New Delhi: Pakistan is facing sharp criticism after a more than 100-year-old Hindu temple in Narowal was reportedly demolished, prompting India to condemn the incident in strong terms and demand immediate action against those responsible.
The reported destruction of the historic place of worship in Siraj village has once again raised serious questions over the safety of Pakistan’s minority communities and the protection of their religious and cultural heritage.
India on Wednesday hit out at the reported demolition, calling it a deeply disturbing act of vandalism and accusing Pakistani authorities of failing to protect a century-old Hindu place of worship.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken “deep concern” over reports that the historic temple had been demolished. He strongly condemned the alleged vandalism, stressing that the site belonged to Pakistan’s minority Hindu community.
Jaiswal also questioned the apparent failure of local authorities to safeguard the temple, saying their “apparent indifference” and failure to protect the historic place of worship were a matter of serious concern.
India has demanded that Pakistan conduct an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.
New Delhi has also called on Islamabad to take immediate corrective measures and fulfil its fundamental responsibility to protect the lives, rights, religious sites and cultural heritage of its minority citizens.
The incident has once again put Pakistan’s record on minority protection under scrutiny, with the alleged destruction of a historic Hindu temple raising concerns over whether the country is doing enough to preserve places of worship belonging to its minority communities.
