Srinagar: India has allocated over Rs 17 crore for the renovation and restoration of 17 temples in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir. This move is part of a broader strategy to promote Hindu culture in the area.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the directorate of archives, archaeology, and museums recently granted administrative approval for these restoration projects in the Islamabad and Pulwama districts of the region. The allocation comes amid ongoing tensions over religious sites in the territory.

The initiative has sparked debate as it coincides with concerns over the demolition of mosques and other Muslim sacred sites by the current government in India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been associated with a Hindutva agenda, which seeks to promote Hindu cultural values.

The restoration of Hindu temples in a predominantly Muslim region is viewed by some as an attempt to assert Hindu dominance and alter the region’s socio-political landscape. The developments continue to draw attention to the cultural and religious dynamics in the contested territory.