Our Bureau
New Delhi
India has strongly condemned the demolition of the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan, calling it a “highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism” against a revered Sikh shrine. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Pakistani government to immediately investigate the incident, restore the damaged portions of the historic structure and bring those responsible to justice.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was deeply disturbed by reports of the demolition and the alleged lack of meaningful action by local authorities and Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board. He also expressed concern over what India described as a continuing pattern of attacks on minority communities and their places of worship in Pakistan.
According to reports, portions of the historic gurdwara, located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, were demolished by a local businessman without obtaining the required permissions. The incident reportedly sparked protests from members of the local Sikh community, who demanded action against those involved and protection for the religious site. Following the protests, Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reportedly took notice of the matter and directed authorities to restore the shrine while ensuring the protection of minority rights.
The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, believed to be more than a century old, is regarded as an important place of worship and a symbol of Sikh heritage in the region. India has maintained that the demolition is not an isolated incident and has called on Pakistan to fulfil its responsibility to safeguard minority communities and preserve their religious and cultural sites.
