New Delhi: Lodging its strong protest against the reported incident whereby Gurudwara ‘Shahidi Asthan’ in Lahore is being made to convert it to a mosque, India on Monday expressed its concerns in strongest terms and called upon Islamabad to investigate and take immediate remedial measures.
New Delhi also asked Pakistan to look after the safety, security, well-being of its minority communities.
"A strong protest was lodged with the Pakistan High Commission today on the reported incident whereby Gurdwara ‘Shahidi Asthan’, site of martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh ji at Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan has been claimed as the place of Masjid Shahid Ganj and attempts are being made to convert it to a mosque,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a response to media query regarding it.
Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan Bhai Taru Ji is a historical gurdwara where Bhai Taru Ji made supreme sacrifice in 1745.
The Gurdwara is a place of reverence and considered sacred by the Sikh community.
“This incident has been viewed with grave concern in India. There have been calls for justice for the minority Sikh community in Pakistan,” Mr Srivastava said.
“India expressed its concerns, in strongest terms on this incident and called upon Pakistan to investigate the matter and take immediate remedial measures,” he said.
“Pakistan was also called upon to look after the safety, security, well-being of its minority communities including protection of their religious rights and cultural heritage,” the spokesperson said.
On Sunday, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Manjinder Singh Sirsa has appealed to the government and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar to talk to their counterparts in Pakistan and assure that the Gurudwara stays secure and any conspiracy being hatched to make a mosque there is thwarted.
“I hope the government of Pakistan will ensure that the Gurudwara is secure and there is no harm to the Sikh minorities in Pakistan,” Mr Sirsa appealed in a video post.
