Saaiin Advani to speak for restoration of temples in Sindh and Pakistan

[Gul Agha <gul.agha@GMAIL.COM>]

 (Most recently in March 2005, the Pakistani army bombed a temple in
Dera Bugti Balochistan, kililng about 70 worshippers and causing a
mass exodus of Baloch Muslim and Hindu women, children and old
residents to neighboring Sindh.  The Pakistan army also vandalized one
of the most sacred temples for Sindhis, the Sadh Belo [Saadha Bbelo]
in the 1960s).

Temples on BJP mind

Chanchal Pal Chauhan
Statesman News Service

New Delhi, April 16. — The restoration of centuries old temples in
Pakistan is likely to be raised by the BJP when its leader meets the
Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, tomorrow.

Over 1,000 temples in Pakistan are in a bad state and need urgent
renovation work. Situated in the provinces of Punjab, Sind, Peshawar
and Baluchistan, most of these temples were destroyed after the Babari
Masjid demolition in 1992. Those which escaped the mob fury lie
dilapidated. A senior BJP leader, Mr Subash Arya, who was born in
Punjab state of Pakistan said: "All these are sacred places for us.
Many are so ancient they they date back to the Pandavas. We will be
raising the issue to instill confidence in the minority Hindu
community in Pakistan." (See photograph)

In his scheduled meeting with General Musharraf, the BJP president, Mr
L K Advani, is likely to raise the issue of restoration of a large
number of Hindu temples which have been reduced to rubble in the past
57 years. In June, Mr Advani is likely to visit Karachi and submit a
detailed memorandum to General Musharraf (who is also expected to be
present there) on restoring the sanctity of these temples.

In the absence of attention, many of these temples have been
encroached upon by the locals. In one of the most ancient Satghara
temples, believed to have been built by the Pandavas and dating back
to the eighth to 10 century A.D., a hostel for youth has been built by
the local authorities. Another, Katas Kund is a fresh water lake,
which has been reduced to a pond due to rampant tube-well
installations.

"There are many such cases," says Mr Arya. "We are asking them to take
care of their own heritage and property, which are of great
archeological value. Any step in this direction will foster good ties
between the two counties," he added.

Most of the temples lie in total neglect. The painting and floral
carvings have also faded with time