SSCK honours Hong Kong based couple
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: Maintaining that India is determined to liberate Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) from clutches of Pakistan, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that all problems of the people in J&K including the displaced Pandits and refugees from of PoJK will end with the liberation of occupied areas of undivided J&K State from Pakistan.
Dr Jitendra Singh was speaking at an event organized by Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (SSCK) in New Delhi today to honour Venkatraman and his wife Sujatha – a Hong Kong based couple who performed Puja near Sharda Peeth, in PoJK last October.
The couple flew in to New Delhi to attend the function. The event was presided over by Dr. Jitendra Singh in a Jam packed hall of Kashmiri Culture Centre in Pamposh Enclave , New Delhi. A documentary on recent developments on re-opening of Sharda Peeth, PoJK was also screened at the event. An exhibition was also staged on Sharda Peeth & Civilization comprising of 30 rare pictures on Sharda civilization.
Holding former Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Congress party responsible for over 70 year long crisis, he said had Nehru not declared unilateral ceasefire after Kabalis invaded Jammu and Kashmir who were on run when chased by Indian Army, the situation would have been altogether different in Indian Sub Continent today.
He said the Congress is totally responsible for the Kashmir problem as they handed over PoJK to Pakistan on platter.
Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the efforts of Save Sharda Committee in creating an awareness on the issue. Other speakers included Capt. Sikander Rizvi, Gilgit Baltistan expert and Commodore (Retd.) Dalbir Singh Sodhi, Kashmir expert and author. He said the Government is committed that PoJK belongs to India including Sharda Peeth.
Flowers were laid on the Shila ( Pious stone & soil) got from Sharda Peeth in PoK through the civil society across LoC. On this occasion Save Sharda Committee gifted a framed photograph of Sharda Peeth to the visiting couple. Earlier, Bhajans in praise of Swami Nand Lal Ji were sung by the budding children artists of the community. Swami Nand Lal Ji – a Kashmiri saint, was the last to sit on this peeth upto 1948. Swami Ji had to move to Tikker in Kupwara after the tribal raids and ever since then no J&K Hindu has gone there, nor any pilgrimage held. “ We want to highlight the Sharda issue at every platform and make the public aware about the historical, religious & cultural aspects of Sharda civilization and Sharda lipi too”, said Ravinder Pandita, head of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir.
He lauded the efforts of Civil Society of PoJK for their efforts in reviving the Sharda Culture & its preservation. A special mention was made about the members of the society namely Rayess Mohd, Tanveer Ahmad, Sadiya Rehman, Haji Shabbir, Afzal Ayuob, Khawaja Abdul Ghani amongst others. It may be noted that Save Sharda Committee Kashmir Regd. is pressing for reopening of Sharda Peeth in PoJK and has been in touch with GoI, Pakistan and PoJK authorities in this regard. “ We intend to hold more such exhibitions in India & abroad to highlight the issue. We held similar exhibition in Prayagraj Kumbh mela this year, in Bangalore, New Delhi and intend to do the next exhibition in Bangladesh” said Ravinder Pandita.
“ We are pressing for a mutual understanding of religious tourism between SAARC countries to allow pilgrims of these countries to visit Sharda peeth and in this connection an exhibition was held in Kathmandu Nepal recently’’, Pandita said. “We have also presented a memorandum through Kartarpur Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee to Government of Pakistan for resumption of Sharda Peeth yatra on the lines of Kartarpur on November 24 2019” said Ravinder Pandita. On the occasion Venkataraman presented Save Sharda Committee a shawl got from PoJK. A large gathering from various parts of life attended.
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