Nankana Sahib attackers: Sonia asked centre to take up the issue with Pakistan
NEW DELHI : Hours after the mob attack and stone-pelting on devotees at the historic Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, in Lahore, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi condemned the attack urging the Centre to immediately take up the issue with Pakistani authorities to ensure security for pilgrims and adequate security for the Holy shrine to prevent any future attacks.
Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the attack on the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Friday. According to reports, an angry mob of local residents pelted stones at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on Friday evening. The group was led by the family of a boy who had allegedly abducted the daughter of gurdwara’s pathi as they demanded his release.
Ms Gandhi has condemned the “unwarranted and unprovoked” mob attack on Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib Gurdwara – one of the holiest Sikh shrines in the world – and has asked the centre to take up the issue with Pakistan and ensure safety of pilgrims.
“Expressing dismay and concern on the safety of Sikh pilgrims and the employees, she called upon the Government of India to immediately take up the issue with Pakistani authorities to ensure security for the pilgrims and adequate security for the Holy shrine to prevent any future attacks.
Meanwhile,the BJP had earlier questioned the silence of the Congress with BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi saying whether Navjot Singh Sidhu will hug ISI chief after this attack on the Sikh holy shrine.
Lekhi also entered into a spat with Pakistani minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday over the mob attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, when the latter took to Twitter to term her allegation of persecution of minorities in his country “fake propaganda”. Lekhi and Tarun Chugh called Nankana Sahib of having huge symbolic importance across the globe to all Sikhs.
Workers and leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday staged a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. Members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee that oversees gurdwara affairs also participated in the protest. Group of Congress and BJP workers that tried to reach the high commission were stopped by the police.Pakistan has denied that the historic Gurdwara was desecrated.
