Bilateral
'Not an isolated incident': India slams Pakistan after 125-year-old historic Gurdwara is demolished
New Delhi/Islamabad/IBNS: India has strongly condemned the demolition of a 125-year-old historic gurdwara in Pakistan's Punjab province by a local businessman, an incident that has sparked protests from the Sikh community, according to media reports.
What happened?
The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Farooqabad, around 70 km from Lahore, was reportedly demolished on the night of June 24 without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the concerned authorities.
The demolition triggered outrage among members of the local Sikh community, who staged protests demanding action against those responsible and the restoration of the historic shrine.
Punjab government orders restoration
A senior official in Pakistan's Punjab government said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took note of the incident following the widespread protests.
Punjab's Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora visited the site and announced that the demolished gurdwara would be restored immediately, NDTV reported.
Pakistan demolished a 125-year-old sacred Gurdwara—known as Gurdwara Singh Sahib—in the city of Farooqabad using a bulldozer.
— Jitendra pratap singh (@jpsin1) July 2, 2026
The Government of India has lodged a strong protest against this.
However, it is surprising that Khalistanis based in Britain, Canada, and the US, as… pic.twitter.com/jgHk6yoRbA
How did India react?
Condemning the demolition which India considered as "not an "isolated incident", Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote in a statement, "The systemic targeting of religious minorities and their places of worship in Pakistan continues unabated."
"We call upon the Government of Pakistan to expeditiously investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice. The demolished portions of the Gurdwara Sahib should be restored and reconstructed at the earliest.
"Further, 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, and put a decisive end to the prevailing environment of sectarian violence and religious intolerance in Pakistan."
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