Peace in Kashmir after Art 370 abrogation: Amit Shah

Srinagar, Mar 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the abrogation of article 370 has taken Jammu and Kashmir back to its old traditions, culture and ‘Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb’
Home Minister’s remarks came after he e-inaugurated the Mata Sharda Devi temple near the Line of Control (LoC) in Karnah sector of the frontier Kupwara district in northern Kashmir.
“The opening of the temple was the beginning of the new dawn and quest for reviving the Sharda culture,” he said, adding that the temple opening was made possible by the joint efforts of the people including civil society on both sides of the Line of Control even as he congratulated Save Sharda Committee president Ravinder Pandita and said the centre will try opening Sharda Peeth across the LoC on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor.
He further said he will start his next J&K visit by bowing at the Mata Sharda Devi temple. The home minister said that the architecture and construction of this temple has been done according to mythological scriptures under the aegis of Sharda Peeth. “The idol of Sharda Maa, donated by the Sringeri Math, and its installation here, the time period from 24 January till today was like a journey,” he said, adding that the reconstruction of Maa Sharda’s temple in Kupwara is a necessary and important step in the direction of discovery of Sharda-civilization and promotion of Sharda-script.
Shah said that once upon a time Sharda Peeth was considered the centre of knowledge in the Indian subcontinent, scholars from all over the country used to come here in search of scriptures and spiritual knowledge.
He said that the Sharda script is the original script of our Kashmir, which has been named after the name of Maa Sharda. This is one of the Mahashakti Peeths and according to religious beliefs, the right hand of Maa Sati fell here.
He also said that Sharda Peeth has been a historical centre of India’s cultural, religious and educational heritage, like Kartarpur Corridor, Government under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will move forward to open Sharda Peeth for devotees. Due to the efforts of PM peace has been established in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the J&K are once again returning to their old traditions, civilization and Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb,” he added.
He said that as per its commitment of social and economic transformation, the Government has taken initiatives in all sectors of J&K, including the culture rejuvenation.
The systematic restoration and repair work is going on at 123 identified places under this, which include many temples and Sufi Places. He said that in the first phase, 35 places were being renovated at a cost of Rs 65 crore.
He said that 31 mega cultural programs have also been organized by identifying the 75 places of religious and Sufi saints. “Twenty (20) cultural festivals have also been organized in every district which will help in reviving our old heritage,” he said.
While praising the work of LG Manoj Sinha, he said that Sinha has played a great role in bringing industrial investments to J&K. He also congratulated LG for successful implementation of PM Modi’s schemes on the ground in the UT.