Sri Amritsar-Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has strongly condemned the demolition of the building of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, and called for action against those responsible for the demolition.
He said that although a school was being run at the site of the gurdwara, this did not mean that Sikhs had forgotten their heritage. He said Sikhs are a very small minority in Balochistan, and therefore it is the primary responsibility of the Pakistan government to ensure the preservation and protection of the Sikh heritage.
The Jathedar said information received indicated that the gurdwara had been demolished without informing anyone and that its land had been handed over to a private company for the construction of a shopping plaza. He said the matter should be thoroughly investigated. It was extremely unfortunate, he added, that a religious place belonging to a minority community was demolished and its site forcibly handed over to a company to serve private commercial interests. He said such actions are atrocious on minority communities.
Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj said the Pakistan government should take immediate and strict notice of the matter and take the Sikh community in confidence in rebuilding the gurdwara at the same site. He also demanded an immediate halt to the construction of the shopping plaza on the gurdwara site.
He further urged the Government of India’s Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Pakistan government and make serious efforts towards resolving the issue.