Pakistan Army encroaches ancient Sharda temple in PoK

A Coffee House opened on the land of the temple

Sharda temple in PoK (Credits:Tribune India)

New Delhi – ‘The Pakistan Army has added to its unholy activities by encroaching ancient Sharda temple in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)’, informed the founder of ‘Save Sharda Committee’ Mr Ravinder Pandita in a press conference. He also alleged the Pak Army of encroaching the temple premises.

Mr Pandita added,

Pak Army has opened a ‘Coffee House’ on the land of ancient Sharda temple despite Court orders prohibiting it. Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should raise the issue to remove this encroachment. If Pak authorities and Army do not remove the ‘Coffee House’, we will give a call for a march to the Line of Control (LoC) and cross it. The civil society in PoK had also raised its voice against the destruction and encroachment of the temple along with the ‘Save Sharda Committee’.

The Sharda Peeth should be reopened for the devotees to go on pilgrimage and it should be declared a ‘UNESCO Heritage Site’ for the conservation of this ancient structure. Sharda temple and a Gurdwara have been reconstructed at the same place where they stood before 1947. Both these holy structures were burnt down in the tribal raids. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the newly constructed Sharda temple in Teetwal in Kashmir on 22nd March 2023.

Editorial Perspective

Indian citizens expect that in order to protect the Hindu religious structures in PoK, the Government should take control over PoK as soon as possible.