Former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Sampla on Wednesday strongly condemned the demolition of the nearly 125-year-old historic Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib located at Mandi Chuharkana (Farooqabad) in Punjab Province, Pakistan. He described the act as a direct assault on the faith, history, and priceless heritage of the Sikh community.
Sampla Highlights Ongoing Concerns for Minorities in Pakistan
Sampla drew attention to repeated reports of attacks on temples and gurdwaras, illegal encroachments on religious sites, discrimination against minority communities, and alleged forced conversions and marriages involving women and minor girls from Hindu and Sikh communities in Pakistan. He said these incidents have repeatedly drawn international attention and indicate that much more needs to be done to ensure effective protection of minority rights and preservation of religious heritage.
Questioning Pakistan's Commitment to Religious Freedom
Sampla stated that when historic and sacred religious sites cannot be protected, it raises serious questions about religious freedom, the rule of law, and the constitutional rights of minority communities in Pakistan. He noted that over the past several years, numerous controversies involving temples, gurdwaras, and other places of worship have continued to surface. Under such circumstances, the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan becomes greater, and it must move beyond mere assurances and take strict, exemplary action against those responsible. This would help restore confidence that the protection of every religious site and every citizen is its highest priority.
Urges Transparent Investigation and Restoration
Welcoming the Government of India's diplomatic response to the issue, Sampla urged the Government of Pakistan to conduct a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation into the incident, ensure stringent action against the culprits, and undertake the early restoration of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib.
