India condemns demolition of 125-year-old Gurdwara in Pakistan, seeks restoration

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday condemned the reported demolition of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Pakistan's Farooqabad, calling it a "targeted act of vandalism" and urging Pakistan to investigate the incident, restore the shrine and bring those responsible to justice.

Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had received "deeply distressing reports" about the demolition of the historic Sikh shrine in Farooqabad.

"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," Jaiswal was quoted as saying by TOI.

MEA raises concerns over attacks on minorities

The MEA said the incident reflected a continuing pattern of attacks on religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan.

"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," the ministry said in a statement, according to TOI.

The ministry also called on the Pakistan government to investigate the matter promptly, bring those responsible to justice and restore the demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib at the earliest, TOI reported.

It further urged Islamabad to fulfil its responsibility to ensure the safety, security and well-being of minority communities and their places of worship, and to end the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan, according to TOI.

Reports of demolition

The MEA's statement came after reports alleged that portions of the historic Gurdwara Singh Sabha, located near Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, were demolished by unidentified persons during the intervening night of June 24 and 25.

Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) met MEA officials and sought the Centre's intervention.

The delegation submitted a memorandum requesting the government to ensure no further damage is caused to Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib and sought the restoration of the demolished portions of the shrine. It also urged the government to take effective steps to prevent similar incidents involving places of worship and heritage sites belonging to minority communities in Pakistan.

Historic significance of the shrine

On Monday, Bhupinder Singh, a Sikh representative from Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, claimed in a video message shared on social media that the 125-year-old Gurdwara Singh Sabha was demolished during the intervening night of the eighth and ninth days of Muharram.

According to Bhupinder, the Gurdwara holds historical significance as one of the centres from which the Singh Sabha Movement gained momentum. The movement began in Amritsar in 1873 and was formally established in Lahore in 1879, playing a key role in the revival of Sikh religious and cultural identity.

Expressing concern over the incident, Bhupinder also alleged that Gurdwara Chobacha Sahib in Dharampura, associated with the Sixth Sikh Guru, had earlier been demolished without any meaningful action by the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

(With inputs form TOI)