New Delhi, September 2: India on Wednesday condemned the reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Siraj village of Narowal, Pakistan, and called on the government in Islamabad to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the incident. In a statement, India said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of the destruction of the historic temple and unequivocally condemned what it described as a reprehensible act of vandalism against a century-old minority place of worship.
India also expressed concern over the reported failure of authorities to protect the temple, saying such incidents highlight the vulnerability of minority communities and violations of their religious freedoms and places of worship in Pakistan.
New Delhi called on the Pakistani government to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and to take immediate steps to restore the desecrated temple. It also urged Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of its minority citizens and protect their cultural heritage.
Reportedly, the temple was razed on August 21, triggering a controversy in Pakistan. According to a report by Pakistani news outlet The Dawn, the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), a minority rights group, alleged that the structure was deliberately demolished to facilitate the expansion of an adjoining seminary.
The PMMP said a group of people demolished the temple and removed bricks, metal fittings from the dome and other material from the site. The group subsequently approached authorities seeking action against those responsible and estimated that the temple was more than 125 years old. However, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) claimed that the temple collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
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