New Delhi: India has reacted strongly to reports of the demolition of a 125-year-old gurdwara by miscreants in Pakistan. Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad was destroyed on the intervening night of July 24/25.
“We have seen the deeply distressing reports regarding the demolition of the historic 125-year-old sacred Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan. 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 or the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), is a matter of grave concern,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.
“This is unfortunately not an isolated incident, as we have also seen similar reports earlier. The systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated,” he said.
The gurdwara was significant as far as the Singh Sabha Movement is concerned, The Times of India reported.
The Sikh community in Pakistan has accused the government there of taking no action following the incident. There have been similar incidents in the past as well, Sikh representatives said.
“We call upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice. The demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib should be restored and reconstructed at the earliest. Further, we urge the Government of Pakistan to discharge its obligations to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship, and put a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan,” the MEA spokesperson said.
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