Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening to discuss the situation in the state. Both Vohra and Azad reiterated their appeal to the people to maintain calm, stressing that there was no issue that could not be resolved in a peaceful manner. They also urged all political parties and organisations to help restore normalcy and pave the way for resolving all issues, which hurt the sensibilities of all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Maintenance of peace is vital in the larger interest of the state. Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed spilling of innocent blood over the past two decades,” the Governor said, hoping that people would not get misled by malicious propaganda or swayed by passion.‘Pass temple Bill, bring shrine under its ambit’Jammu: Kashmiri Hindus on Friday demanded that the Kashmiri Hindu Shrine and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2008 be passed immediately and the Amarnath Shrine be brought under its ambit so that all Hindu temples come under an umbrella body comprising democratically-elected members of the shrine.Panun Kashmir leader Dr Agnishekhar said said the need of the hour was to bring all Hindu shrines in Kashmir under the purview of the temple Bill so that Kashmiri Hindus can again play a key role in the upkeep and management of their shrines. The Bill will ensure the management of Hindu shrines in the Valley on the pattern of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee. The much-awaited Bill was scheduled to be introduced in the Assembly on January 11, but was deferred with the Government saying certain changes need to be made.Serious implications if land transfer order revoked: RajnathJammu: BJP national president Rajnath Singh on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warning him that “revoking the land transfer order could lead to serious implications which in turn can vitiate the atmosphere of communal harmony.” In the letter, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, Rajnath Singh writes, “the decision to allot the land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was taken by the J-K Cabinet earthier this year. By withdrawing the allotment, the Centre could further send a signal that the Government has surrendered to the pressure tactics of separatists and anti-social elements with in the state.”
