Jammu, Apr 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K Executive Member Raman Suri on Thursday hailed the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the alleged illegal lease of temple properties in the valley.
According to a statement issued by the party, Suri hoped that this initiation will restore properties with temples and punish the guilty as per the law of the land.
Suri said that the administration used to initiate action against encroachers of religious places earlier too but due to half-hearted efforts, those into this menace were encouraged.
“Now that a stern and time-bound action has been initiated, it is hoped that all religious places will become free of encroachments and those into this will be punished. Those using the properties illegally should also be asked to vacate the same and action must be initiated against them”.
The BJP leader said that several religious properties of minority communities including temples and gurudwaras have either been encroached upon or some structures have been built there illegally, all of which must be restored back.
Thanking Lieutenant Governor for constituting SIT to probe this menace, Raman Suri said that previous NC, PDP, or Congress governments hardly cared to investigate these encroachments and looked the other way, which was criminal in nature.
He said, even the courts had been asking governments to restore religious properties to their owner temples and gurdwaras but no government took the orders seriously.
“Several properties have either been sold out, leased out or changed according to the needs. Further, there are also allegations of some trusts and religious places selling the land, which should also be probed,” he further added.
Raman Suri said, the sentiments of people are connected to these temples and gurudwaras and by constituting a SIT, the government has proved that it is against all kinds of encroachments.
Once all the Deputy Commissioners submit their reports of encroachments the entire picture of these illegal acts will be clear and accordingly action should be initiated, he asserted.
