India slams Pakistan over mob attack on Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, calls the incident 'wanton act of destruction'
New Delhi/IBNS:India has expressed strong protest over the attacks on Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, after reports emerged that a mob surrounded the gurudwara with devotees inside and pelted stones. Nankana Sahib is the birth place of Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhs.
"India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place. We call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
"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," the satement added.
The Indian government has also mentioned "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" to point out the continuous atrocities against the minorities in Pakistan, adding that the attack on the iconic Gurudwara follows the incident.
According to media reports, the attack was led by the family of a man who had abducted forcefully converted the daughter of an employee of the gurudwara last August.
A video of the incident was tweeted by Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
"Live footage from Nankana Sahib where an angry Muslim mob is outside Gurdwara Sahib and raising anti-Sikh slogans... I urge Imran Khan to take immediate action on such communal incidents that are increasing the insecurity in the minds of Sikhs of Pakistan," Mr Sirsa tweeted.
LIVE Footage from Nankana Sahib where an angry Muslim mob is outside Gurdwara Sahib and raising anti-Sikh slogans
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 3, 2020
I urge @ImranKhanPTI Ji to take immediate action on such communal incidents that are increasing the insecurity in the minds of Sikhs of Pak@thetribunechd @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/IlxxBjhpO2
Sirsa tweeted another video in which one Mohammad Hassan can be seen threatening to destroy the gurudwara.
"Hear the video and feel the kind of terror minorities live with in Pakistan
Mohammad Hassan openly threatens to destroy Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and build the mosque in that place@ImranKhanPTI is urged to take action against communal trend of hatred," he wrote.
Hear the video and feel the kind of terror minorities live with in Pakistan
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 3, 2020
Mohammad Hassan openly threatens to destroy Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and build the mosque in that place@ImranKhanPTI is urged to take action against communal trend of hatred@TimesNow @ANI @ZeeNews pic.twitter.com/OrxQV1m2Kh
Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amrinder Singh has also urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene in the matter. Singh who had been tweeting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which also benefits the persecuted Sikh community in Pakistan, made the appeal.
Appeal to @ImranKhanPTI to immediately intervene to ensure that the devotees stranded in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are rescued and the historic Gurdwara is saved from the angry mob surrounding it.https://t.co/Cpmfn1T8ss
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 3, 2020
Instead of assuring prompt intervention, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted videos, which he alleged were of Indian police attacking the Muslims. However, the videos turned out to be of a 2013 incident in Bangladesh. Khan, later, deleted the tweets.
According to reports, police has reached Gurudwara Nankana Sahib to take control of the situation.
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