities provided by Amarnath Shrine Board to the pilgrims, the VHP appreciated it but said still much need to be done. Providing adequate facilities to the pilgrims and minimising the problems are the constitutional duty of the state government and the Shrine Board. Cable Car facility has been a persistent demand. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Board has even told the Green Tribunal in a meeting that it is working on it. VHP requests the Governor to make arrangements so that the Cable Car facility can be started from this Yatra itself. This will be pollution free and also accessible. Historically, the yatra starts from six different places. The shortest and easiest route goes through Kargil. The route does not need any major work on it, therefore permission for its use must be granted.

In another resolution, the VHP appealed to the Governor to generate educational and employment opportunities in Jammu so that the Hindus stop migrating. The VHP said as the Hindus are migrating from Jammu, the Muslims are occupying land there. The VHP appealed to the Hindus in Jammu to be vigilant from any conspiracy to turn the region Muslim dominated.