India Condemns Attack On Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, Asks Pakistan To Secure Sikh's Safety

India strongly condemned attack and subsequent vandalism at the revered Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. According to reports, hundreds of angry residents at Nankana Sahib pelted the Sikh pilgrims with stones on Friday over the matter of a Sikh woman who had been allegedly forced to convert to Islam. 

The Ministry of External Affairs said members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan have been subjected to acts of violence at the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji. India called upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the Sikh community there. 

"We are concerned at the vandalism carried out at the revered Nankana Sahib Gurdwara today. Members of the minority Sikh community have been subjected to acts of violence in the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji," the MEA said in a statement.

"These reprehensible actions followed 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," it added.

"India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place," the MEA said.

"We call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community," the MEA added.

"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," it said.

The reports said that the mob was led by the family of Mohammad Ehsaan, the boy who allegedly abducted and converted Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, who is the daughter of the gurdwara's caretaker. In August 2019, a caretaker at Nankana Sahib Gurudwara had complained that his youngest daughter, 19-year-old Jagjit Kaur had been kidnapped and forced to convert by six people. According to Dawn, a mob started to assemble and surround the gurudwara on Friday afternoon, demanding that the arrested suspects be released. 

One man, said to be the brother of Hassan, was captured on video saying they will not let any Sikh live there and will soon raze down the Gurdrawa and change the name of the place from Nankana Sahib to Ghulamaan-e-Mustafa. Police arrived to control mob almost 2 hours now after the situation escalated. The violent mob finally dispersed after police released Ehsaan, the man who had allegedly abducted the Sikh girl.

#WATCH An angry mob shouts anti-Sikh slogans outside Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan's Punjab. Earlier stones were pelted at the Gurdwara led by the family of a boy who had allegedly abducted a Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, daughter of the Gurdwara's pathi. (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/xyNkhsrhR9

— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2020

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday appealed to Pakistan premier Imran Khan to ensure that the devotees stranded at the Nankana Sahib gurdwara are rescued from a mob. He was reacting to reports of a mob attack at the shrine in the Pakistan city where the Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev was born.

"Appeal to @ImranKhanPTI to immediately intervene that the devotees stranded in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are rescued and the historic gurdwara is saved from the angry mob surrounding it," the CM tweeted.