Centre to help rebuild Dastageer Sahib shrine in Kashmir

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday extended the central government's support to the Jammu and Kashmir government's efforts to rebuild the 200-year-old Dastageer Sahib shrine in the state that was gutted in a major fire earlier this week.

He also expressed sadness over the fire, the source of which is yet to be established.

"Both Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) and Farooq Abdullah (Union Minister) have told me that it is their intention to rebuild the shrine and I have told them that yes, the government of India will fully support their effort to rebuild the shrine," Chidambaram said at his media interaction to present his ministry's monthly report.

"I think already INTACH (Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage) has been asked to give a design and help them in rebuilding the shrine," he added.

The shrine is named after an 11th century religious figure Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, who is known among the local population as Dastageer Sahib. The shrine is at Khanyar in downtown Srinagar and it was completely destroyed in the June 25 fire.

"We are deeply sorry that such a revered shrine should have been virtually destroyed in fire," Chidambaram said.

The minister also noted that the central agencies were cooperating with the state authorities in establishing the source of the fire.

"I think the intelligence agencies present in Srinagar are working with the state government. The cause of the fire is to be established," he said.

"It is only investigation that will reveal the cause of fire," he added.