On Wednesday, home minister Amit Shah both proposed a Kartarpur Sahib-style corridor to the Sharda Peeth temple in PoK and dedicated the Sharda Devi shrine in Kupwara, close to the LoC. The restoration of the Sharda Devi temple at Karnah, according to him, was a significant step in the understanding of the Sharda civilization and the Sharda script, the earliest writing system used in Kashmir.
The home minister spoke via videoconference at the opening of the Maa Sharda Devi temple, recalling how Sharda Peeth was once a hub of India's cultural, religious, and educational legacy when academics from all over the nation gathered in pursuit of texts and spiritual understanding.
He promised that the central government would proceed with opening the Sharda Peeth, just as it had done with the Kartarpur Corridor.
He said that after Article 370 was repealed, peace has been restored to J&K, with both Jammu and the Ganga-Jamuni "tehzeeb" and the Kashmir Valley reverting to their previous customs and civilization (peaceful co-existence among different religious communities).
Shah said that the opening of the Maa Sharda Devi temple on the first day of Chaitra Navratri was a "auspicious sign" and the "start of a new age." He also claimed that the temple's construction had been created under the supervision of Sharda Peeth in line with the ancient texts.
Shah added that 35 locations, including temples and Sufi centers like Ziyarat Shareef Reshimala and Ram Mandir, were being refurbished throughout J&K. He also identified 75 locations for 31 large cultural events.
