Amid the ongoing national discourse surrounding the amendment to the Waqf Bill, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangrash Samiti (KPS) has made a fervent call for a similar legislative measure aimed at safeguarding Hindu religious sites in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The committee has voiced its concerns over the alleged encroachment of over 1,400 temple properties in the Kashmir Valley, which they claim are worth crores of rupees.
KPS chief Sanjay Tikoo highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, “There are about 1,400 properties that have been encroached upon, fake sale documents have been created, and this is not possible until these officials and politicians work together.” The committee’s new slogan advocates for the establishment of a Sanatan Board that would collaborate with the Waqf Board to foster communal harmony.
Tikoo further warned that if the government fails to address their demands within two months, they will not hesitate to approach the Supreme Court. “Not only temples but also employment and human rights violations have occurred here,” he added, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
The KPS has criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for its silence on the issue of encroached temples and desecrated religious sites over the past 35 years. They argue that it is morally and legally indefensible for the assembly to express concern over Waqf properties while neglecting the plight of Hindu religious sites.
Supporting the KPS’s demands, the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit has echoed calls for governmental action. Sunil Sharma, BJP leader and LOP in Jammu and Kashmir, stated, “The demands of our Pandit brothers are justified and should be met because when they were driven out from here, their properties and land were forcibly taken away.”
The KPS has reiterated its demand for a comprehensive “Temple and Pilgrimage Site Protection, Preservation, and Restoration Bill” from both Parliament and the Union Territory administration. They maintain that if there is a significant outcry over Waqf reforms, there should be an equal commitment to restore the temples and lands that have been usurped from Kashmiri Pandits.
