Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 20: In a significant meeting, BJP Kashmir Displaced District vice president, Chetan Wanchoo met with the Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy. During the meeting, Wanchoo presented the Minister with an authoritative book on Sharda Peeth, authored by Ravinder Pandita, a prominent scholar and founder of the Save Sharda Foundation.
Wanchoo took the occasion to elucidate the profound historical and cultural significance of Sharda Peeth, particularly for the Kashmiri Pandit community. He underscored that Sharda Peeth, located in the Sharda village along the Neelam river across the Line of Control (LoC), is not merely an ancient temple but was once a revered seat of learning. Regarded as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peeths in South Asia, Sharda Peeth has long been an epicentre of Vedic scholarship and spiritual practice, deeply embedded in the cultural consciousness of Kashmiri Pandits.
Expressing deep appreciation for the BJP Government’s unwavering commitment to preserving India’s cultural and religious heritage, Wanchoo acknowledged the pivotal role of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Home Minister, Amit Shah. Their leadership was instrumental in the recent construction and consecration of a Sharda temple at Teetwal in Kupwara. This temple, strategically located near the Line of Control, serves as a symbol of cultural resurgence and spiritual continuity for Kashmiri Pandits.
Wanchoo also articulated the enduring aspirations of the Kashmiri Pandit community to re-establish the Sharda Peeth pilgrimage route, akin to the Kartarpur Corridor. He highlighted the pressing need for cross-border religious tourism, which would enable devotees to reconnect with this sacred site, thus restoring a vital aspect of their religious and cultural identity.
In response, the Union Minister G Kishan Reddy assured Wanchoo that the matter would be prioritized following the conclusion of the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir. He affirmed the Government’s commitment to addressing this legitimate demand, signalling hope for a positive resolution to this long-standing issue.
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