Srinagar, Apr 9: Members of All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC), an amalgam of Kashmiri Pandits, on Monday staged a protest here against the alleged grabbing of temple land in Kashmir and demanded a demanded a CBI probe into it.
 The APMCC members, led by their Chairman, Vinod Pandit, the members, King C Bharati, Sanjay Koul and Manoj Bhat, who were joined by Muslims, assembled in the premises of Vaital Bhairav temple at Motiyar Rainawari here this afternoon against the “illegal sale” of the temple land.  They raised slogans against the Managing Body of the Dharmanath Trust including its head Dr Karan Singh and, state and central governments for failing to save the temple land in the Valley from the alleged ‘land mafia’.
 “Government should order a CBI probe into how the temple lands were leased out or out rightly sold over the years. There is nexus between office bearers of various trusts managing the temple properties in Kashmir and the government officials,” APMCC told reporters. 
  They castigated the trust President, Diwakar Singh for leasing out the temple land on attorney. “When there is a clear order against issuing any revenue extracts of temple properties, how are the same being issued for purpose of lease and other contracts?” said one of the APMCC members. He alleged that such things cannot take place without the knowledge of the government officials.
 Another leader of the Committee, Sanjay Koul said there was an urgent need of passing the Hindu Temple and Shrine Protection Bill by the state assembly at the earliest to save the remaining properties belonging to the minority community in the Valley.
 “Nobody would be allowed to damage Kashmiryat and hundred year old heritage of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley,” Koul said.
 He appealed the Civil Society of Kashmir to support their cause to save ‘the dilution of Kashmiri brotherhood.’
 The APMCC members stated the 2.9 Kanal of land housing historic Vaital Bhairav temple was safe during Pathan rule. “But its ironical the present coalition government and the Dharmanath trust are indulging in the open sale of this religious property which can hurt the sentiments of KPs,” they said.
 The committee has been spearheading the movement to save the temple land in Kashmir including the Vaital Bhairav temple. Its Delhi Chapter organized a massive demonstration at Jantar Mantar on April 8.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST