 Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) the Kashmiri Pandit organization that has been pioneering the demand for reopening of ancient Shardha Peeth in PoK, the temple of Shardha Mata, the presiding deity of Kashmiri Pandit community, decided to take a cautious stand over the reported decision by Pakistan government to re-open Shardha Peeth temple for Hindus on the pattern of Kartarpur Sahab Corridor saying the organization will go by the decision of Government of India in order to protect national interest.
In a statement issued here today APMCC said that while their organization has been fighting for more than sixteen years for the re-opening of Shardha Peeth located in Shardhi Village in Pakistan occupied Kashmir they don't want to jump the gun in 'ecstasy' and instead would go with whatever decision government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes keeping national security and national interest in mind.
The APMCC leaders Vinod Pandit, Chairman, King C Bharati, National Spokesperson, Advocate Arun Kandroo, Gen Secy, Rattan Lal Bhat, Ex-Chairman Shardha Mata Trust, TK Bhat Gen Secy ASKPC, SN Saraf, Vice President Kapal Mochan Trust Shopian, Vijay Chicken senior leader APMCC, TK Zutshi, Sunil Kumar, Pradeep Pandita, Usha Nakhasi, Baby Pandita, Veena Pandita, Pyarey Lal Thusoo, VK Tickoo, Ranjan Ji, Sunny Raina, Sanjay Koul, Amit Raina, Bansi Lal Reshi, AK Bhat, AK Tickoo and others had a consulting session here today, after the news of Shardha Peeth reopening offer was made by Pakistan media, to decide their future course of action and it was unanimously resolved that APMCC stands for 'Nation First' campaign and would therefore wait for the statement from Government of India on the matter and go with whatever the decision GoI takes at this moment.
The leaders said that the acrimony that has been going on between the two countries since Pulwama carnage and air strikes, it was imperative upon every nationalistic citizen of India to go with the decision of their own Prime Minister rather than that of Pakistan and hence it was decided to stand solidly behind GoI and PMO on the subject at this point of time.
The leaders said that Kashmiri Pandits were true nationalists and would not go against the national interest even though they would have warmly celebrated the news had Pakistan not politicized such issues and indulged in Pulwama like carnages and air strikes adding the politicization of Kartarpur Sahab corridor has forced them to rethink and go with the decision of GoI and PMO at this point of time.
It may be recalled that APMCC has been fighting for the re-opening of the Shardha Peeth temple for more than sixteen years and was the first organization seeking permission to visit the temple on permit system which was denied by the then government vide an official letter on 21-06-2006 asking Pandits to seek visa instead of cross-LoC permit creating a huge controversy in 2006.
APMCC Chairman Vinod Pandit went for 10 days fast unto death in 2011 at Jammu over the issue and later for 15 days fast unto death at Porbandar Gujarat where Porbandar observed a shutdown in favour and also staged a Rail roko protest which was broken after a written assurance by J&K Govt vide letter D.O.N.O. PS/ HMOS/Rev/986 dated 13-02-2013.
It was on February 18, 2013 when the then Chief Minister and BJPs designated PM Candidate Narendra Modi invited the APMCC delegation to his official residence Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, after Porbandar fast and assured that he will take-up the matter if he becomes the PM of India.
Later in July 2018 APMCC organized a first ever Kalash pooja after 1947 at holy Kishen Ganga Teetwal sector of Kupwara, the traditional route of Shardha Peeth Yatra as a part of its long struggle for reopening of Shardha Peeth temple. |
