India condemns demolition of 125-year-old gurdwara in Pakistan's Farooqabad

India has condemned the demolition of a 125-year-old gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan, after reports that a local businessman tore down the historic Sikh shrine without clearance. The incident has triggered protests from members of the Sikh community in both India and Pakistan. India described the act as deeply distressing and said it was a targeted attack on a revered place of worship.

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In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India strongly condemned what it called a highly deplorable and targeted act of vandalism. He urged Pakistan to investigate the matter quickly and bring those responsible to justice. According to the supporting report, the demolition took place in Pakistan's Punjab province and involved a structure that had stood for more than a century.

Officials cited in the report said the businessman acted without obtaining the required No Objection Certificate from the relevant department. The demolition has added to sensitivities around the protection of religious heritage sites in the region. Sikh organisations have treated the case as more than a local property dispute, given the shrine's religious significance and age.

A delegation from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee met Indian foreign ministry officials on Wednesday and asked for intervention. The committee also sought restoration of the demolished parts and said no further damage should be allowed. The episode carries diplomatic weight because it touches on minority rights, heritage protection and the treatment of sacred sites across the India-Pakistan relationship.

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Such incidents often draw attention beyond the immediate locality because Sikh religious places in Pakistan are closely watched by communities on both sides of the border. The response from India indicates that the matter is being treated as a consular and political concern, not only a domestic law-and-order issue in Pakistan. Farooqabad is about 70 kilometres from Lahore, and the gurdwara was described as historic in the report.

The demolition was said to have been carried out by a private individual, while a Punjab government official told the news agency that the department concerned had not taken notice of it. That detail raises questions about oversight, enforcement and whether the structure can be restored after the damage already done. What remains unclear is the full extent of the demolition, whether any arrests or formal proceedings have begun, and what steps Pakistan's authorities will take in response.

It is also not yet clear whether restoration work will be ordered or whether the site will face further risk. The next developments to watch are any official investigation, any action against those involved, and whether the Sikh community's demands for protection and repair are addressed.

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