India on Wednesday condemned the “deeply unfortunate and targeted” demolition of a 125-year-old gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province, and called on the Pakistani government to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to reports, Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Farooqabad city, about 60 kilometers from Lahore, was the target of a large-scale vandalism early on June 25. Pakistani authorities said that only the dome of the gurdwara was demolished, but videos posted on social media showed the entire structure had been reduced to rubble.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to the “extremely sad” reports of the demolition of the historic Gurdwara Singh Sabha temple in Farooqabad and said: “We strongly condemn this extremely unfortunate and targeted act of vandalism against the revered Sikh shrine. Its destruction, coupled with reports that no meaningful action has been taken by the local authorities or the Eviction Property Board (ETPB), is of grave concern.”
ETPB is the Pakistani government body responsible for the maintenance of shrines for religious minorities, including Sikhs.
Jaiswal stressed that the demolition of the gurdwara was not an “isolated incident” as similar incidents had been reported earlier. He added: “The systematic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated.”
“We call on the government of Pakistan to urgently investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice. The demolished parts of Gurdwara Sahib must be restored and rebuilt as soon as possible,” Jaiswal said.
The Indian side also urged the Pakistani government to “fulfill its obligations to ensure the safety, security and well-being of minority communities and their places of worship, and to bring a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan.”
The demolition of the gurdwara sparked protests by the Sikh community. Local authorities in Farooqabad, part of Sheikhupura district in Pakistan’s Punjab province, said the land mafia was behind the demolition of the building. Representatives of Pakistan’s Sikh minority demanded a high-level investigation into the incident.
