Army abandons repair of Kashmir mosques after clerics protest

A top army officer in Kashmir has said the army would abandon plans to repair old mosques and shrines after top clerics in the region threatened to organise a mass agitation against the programme.

Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir), June 4 : A top army officer in Kashmir has said the army would abandon plans to repair old mosques and shrines after top clerics in the region threatened to organise a mass agitation against the programme.

"It has never been our intention to hurt the sentiments of any community. It is not intended by the army to interfere in the religious affairs of any community," Lieutenant General A.S. Sekhon, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Corps said on the sidelines of a blood donation camp here.

Clerics and separatist leaders said last week only Muslims could renovate mosques and other Islamic shrines.

The protests were sparked off by reports in newspapers about the army's mosque renovation drive.

The campaign, the army says, was aimed at winning the "hearts and minds" of Kashmiris.The army says it has spent about 5.2 million rupees under "Operation Sadbhavna" over the last three years, some of which was spent on renovating old mosques and other shrines.

It has also built schools, bus stations and organised medical camps - activities, which Lt. Gen. Sekhon said, would continue.

The primary role of the army is to look after the security needs and secondly to provide as much service to the local population, especially in remote areas.

ANI