J&K BJP vice president, Yudhvir Sethi criticized an alleged attempt to grab the land of Shri Panchvakhtar Mahadev Mandir, the oldest temple of Jammu city, by certain elements having vested interests and demanded legal action against them. Briefing media persons here, Sethi, flanked by Omi Khajuria, State president Kissan Morcha and Dr Pardeep Mahotra, J&K BJP media secretary said that there are some anti-social elements in connivance with some people in administration who have made a deliberate attempt to build a parking lot on the land of Panchbakhtar Mandir, dedicated to God Shiva. He said such act has hurt the sentiments of Hindu community by inviting bids to construct a parking lot on the land of a temple. Sethi said that Jammu is known as the City of Temples and the Panchbakhtar Mandir is not only one of an oldest places of worship but adored with rich and rare Dogra heritage of immense value. Religious shrines constitute rich wealth of our cultural heritage and we should not politicize such issues so that our centuries’ old religious monuments and institutes of faith are preserved. Sethi said that the Party has also showed its serious concern over the issue and took up the matter with National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), which had floated the tenders of multilevel car project. The organization has forced NHIDCL to cancel the tender, adding that BJP stands with devotees of Panchvakhtar Mandir and will never allow anyone to play with the sentiments of a Hindu community. “NHIDCL in its letter issued to the Vice Chairman JDA has cancelled the tender of multi-level car project due to the ongoing dispute,” Sethi said while quoting a letter issued by the NHIDCL. Sethi also expressed resentment against the encroachment and demolishing of land and property of ancient temples in Kashmir Valley by land mafia. Since the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, properties belonging to several shrines have been encroached upon by people, he added. He appealed to the Lt Governor to immediately order for restoring the glory of ancient temple in the Kashmir Valley.
