India on Wednesday strongly condemned the reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Narowal district, calling the incident a “reprehensible act of vandalism” against a minority place of worship.
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had noted with “deep concern” reports of the destruction of the historic Hindu temple in Siraj village in Narowal, Pakistan.
“We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act of vandalism against a century-old minority place of worship,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA spokesperson expressed concern over the reported failure of Pakistani authorities to protect the historic temple, saying such incidents highlighted the continuing vulnerability of minority communities in the country.
“The apparent apathy of authorities and failure to protect this century-old temple is alarming,” he said, adding that such incidents were a reminder of the alleged violations of the religious freedoms of minorities and the protection of their places of worship in Pakistan.
India called upon the Pakistani government to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Jaiswal also urged Pakistan to take immediate remedial measures to restore the desecrated temple and fulfil its responsibility to ensure the safety, security and well-being of minority citizens and protect their cultural heritage.
The remarks come amid India’s continued concerns over the safety of minority communities and their religious sites in Pakistan.
