Karachi, July 22: Caretaker of the Hindu Cremation Ground in Karachi, Ram Nath has reportedly warned Sindhi Hindus through a public notice to claim the 128 earthen pots of the ashes of their loved ones before July 30, else he will immerse them according to the Hindu rituals and will not be legally responsible for them after this deadline.

The notice also pointed out that the ashes of many people had been lying at the cremation ground’s library for several years and with the passage of time even the nametags had eroded.

The ashes are kept in a small catalogue room of the Gujjar Hindu Community Burial and Cremation Ground, which is near a Muslim graveyard, reported the Daily Times.

Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) Secretary General Hari Motwani said that legally Ram Nath does not have the authority to issue such notices. “We will make a decision on the matter at our next meeting,” he said adding that the notice is challengeable.

Motwani said that recently, the self-imposed caretaker Ram Nath had taken the ashes out of the room where they were kept for several years and has disgraced the souls of those who have passed away.

The Hindu cremation ground is a historical place and is not private property but in fact belongs to all Hindus, the paper quoted Motwani as saying.

The Sindh Minority Alliance (SMA) has also expressed grave concern over the issue and announced that it will go to court against such a notice. “Whoever issued the notice is not the authority and has no right to issue such notices. If the notice is forcefully imposed, we will go to court,” said SMA Secretary DM Maharaj.

However, Ram Nath rejected these allegations saying that his policy was according to Hindu beliefs. “We have planned to take these ashes jointly to Hardwar, in India, because many Hindus cannot afford to travel, so we have given a date so that they may all come together and as for those who cannot come, we can take the ashes of their relatives ourselves but they cannot challenge it legally. We don’t mean to hurt any one, but since this is a religious ritual, we plan to go through with it,” said Ram Nath.

Ram Nath rejected the PHC allegation and said that several Hindus have praised his Planning. (ANI)