India condemns demolition of historic Hindu temple in Pakistan
India has strongly criticised the reported demolition of a more than century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province and called for a transparent investigation into the incident.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was deeply concerned by reports surrounding the destruction of the historic temple in Siraj village in Narowal district.
India described the incident as an attack on a minority place of worship and expressed concern over what it called the failure of Pakistani authorities to protect the site.
Jaiswal said such incidents highlight the continuing concerns surrounding the safety of minority communities and the protection of their religious sites in Pakistan.
New Delhi has urged Pakistan to investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition, identify those responsible and take action against them.
India has also called on Islamabad to take steps to restore the damaged religious site and ensure the security and welfare of minority communities and their cultural heritage.
The issue has also triggered controversy within Pakistan. According to reports, the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party, which works on minority rights, alleged that the temple was intentionally demolished to make way for an expansion of a nearby seminary.
The Evacuee Trust Property Board, however, has disputed that claim and said the structure collapsed following heavy rainfall.
The temple was demolished on August 21. The minority rights group alleged that people removed bricks, metal fittings from the dome and other materials from the location. It also approached authorities seeking action. The group estimated that the temple was more than 125 years old.