Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: Save Sharda Committee , Kashmir delegation called on MoS in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States Dr. Jitendra Singh in North Block , New Delhi today and submitted a memorandum for opening of pilgrimage to Sharda Peeth in PoK on the lines of Sikh pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib in Lahore, Pakistan.
The committee demanded that the pilgrimage should be allowed for J&K Hindus on LoC permit as is valid for Kashmiri Muslims for trade and meeting their relatives. Dr Jitendra Singh assured the members that the demands would be met and called Joint Secretary Home Ganesh Kumar and asked him to give clearances for the short visit to pilgrims, having faith in Sharda Peeth, the basic seat of learning of Hindus, now in ruins in Pakistan. It may be recalled that Save Sharda Committee has offered flowers and brought the soil from there through Civil Society in PoK and later installed a Photo of Sharda Mai at the temple in PoK in March this year.
The delegation was led by founder member of Save Sharda Committee, Ravinder Pandita, who emphasized that the yatra be continued , as the last yatra undertaken was before 1947 by Swami Nand Lal Ji, a great saint from Kashmir. Others included Ramesh Arora MLC, Sushil Pandit, Utpal Koul, Pradeep Pandita, Bansi Lal Reshi, Kusum Shishoo, Des Raj Koul, Ramesh Tickoo, Shrawan Pandita and more delegates. The Committee is planning to meet Prime Minister also in this regard shortly. The other founder members Lt. Gen (Retd.) Ata Hasnain and Vinod Pandit ( APMCC) could not attend at a short notice appointment given by the Minister.