Jammu: Voices of dissent have started to emerge in the BJP over the temple Bill, with several party MLAs asking the party leadership not to be in a hurry to reintroduce it in the Legislative Assembly.
Sources said during a recent meeting with BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, the MLAs expressed unhappiness over the urgency shown by some party leaders who are pressing for reintroducing of the Bill, which is being deferred since 2009.
A senior party leader said there was no unanimity within the party over the Bill as it had been opposing its passage demanding amendments. When Omar Abdullah-led government had introduced it in 2014, party MLAs had not supported it.
“Some leaders have lodged a complaint with Ram Madhav about the letter written by MLC Surinder Ambardar. The party leadership has not made any decision. It could send wrong signals to people who are already angry with the BJP over the flip-flop on several issues,” said a senior leader.
Recently, the MLC had written a letter to Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Bukhari to reintroduce the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill in the Legislative Assembly, which could pave the way for the management body to look after and restore the ancient temples and shrines in the Kashmir valley, which are in a dilapidated condition.
A source in the BJP said there was a need to bring some amendments in the Bill which could not be done in haste. “If the Bill is passed in its present form, it could lead to resentment against party. For now, it should not be touched. It divides the Hindus,” he said.
Since the eruption of Pakistan-sponsored insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, around 408 temples have been damaged or burnt down by either rampaging mobs or insurgents.
There has been consistent demand from several groups, including displaced Kashmiri Pandits, to establish management body to manage the shrines. However, several religious bodies, notable among them Dharmarth Trust, opposes such a move, saying temples under their custody should be left out of the Bill.
Sources said during a recent meeting with BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, the MLAs expressed unhappiness over the urgency shown by some party leaders who are pressing for reintroducing of the Bill, which is being deferred since 2009.
A senior party leader said there was no unanimity within the party over the Bill as it had been opposing its passage demanding amendments. When Omar Abdullah-led government had introduced it in 2014, party MLAs had not supported it.
“Some leaders have lodged a complaint with Ram Madhav about the letter written by MLC Surinder Ambardar. The party leadership has not made any decision. It could send wrong signals to people who are already angry with the BJP over the flip-flop on several issues,” said a senior leader.
Recently, the MLC had written a letter to Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Bukhari to reintroduce the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill in the Legislative Assembly, which could pave the way for the management body to look after and restore the ancient temples and shrines in the Kashmir valley, which are in a dilapidated condition.
A source in the BJP said there was a need to bring some amendments in the Bill which could not be done in haste. “If the Bill is passed in its present form, it could lead to resentment against party. For now, it should not be touched. It divides the Hindus,” he said.
Since the eruption of Pakistan-sponsored insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, around 408 temples have been damaged or burnt down by either rampaging mobs or insurgents.
There has been consistent demand from several groups, including displaced Kashmiri Pandits, to establish management body to manage the shrines. However, several religious bodies, notable among them Dharmarth Trust, opposes such a move, saying temples under their custody should be left out of the Bill.
No comments:
Post a Comment