New Delhi (NVI): After the opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the movement for opening of Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple in Neelum district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) has gained momentum.
The Sharda Peeth is 10 km inside PoK from the LoC (Line of Control). Hindus in PoJK as well as in India have already been demanding access to the ancient temple which has been denied by Pakistan since 1948.
The temple, which is one of the most sacred places for the Hindus of J&K, has turned into ruins since 1947 and there has been no caretaker left to look after the premises.
However, some civil society groups and political parties in PoJK have expressed solidarity with the Hindu groups’ quest for pilgrimage access to the temple.
Yesterday, National Equality Party JKGBL from Gilgit Baltistan region visited Sharda Peeth and demanded a visa free entry for Hindus across the LoC.
JKGBL Chairman Prof. Sajjad Raza, who is also s human rights activist from the region, shared pictures and a video of the visiting team on Twitter.
“Sharda Peeth is one of the most sacred places for the Hindus of J&K. But since 1947 this place has turned into ruins & no Hindu is left in POJK to look after the MANDIR. Our party delegation inspected Sharda Peeth today & we demand a visa free entry for Hindus across the LoC,” Pro. Raza tweeted.
Sharda Peeth is one of the most sacred places for the Hindus of J&K. But since 1947 this place has turned into ruins & no Hindu is left in POJK to look after the MANDIR. Our party delegation inspected Sharda Peeth today & we demand a visa free entry for Hindus across the LoC. pic.twitter.com/QPVyUVsLOZ
— Prof. Sajjad Raja (@NEP_JKGBL) November 9, 2020
The JKGBL party has demanded that Sharda Peeth pilgrimage for Hindus should be facilitated and all restrictions must be lifted off.
#BreakingNews National Equality Party JKGBL delegation visits Sharda Peeth in the Neelum Valley in POJK and demands that Sharda Peeth pilgrimage for Hindus should be facilitated and all restrictions must be lifted off. pic.twitter.com/fAeEsXTROg
— Prof. Sajjad Raja (@NEP_JKGBL) November 9, 2020
In 2018, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had assured Indian journalists of the opening of Sharda Peeth after the inauguration of the Kartapur corridor but never fulfilled his promise.
Meanwhile, the movement to gain unrestricted access to the temple has also been intensified in India as Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (SSCK) has taken up the issue at various platforms including the United Nations (UN).
Notably, the Indian Hindus have been demanding an amendment in the LoC permit rules to include the annual Sharda pilgrimage which has been denied by the Pakistan government.
-ARK
