'Deeply distressing': India strongly condemns demolition of historic Gurdwara in Pakistan

India on Wednesday strongly condemned the reported demolition of 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Pakistan’s Farooqabad, calling out the systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in the country.

While responding to media queries over the matter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the news is "deeply distressing" and highly deplorable. "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," Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

"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."

"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 added.

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New Delhi went on to call upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of the vandalism 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 averred.

Not the first instance

It is pertinent to note that the latest diplomatic protest came against the backdrop of growing concerns of India and Sikh organisations over the condition of several historic Sikh and Hindu religious sites in Pakistan.

Over the years, incidents of vandalism, encroachment and damage to minority places of worship, including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Janam Asthan, temples in Karak, Rahim Yar Khan and parts of Sindh, as well as Ahmadi and Christian religious sites.

These incidents periodically drew international attention and criticism. India on several occasions has urged Pakistan to ensure the preservation of religious heritage and provide adequate protection to minority communities.

In the past, the Evacuee Trust Property Board, which administers hundreds of Sikh and Hindu religious properties in Pakistan, has also faced criticism from sections of the Sikh community over the maintenance and protection of heritage shrines.