Save Sharda Committee Urges Indian Intervention as Pakistan Army Encroaches on Sacred Temple in POK

New Delhi: In a plea for immediate action, the Save Sharda Committee (SSC) has called on the Government of India to address the encroachment by the Pakistani Army on the revered Sharda temple complex in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The SSC, led by founder Ravinder Pandita, alleges that despite a court order in their favour, the Pakistani Army has not only encroached on the dilapidated old Sharda temple but has also established a coffee home on the premises.

During a press conference at the Press Club in Bangalore, Pandita stressed on the SSC’s request to the Government of India, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to intervene and demand removal of the encroachment. He highlighted the Supreme Court’s judgment in PoK on January 3, 2023, which supported the SSC’s representation to stop encroachment.

Civil society in PoK, along with SSC, has expressed concern over not only the encroachment but also the damage caused to the boundary wall of the temple. The committee demands reopening of Sharda Peeth for pilgrimage and threatens to organize a march to the Line of Control (LOC) if the coffee home is not removed immediately.

Additionally, Pandita advocated for the designation of Sharda Peeth as a UNESCO heritage site, emphasizing the cultural and historical importance of the holy place. To support pilgrims and tourists, a dedicated website has been launched, offering comprehensive information and a travel guide to the newly constructed Sharda Temple at Teetwal.

The construction of the Sharda Yatra temple at Teetwal, virtually inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in March, has received widespread support, with nearly 10,000 pilgrims visiting since its inauguration earlier this year. SSC’s petition underlines the urgency of preserving the sanctity of this holy site against encroachments.