India Condemns Demolition of Historic Gurdwara in Pakistan, Demands Restoration
India has condemned the reported demolition of a 125-year-old gurdwara in Pakistan's Farooqabad, calling it a targeted act of vandalism. The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday expressed deep distress over the incident and urged Pakistani authorities to investigate and bring those responsible to justice.
The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, a historic Sikh shrine, was partly demolished, allegedly by a land mafia. Reports indicate that local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board failed to intervene. India described the act as highly deplorable and stressed the need for immediate restoration of the demolished portions.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, 'We strongly condemn this highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism against a revered Sikh shrine. Its destruction, along with reports of no meaningful action being taken by local authorities, is a matter of grave concern.'
New Delhi also highlighted that this incident is not isolated, pointing to a pattern of systematic targeting of religious minorities in Pakistan. The statement urged the Pakistani government to ensure the safety and security of minority communities and their places of worship, and to end sectarian violence and religious intolerance.
Last month, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the killing of a Sikh couple serving as caretakers of a gurdwara in Mardan city. Unidentified assailants opened fire inside the shrine, killing Jagannath, 70, and his wife. The Punjab BJP also condemned the demolition, with state chief Kewal Singh Dhillon noting that the building was declared a historic monument by the Pakistani government, making its demolition illegal.
India has demanded a prompt investigation and the reconstruction of the gurdwara at the earliest.
