Nankana Sahib Attack: Sonia Gandhi Asks Govt To Press For Immediate Arrest, Action Against Culprits

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asked the Indian government to immediately take up the issue of "unwarranted and unprovoked" attack on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib with Pakistani authorities. Condemning the attack, she called for immediate arrest and action against the culprits. She also asked the government to ensure safety of pilgrims and adequate security for the shrine to prevent any future attacks.

"The Government of India should also press for immediate registration of case, arrest and action against the culprits," she said in a statement.

A mob on Friday reportedly attacked Gurdwara Nankana Sahib- the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev. Reports suggested that hundreds of angry residents at Nankana Sahib pelted the Sikh pilgrims with stones.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people thronged the streets leading to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi's Chanakyapuri on Saturday and protested against the mob attack and stone-pelting on devotees at the historic Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The protesters carried banners and placards reading "Shame on Pakistan" and "We will expose the real face of Pakistan".

Some of the banners and placards urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to protect the gurdwara, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. Police had to barricade the roads to prevent the protesters - belonging to BJP, Congress, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and other organisations - from reaching the high commission.

A huge posse of police personnel was deployed and water cannon kept on standby, a police official said. The protestors were stopped near Chanakyapuri police station. The protest by DSGMC and Akali Dal members was held at around 1 pm near Chanakyapuri, an affluent neighbourhood and diplomatic enclave in the city. Sikh community members also submitted a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commission, said DSGMC president Manjinder S Sirsa. BJP and Congress members stood on either side of a road there and raised slogans against Pakistan and its prime minister.