Capt, Sukhbir, SGPC chief flay attempt to convert Pakistan gurdwara into mosque
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: A day after India lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan high commission over reports of attempts being made to convert a famous gurdwara at Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore into a mosque, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and others on Tuesday strongly condemned the move.
They urged Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar to take up the issue with the Pakistan government.
Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan is a historic shrine where Bhai Taru Singh made the supreme sacrifice in 1745. The gurdwara is a place of reverence and considered sacred by the Sikh community. “(I) urge (Union external affairs minister) @Drsjaishankar to convey Punjab’s concerns in the strongest terms to Pakistan to safeguard all Sikh places of reverence,” the CM tweeted.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also urged Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar to take up the issue with the Pakistan government to ensure the character of the holy shrine was not changed in any manner.
Terming such efforts as reprehensible, he said an assurance should be taken from the Pakistan government that such acts would not be allowed besides stressing upon the need to take action against those who wanted to change the character of the gurdwara.
Sukhbir also requested the Jaishankar to take up the issue of safety of all Sikh and Hindu religious shrines in Pakistan at the highest level. He said the Pakistan government should also ensure that Sikhs and Hindus do not face any impediments in observing the tenets of their faith.