India Slams Pakistan After Historic Gurudwara Demolition, Calls Out ‘Double Standard’s On Sikh Rights
New Delhi: India has strongly condemned to reported demolition of the 125 year old Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Pakistan’s Farooqabad, calling it a “targeted act of vandalism” and accusing Islamabad of failing to protect the rights and religious heritage of its Sikh minority. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged Pakistan to immediately investigate the incident, punish those responsible and restore the damaged portions of historic shrine.
In a sharp statement , MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the destruction of the Sikh place of worship was “highly deplorable” and reflected a continuing pattern of attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan. India also expressed concern over reports that local authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board ( ETPB), the statutory body responsible for managing Sikh and Hindu religious minorities in Pakistan, failed to make meaningful action to prevent or address the incident.
The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib, believed to be around 125 years old, is regarded as an important symbol of the Singh Sabha movement, which played a key role in preserving and reviving Sikh religious and cultural identity during the late 19th century. According to reports, portions of the historic structure were allegedly demolished during the night of June 24-25 by unidentified persons, triggering outrage among Sikhs in both India and Pakistan.
Calling the incident part of a larger pattern, India said the attack was not an isolated case but another example of what it described as the “systemic targeting” of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan. New Delhi urged Islamabad to fulfill its responsibility to ensure the safety, security and dignity of minority communities while taking concrete steps to curb sectarian violence and religious intolerance.
The issue has also sparked strong reactions from Sikh organisations. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of External Affairs, requesting the Government of India to raise the matter diplomatically and press Pakistan to prevent any further damage to the shrine. The committee also demanded the immediate restoration of the demolished sections and stronger safeguards for Sikh heritage sites across Pakistan.
The latest controversy has once again brought international attention to the condition of minority religious sites in Pakistan. Over the years, several Sikh and Hindu places of worship have reportedly faced vandalism, encroachment or neglect, prompting repeated diplomatic protests from India and concerns from community organisations.
As diplomatic tensions over the issue continue to rise, India has reiterated that safeguarding places of worship and protecting the rights of religious minorities are international obligations that cannot be ignored. The MEA has called on Pakistan to ensure accountability, rebuild the damaged gurdwara at the earliest and take credible measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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