Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (SSCK) called on MoS External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan in Parliament House today and reiterated its demand of re-opening of Sharda Peeth in PoK for Hindu pilgrims. The Minister assured the delegation led by the founder of SSCK, Ravinder Pandita that the Ministry would be taking up the issue with its counterparts once the heads of the two Governments will meet. ” This issue would certainly be included in the list of issues with Pakistan” said the Minister”.
The Committee further requested him to get the existing LoC permit amended to include cross LoC heritage & religious tourism, to which the Minister assure the delegation that the same would be studied and looked into. ” We had raised the question in Parliament in December’2018 and written to Ministry many times. We were replied by External Affairs Ministry that GoI has taken up the issue with Pakistan but they have not concurred the proposal. This letter was received by us on 12 July’2019 from Ministry of External affairs PAI Division” said Ravinder Pandita.
The Committee also pressed for inclusion of Sharda in J&K State Tableau on Republic Day function next year. A copy of judgement on preservation of Sharda Peeth received from Supreme Court of PoK was also given to him. Save Sharda Committee head who had recently visited Kartarpur in Pakistan briefed the Minister about the visit and demanded that if Kartarpur happens- why not Sharda . The Minister was honoured with a Sharda Shawal and a photo of Sharda Peeth was presented to him by SSCK.
In a press release issued by Ravinder Pandita, head and founder member of the Committee, he said the stress was laid on the need of setting up of Sharda University and facilitating J&K Hindus for annual pilgrimage on the lines of Sikhs undertaking Nankana Sahib & Kartarpur yatra in Pakistan every year. The committee has raised the issue of reopening of Sharda Peeth with both GoI and Pakistan and has been pressing for the same in concerned ministries.
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