India has strongly condemned the reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which minority representatives and native residents allege was razed to make method for a madrassa on or close to the temple land, calling it a disturbing assault on a minority place of worship and an indication of the authorities’ “alarming” failure to guard non secular heritage.
The temple in Siraj village, Narowal, about 130 kilometres from Lahore, was reportedly demolished on August 21. Pakistani authorities have stated that the greater than century-old construction collapsed following torrential rains.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of Exterior Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated New Delhi had taken be aware of the stories with “deep concern” and condemned the destruction.
“We’ve got famous with deep concern the disturbing stories of the destruction of a historic Hindu temple in village Siraj, Narowal, Pakistan. We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act of vandalism in opposition to a century-old minority place of worship,” Jaiswal stated.
India additionally questioned the obvious failure of Pakistani authorities to safeguard the location.
“The obvious apathy of authorities and failure to guard this century-old temple is alarming,” he stated. The MEA spokesperson has referred to as on the Pakistani authorities to launch a immediate and clear investigation into the demolition and be certain that these accountable are held absolutely accountable. It additionally urged Islamabad to take rapid steps to revive the “desecrated” temple and fulfil its basic responsibility to guard the security, safety and well-being of minority communities, together with their non secular and cultural heritage.
LAND GRAB FOR MADRASSA?
In accordance with information company PTI, the Pakistan Masiha Millat Occasion (PMMP), Hindu group representatives and native residents have alleged that non secular zealots intentionally demolished the temple and that its land was subsequently targeted for use in connection with an adjoining madrassa. PMMP chairman Aslam Parvez Sahotra has sought authorities intervention, saying he met Punjab Further Dwelling Secretary on August 28 and submitted a written criticism demanding motion in opposition to these allegedly accountable.
Sahotra alleged that members of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which is a banned far-right Islamic political occasion, had been concerned within the demolition. He additional claimed that metallic fittings from the temple’s shikhar, bricks and different supplies had been eliminated after the construction was introduced down. He additionally claimed that land adjoining the temple had beforehand been leased by the Evacuee Belief Property Board (ETPB) for a madrassa, however that the lease was later cancelled after lease allegedly went unpaid and the property was not used for its meant goal.
OFFICIALS SAY TEMPLE NOT LISTED IN RECORDS
The Pakistani authorities’ account is sharply completely different. In accordance with the information company, ETPB senior official Rana Iftikhar stated the temple collapsed due to torrential rains. He confirmed that the construction was greater than a century outdated.
“The temple carries no title in our document books. Nonetheless, it’s a very outdated one… greater than 100 to 125 years outdated,” he stated. Iftikhar maintained that though the adjoining land had been leased for a seminary, the temple’s personal property had not been leased.
“The temple’s land shouldn’t be given to anybody for lease,” he stated, including that senior ETPB officers would resolve whether or not the historic construction must be restored.
The controversy doesn’t finish with the competing explanations for the demolition. Sahotra has alleged that authorities had already been warned about issues surrounding the location. He pointed to an ETPB order issued on January 29, 2026, which reportedly cancelled the seminary’s lease rights and directed the eviction of unlawful occupants and sealing of the property.
“This order was not carried out,” Sahotra alleged. He additionally cited an April 11 report attributed to the DSP Narowal, claiming native police had been conscious of safety considerations involving the temple and the likelihood that it might be broken.
The Hindu minority of Pakistan has been underneath query regarding safety threats to their non secular locations in addition to and working towards their faith for fairly a while now. The demolition of temples, their encroachments, conversions, and assaults on the members of the group have saved arising, inflicting loads of criticism by human rights activists and minority leaders, who state that the Pakistan authorities is unable to offer sufficient safety to them.
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