NEW DELHI — India has strongly condemned the targeted demolition of the historic 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, Pakistan. Terming the incident “highly deplorable,” New Delhi has formally demanded that Islamabad conduct a swift investigation and bring the perpetrators—alleged to be part of a local land mafia—to justice.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed deep distress over the vandalism and hit out at the apparent inaction of Pakistani law enforcement and administrative bodies.
MEA Expresses Grave Concern Over Local Inaction
In an official statement, the foreign ministry highlighted that the destruction of the revered Sikh shrine was compounded by a complete lack of protective measures from regional authorities and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), the Pakistani state organ tasked with maintaining minority religious properties.
The Indian government has put forward two immediate diplomatic demands:
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Accountability: A prompt, transparent investigation to identify and prosecute those behind the structural damage.
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Restoration: The immediate reconstruction and restoration of the demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib to preserve its historical and religious sanctity.
“We urge the Government of Pakistan to discharge its obligations to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of its minority communities and their places of worship.” — Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson
Systemic Targeting of Minorities Highlighted
New Delhi noted that the incident in Farooqabad is not an isolated occurrence, pointing to a worrying pattern of sectarian intolerance and “systematic targeting” of religious minorities across Pakistan.
The diplomatic pushback follows hot on the heels of another recent tragedy flagged by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, where an elderly Sikh couple—serving as caretakers of a local gurdwara in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—were gunned down inside the shrine premises by unidentified assailants.
Outrage from Punjab Political Leadership
The demolition has triggered widespread political outrage in India, particularly in Punjab. Condemning the move, Punjab BJP Chief Kewal Singh Dhillon pointed out that the Farooqabad Gurdwara had previously been designated as a “historic monument” by the Pakistani government itself, making the structural demolition a direct violation of its own protective laws.
