Defence minister Rajnath Singh has something new to say for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying that it is a part of India and will continue to do so.

“A resolution was passed in Parliament on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). PoK is a part of Indian territory and will continue to do so. How is it possible that Baba Amarnath (Lord Shiva's form) is in India and Maa Sharda Shakti is across the Line of Control,” news agency ANI quoted the defence minister.

#WATCH पाक अधिकृत कश्मीर पर भारत की संसद में प्रस्ताव पारित हुआ था। पाक अधिकृत कश्मीर भारत का हिस्सा था, भारत का हिस्सा है और रहेगा। ये कैसा हो सकता है कि शिव के स्वरूप बाबा अमरनाथ हमारे यहां हो और मां शारदा शक्ति स्वरूपा LoC के पार हो: जम्मू में रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह pic.twitter.com/YiHLdjeByG

ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) July 24, 2022

Singh was referring to the Sharda Peeth, which has the ruins of a temple to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, also known as Sharda. It is located close to the Kishen Ganga river in the Neelum valley, around 150 kilometres from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This site holds religious significance for the Kashmiri Pandits who have been demanding the Kartarpur corridor to offer prayers.

Previously in 2018, People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehboooba Mufti urged India and Pakistan to allow pilgrimage to the Sharda Peeth. “Kartarpur is a great example of how religion can bring people together instead of dividing them. It is a path envisioned by PDP founder Mufti Sb to end the turmoil in Kashmir. #SelfRule. After Kartarpur, Delhi and Pakistan must facilitate Sharda Peeth pilgrimage for Kashmiris,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had tweeted after India and Pakistan had laid the foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

In 2019, Mufti again pitched the idea for the Sharda Peeth corridor, saying that opening the pilgrimage would ease tensions between India and Pakistan. Her statement came amid the hostilities between the two countries in wake of Balakot airstrikes and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.