Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Save Sharda Committee (SSC), Kashmir while appreciating the recent move by India and Pakistan Governments regarding opening of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims called upon both countries to show similar gesture in reopening of Sharda Peeth for the Hindus pilgrims of J&K and followers of all Shankracharya to pay obeisance to the presiding deity of Kashmiri Hindus and Hindus who lived around the place in Sharda Tehsil, district Neelam of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Sharda Peeth is one of the 18 highest Peeths of Sanatan Dharma which holds significance as one of the oldest universities,” said Ravinder Pandita founder head of SSC while talking to reporters here, today. Click here to watch video
Pandita said, “Yatra to this Shakti-Peeth flourished during Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s reign and Swami Nandlal Ji was the last saint to occupy this seat.” He said, “we at Save Sharda Committee Kashmir have been struggling and persuading both the Governments to revisit the LOC treaty and amend the LOC permit allowing J&K Hindus for annual pilgrimage to Sharda Peeth on lines of Nankana Sahib yatra.”
Highlighting the role and contribution of his organization on the issue, Pandita said, “our organization has been working steadfastly in this field because we believe it is a matter for faith and belief adding that it is our religious right to visit the sanctum abode of Mata Sharda and pray.”
“As the founder of this Committee I have met several politicians, ministers, bureaucrats’ religious heads and foreign officials during these years. In our incessant efforts to connect with our presiding deity, we opened channels with the civil society of POK and got pious soil from the sanctum sanatorium”.
Pandita said, ” Government of India must appreciate that Save Sharda Committee Kashmir has already initiated people to people contact in this regard.
It may be recalled that demand for opening of Sharda Shrine to Hindu pilgrims of the State and country was made by various KP organisations and NGOs. Peer Panchal led by Ramesh Hangloo who took up an initiative regarding the opening of shrine for Hindus in early nineties also raised it before the South Asia Free Media Association comprising of maximum journalists from Pakistan which visited the State in 2005. They endorsed the demand and Later a team of Pir Panchal led by Hangloo took out a rally up to Uri to visit Sharda. However, they were not allowed to go ahead from Uri by the administration.
Later the issue was raised by Vinod Pandit of All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) led by Vinod Pandit also launched a country -wide movement on the issue. Pandit who along with his supporters sat on fast unto death at Porbandar, Gujarat over a decade back had kept opening of Sharda Peeth to Hindu pilgrims as one of its demand. He also performed a Hawan at the bank of Krishan Ganga in Tangdar Sector to further this movement.
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