Srinagar: Amid concerns of increasing Hindu influence in the Muslim-majority region of Jammu and Kashmir, a new temple, Uma Bhagwati, was inaugurated in Islamabad district. The event was marked by the presence of Indian Central Minister Nityanand Rai, signaling significant political support from the Modi-led government.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the inauguration is perceived by the territory’s residents as part of a broader strategy to reinforce Hindu identity in the region. The timing of the temple’s opening coincides with legislative changes under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, which critics claim are designed to cement Indian authority over the contested area.

Local opposition frames the development as an attempt to dilute the Muslim heritage of Kashmir with Hindu cultural symbols. “This is not just about opening a temple, it’s about perpetuating a narrative that Kashmir is a Hindu land, and Muslims are outsiders,” a local resident expressed. The event has heightened tensions among the Muslim community, who view the temple as a threat to their cultural and religious identity in the context of ongoing political unrest.