New Delhi: India has expressed concern at the “vandalism” carried out at Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan, after an angry crowd pelted stones over the matter of a Sikh woman who had been allegedly forced to convert.
In August 2019, a caretaker at Nankana Sahib Gurudwara had complained that his youngest daughter, 19-year-old Jagjit Kaur had been kidnapped and forced to convert by six people.
According to Dawn, a mob started to assemble and surround the gurudwara on Friday afternoon, demanding that the arrested suspects be released. They were apparently led by family of Ehsan, who was accused of kidnapping and forcibly converting Kaur.
As per Press Trust of India, there were reports that the crowd pelted stones at Sikh pilgrims, most of whom were trapped inside the gurudwara. There were videos circulating on social media in which members of the crowd were shouting slogans against the Sikhs and issuing threats.
“We are concerned at the vandalism carried out at the revered Nankana Sahib Gurdwara today. Members of the minority Sikh community have been subjected to acts of violence in the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji. These reprehensible actions followed the forcible abduction and conversion of Jagjit Kaur, the Sikh girl who was kidnapped from her home in the city of Nankana Sahib in August last year,” said a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.
Also read: Abduction of Pakistani Sikh Woman: India Calls for ‘Immediate Remedial Action’
Condemning the “wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place”, India called on the “Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community”.
India also stated that “strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in desecration of the holy Gurudwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community”.
“In addition, Government of Pakistan is enjoined to take all measures to protect and preserve the sanctity of the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara and its surroundings,” added the statement.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh had appealed to the Pakistan PM to “immediately intervene that the devotees stranded in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are rescued and the historic gurdwara is saved from the angry mob surrounding it”.
Dawn reported that Ehsan’s family had raid their home and detained several members on Friday, ahead of the court hearing of the case on January 9.
Also read: Pakistan’s Hindus Want Law to Ban, Penalise Forced Conversions
Ehsan’s family also alleged that the police were trying to pressure them ahead of the court hearing.
The mob dispersed after “successful talks” which involved the PTI Nankana Sahib. As per media reports, all the arrested persons had been released.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, meanwhile, tweeted a post with a screenshot of the deleted tweet of the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the deleted tweet, Khan had posted a video of policemen beating up a Muslim as that of a “pogrom” in India. However, the clip was actually from Bangladesh.
Tweet Fake News.Get Caught.
Delete Tweet. Repeat#Oldhabitsdiehard pic.twitter.com/MjFtzP0WHW— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 3, 2020
Pakistan rejects claims
Pakistan on Friday rejected reports that Gurdwara Nanakana Sahib near Lahore was desecrated by certain groups.
The Foreign Office in a midnight statement said the provincial authorities in the Punjab province have said that there was a scuffle in the city of Nankana Sahib on Friday between two Muslim groups.
The altercation happened on a minor incident at a tea-stall and the District Administration immediately intervened and arrested the accused.
“Attempts to paint this incident as a communal issue are patently motivated. Most importantly, the Gurdwara remains untouched and undamaged. All insinuations to the contrary, particularly the claims of acts of desecration and destruction’ and desecration of the holy place, are not only false but also mischievous,” said the FO.
(With PTI inputs)
Note: This article was first published on January 3, 2020 at 11:45 pm and republished on January 4, 2020 at 9:50 am with Pakistan’s response.