I welcome Pakistan Govt.’s Decision to Facilitate Access to Sharda Temple in PAK, Which I Consider to be a Precious Cultural Heritage for the People of Kashmir: Soz

Srinagar , 26^th March, 2019:“It was heartening to receive warm greetings from Shri. Ravinder Pandita, Founder President, Save Sharda Committee Kashmir, last evening, regarding Pakistan Govt.’s decision to facilitate access to Sharda Temple in PAK.

It is several years before that I had joined the struggle for safeguarding the temple in PAK and taken up the matter with the Govt. of India to intervene in the matter and ensure a regular pilgrimage to the Sharda Temple. Whatever I was doing, was known to Shri. Ravinder Pandita and his colleagues in the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir.

As recently as 30^th November 2018, I had strongly pleaded with the External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj, keeping the PMO informed, that since Pakistan had indicated that it would have no difficulty on opening the road to Sharda Temple, Govt. of India should immediately approach Pakistan to ensure a regular pilgrimage to the temple.

I will continue to work for a regular pilgrimage to Sharda Temple in collaboration with Save Sharda Temple Committee Kashmir, and try in my humble way to bring peace and relief to the hearts and minds of Kashmiri Pandits and others.

I consider Sharda Temple to be a part of rich Cultural Heritage of Kashmiris.”