Image Courtesy: bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
Hours after the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan was vandalised by a mob, Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) denied the reports and claimed that it was on a scuffle between two Muslim groups and the accused had already been arrested. This came hours after MEA released a press release condemning the vandalism of the holy shrine and also the abduction and conversion of Jagit Kaur. The statement also stated, “India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place.” The MEA also called upon Pakistan to “take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the members of the Sikh Community.”
The Pakistan Foreign Office also said that attempts were being made to pain the incident as a communal issue and also claimed that the gurudwara which the site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, was born, is untouched and undamaged and no desecration has taken place.
The videos that have swamped social media showing a man within the mob saying that they will change the name of Nankana Sahib Gurudwara to Ghulam Ali Mustafa.
As per India Today reports from Islamabad, on January 3, an angry mob of over a hundred people surrounded the entrance of Nankana Sahib Gurudwara which is located some 60 kms from Lahore and allegedly pelted stones at the gurudwara and remained stationed at the gates for about 3-4 hours leaving many worshippers stranded in the gurudwara. This mob was allegedly led by was led by the family of a boy who had allegedly abducted the daughter of the gurdwara’s pathi, one who reads the scriptures of the Guru Granth Sahib, last year in August. Mohammad Hassan had abducted Jagjit Kaur and forcibly married her and the mob was allegedly angry with Jagjit’s brother Manmohan Singh for filing a police complaint.
The Times of India reported that in a video, Mohammad Imran, the brother of Mohammad Hassan is heard threatening Sikhs and saying they would not be allowed to stay in Nankana Sahib, “SHO Tassuvar Munner picked up my brother Mohammad Hassan and cousins and the accompanying policemen kicked my mother in the stomach and slapped my sister. Nankana Sahib Deputy Commissioner Rajna Mansoor is pressuring my brother to give divorce to Ayesha (Jagjit’s name after marriage) and return them to Sikhs,” he is heard saying and raising slogans like “hum badla lenge (we will take revenge)”.
This incident has escalated the already mounting tensions between the two countries. While Pakistan has once again resorted to denial of a reported incident, India has pulled up Pakistan and many prominent Sikh figures in India have appealed to the Pakistan Prime Minister to take strict action and ensure safety of those allegedly stranded in the gurdwara.
This incident has given an unintended boost to BJP’s rhetoric of protecting minorities in Pakistan through the CAA which has seen widespread protests in India due to its communal and unconstitutional character.
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