BJP Leader Demands Sharda Peeth Corridor for Kashmiri Pandits

A BJP leader has called for the establishment of a Sharda Peeth corridor in Kashmir's Kupwara district to facilitate the pilgrimage of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the ancient Mata Sharda Devi temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The temple, a significant cultural and historical site, was once a revered center of Vedic learning.

A BJP leader on Wednesday advocated for the creation of a Sharda Peeth corridor in the Neelam Valley of north Kashmir's Kupwara district to enable the pilgrimage of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the ancient temple of Mata Sharda Devi in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Vice President of the BJP's displaced Kashmir unit, Chetan Wanchoo, raised the demand during a meeting with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy. Wanchoo suggested a pilgrimage route akin to the Kartarpur Corridor via the Teetwal area. He emphasized the need for cross-border religious tourism to help devotees reconnect with the sacred site and restore their cultural identity.

Presenting a book on Sharda temple to Reddy, Wanchoo highlighted its historical and cultural significance. He noted that Sharda Peeth, located in Sharda village along the Neelum River across the Line of Control (LoC), was not just an ancient temple but a seat of learning and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in South Asia.

Wanchoo appreciated the BJP government's efforts to preserve India's cultural and religious heritage and acknowledged the pivotal roles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in these efforts. Reddy assured the demand would be prioritized after the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, signaling hope for a positive resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)