Modi government reconstructed Sharda Devi temple located on the Indian side of Loc, not Sharda Peeth - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 12, 2023
Comparing an image of dilapidated structure with that of a newly built temple, a social media post claims that the Modi government has reconstructed the Sharda Peeth temple located in PoK, and that the two images show the condition of the temple before/after the reconstruction. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Modi government reconstructed the Sharda Peeth temple situated in PoK.
Fact: Union government reconstructed the Sharda Devi temple located in Kupwara, on the Indian side of LoC, whereas the Sharda Peeth is in PoK and has been inaccessible for Indian pilgrims since 1947. The post wrongly compares images of Sharda Peeth with that of the newly constructed Sharda Devi temple. There could at least be 40-50 km distance between these  two temples. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on 22 March 2023, through a video conference inaugurated the newly constructed temple of Maa Sharda Devi, located in Teetwal village of Jammu Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
This Sharda Devi temple is located along the Indian side of the LoC and the foundation for rebuilding the temple was laid back in December 2021.
Sharing the news through a Facebook post, Union Minister Amit Shah shared the same image of the new temple as in the viral post.
Sharda Peeth is in PoK:
However, the Sharda Peeth mentioned in the viral post is in Neelam valley, PoK. The temple has not been accessible to the Indian pilgrims since 1947. It has been in dilapidated condition ever since.
The same viral image has been reported in multiple news articles over the years, few of these can be viewed here, here, and here.
However, speaking at the inauguration of the temple, Amit Shah said that central government would move forward to open the Sharda Peeth on the lines of Kartarpur Corridor.
Thus, this establishes that the viral post misconstrued Sharda Peeth in PoK for Sharda temple located on the Indian side of the LoC, and makes a false comparison of two different temples, which are at least 40-50 kms apart.
To sum it up, the Modi government reconstructed Sharda Devi temple located on the Indian side of LoC, not Sharda Peeth in PoK.