Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is not a mahant (chief priest) or pujari but a constitutional head of the Union Territory (UT), while criticising the L-G’s recent move to hold puja at a historic 8th century temple in south Kashmir on Sunday allegedly in violation of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) rules .
“Wherever he goes he (the L-G) starts puja. He is neither a mahant nor a pujari. He is the constitutional head of the State but breaks the law himself. He performs puja at an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected site where such activities are prohibited,” Ms. Mufti said.
She said J&K has a long secular tradition and people, whether Muslims, Hindus or Christians, have lived together for ages. “There are places where a mosque is next to a gurdwara or a temple. This is our heritage,” she added.
