The owners of a contested territory in Arunachal Pradesh has sought compensation from the Army for a plot of land on which the Army has constructed a Gurdwara near the Neh Pema Shelphu Shrine.
Shrine of Neh Pema Shelphu
- It is a holy site in Arunachal Pradesh’s Mechukha Valley.
- It is very religiously significant to the local Memba Buddhist population.
- Guru Padmasambhava, a famous figure in Tibetan Buddhism, is said to have sanctified the temple during his expedition of the area in the 8th century AD.
- According to historical documents, it has been a centre of devotion and pilgrimage for the Memba people since 1274 AD.
- Hundreds of Buddhists visit the shrine each year during a pilgrimage in March.
Why is this in the news?
- According to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the shrine linked with Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru, has been converted into a Buddhist shrine in Arunachal Pradesh.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ncm-team-visits-arunachal-pradesh-to-study-buddhist-shrine-gurdwara-row/article66868929.ece