Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 22: Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (SSCK) while complimenting the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for reopening of Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Narowal, Punjab province of Pakistan demanded permission to Hindus of J&K for the annual pilgrimage of Sharda Shrine which is in PoK as well. “Our demand is pending for last 70 years and we are struggling vigorously for the last 15 years” for it said Ravinder Pandita, Head & Founder of the Committee in a statement here today.
He said a mechanism is already in place since 2007 wherein people on both sides of LoC can travel to meet their relatives on LoC permit. Two routes Uri- Muzaffarabad and Poonch -Rawalkote are already catering to the bus service meant for J&K residents. Pandita, while welcoming today’s decision stressed the need of re-opening of Sharda Peeth in PoK- the issue that is so dear to Kashmir and India. The Committee has got soil & stones from PoK through Civil Society there, a photo of goddess Sharda has been installed in March’2017 and in January this year the supreme court of PoK has also given a landmark judgement on preservation of Sharda Peeth to a petition by Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd.).
Sharda Peeth – the highest Peeth of Adi Shankracharya lies on the banks of river Kishenganga, Madhumati & Saraswati and is about 140 kms from Muzaffarabad. The last yatra undertaken was by Kashmiri saint Swami Nand Lal Ji who came to our side of Kashmir from Sharda village in the year 1948.
Save Sharda Committee, which is a pressure group for re-opening of Sharda Pilgrimage sees the reopening of Sharda as a CBM between the two neighbouring countries that has not taken place since the partition. In a Press release issued by Ravinder Pandita, founder member of the Committee, stressed the need of setting up of Sharda University as well in J&K and facilitating J&K Hindus for annual pilgrimage on the lines of Sikhs undertaking Nankana Sahib yatra in Lahore, Pakistan every year was again highlighted. “This demand is pending since a long for which many Kashmiri Pandit organisations have been fighting, prominent amongst them being APMCC” , Pandita said. The Committee has been in touch with Central Government and the file for security clearance is being pursued in MHA. All Shankracharya Mutts have also supported the Committee in this demand.
The Committee has urged the Central Government to immediately take up the issue with Government of Pakistan , so that Kashmiris on both sides of LoC are allowed to undertake pilgrimages to boost heritage and religious tourism.
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