India allots Rs 17 crore for restoration of temples in IIOJK
Srinagar: The authorities have allocated over Rs 17 crore for renovation and restoration of 17 temples in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as part of India’s broader strategy of saffronisation and the promotion of Hindu culture.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the directorate of archives, archaeology, and museums, recently granted administrative approval for these projects in Islamabad and Pulwama districts of IIOJK.
On one hand, the Hindutva government led by Modi in India is focused on demolishing mosques, shrines, and other Muslim sacred sites, while on the other, authorities in IIOJK are spending a significant amount to restore and renovate old temples.
Being only Muslim majority state, this strategy is closely tied to India’s Hindutva agenda, championed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliates, who aim to reshape the disputed territory’s socio-political landscape.
Renovating and restoring Hindu temples in a predominantly Muslim region like IIOJK is seen as an attempt to assert Hindu dominance and dilute the Muslim identity of the territory.
