Controversy over demolition of 125 year old Gurudwara in Pakistan’s Punjab without NOC, India strongly condemned and demanded investigation and reconstruction, local protests and government action continue.
Pakistan Gurudwara Demolition News: A horrifying and heartbreaking news has emerged from Pakistan’s Punjab province, which has not only shaken the minority Sikh community there, but has also taken the diplomatic tension between India and Pakistan to its peak. Located in Farooqabad, just 70 km from Lahore, a major center of the Sikh faith – the 125-year-old historic ‘Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib’ – is now on the verge of being buried in the pages of history. An influential local businessman demolished this sacred religious structure with a bulldozer overnight. After this incident, anger has flared up on both sides of the border, and India has taken a very strict stance on this.
Midnight ‘Operation’: How was Sikh heritage demolished without NOC?
This entire incident seems like a well-planned conspiracy. According to Pakistani officials, on the dreadful night of June 24, hammers and bulldozers were used on this historic Gurudwara without any administrative permission or ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC). The most surprising thing was that while this demolition was taking place, the local administration and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) remained complete spectators. The sleeping administration woke up only when the local Sikh community took to the streets and started a massive protest after seeing the debris in the morning. This incident has once again created an atmosphere of deep suspense and fear over the security of religious places of minorities in Pakistan.
India’s sharp attack: “This was deliberate sabotage, the culprits should be punished”
The Government of India has taken a very strong and strict stance on this heinous incident. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued an official statement in New Delhi strongly condemning the incident. He termed it as a “highly condemnable and deliberate act of sabotage”. Jaiswal, speaking in Islamabad, said: “The continued targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan is a matter of grave concern. This is not an isolated incident. We appeal to the Government of Pakistan to immediately investigate this matter, give strict punishment to the culprits, and rebuild the damaged parts of this holy Gurudwara as soon as possible.”
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Mysterious record of Auqaf department and order of Maryam Nawaz
Seeing the huge anger of the Sikh community, Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Maryam Nawaz took cognizance of the matter. Soon after this, on Wednesday, State Minority Affairs Minister Ramesh Singh Arora visited Farooqabad along with top officials. But a new and intriguing twist emerged during this tour. When the minister asked the Auqaf department (which looks after minority properties) to check the ownership of the land, an initial inquiry revealed that this historic land was not even registered in Auqaf records! This administrative negligence has further deepened the mystery as to whose instigation this historical heritage was neglected for so many years. However, Minister Arora has announced that the government will immediately start the restoration of this Gurudwara at its own expense.
80 years of silence and fear of homelessness: Unspoken concerns of traders
Another emotional aspect of this entire controversy is related to the local shopkeepers and families of Farooqabad. Local businessmen living around the Gurudwara say that this complex was completely deserted for the last 80 years. During this long period, many poor families made their home here and dozens of shops were opened, which helps in running their household. Now that the government has decided to vacate this place and reconstruct the Gurudwara, the dark shadow of homelessness and loss of employment has started looming before the people living there. The local people have appealed to the government that if they are displaced from there, they should be given alternative land to live and means of employment, so that innocent lives are not wasted at the altar of this religious dispute.