The mob surrounded the Nankana Sahib gurudwara and threatened that they will change the town’s name to Ghulam Ali Mustafa town after chasing the radical Sikhs away.
Lahore| Angry mob of about Hundreds of people pelted stones at Nankana Sahib gurudwara in Pakistan and threatened the devotees on Friday. Because of this, for the first time in Nankana Sahib, Bhajan Kirtan was stopped.
On Friday, after the weekly prayers, the mob surrounded the gurudwara and threatened that they will change the town’s name to Ghulam Ali Mustafa town after chasing the radical Sikhs away from there. According to information received, the raging crowd has also threatened to break the gurdwara.
The situation at Gurdwara Janamasthan #NankanaSahib is still tense – police is trying to control the situation – number of people have surrounded Gurdwara building. pic.twitter.com/vmpMGSH8vf
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) January 3, 2020
According to preliminary reports, the stone-pelting crowd surrounding the gurudwara is led by the family of a man named Mohammad Hassan. Mohammed Hassan is the same person who a few months ago had allegedly kidnapped the daughter of a gurudwara Granthi and forcibly converted her to Islam. A video on social media is going viral in which protesters are heard saying that no Sikh will survive in Nankana Sahib.
Also Read: Pressure Pak for probe into demolition of Guru Nanak Palace, Amarinder urges Modi
Nankana Sahib is a city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Being the birthplace of Guru Nanak Ji, this place is one of the most sacred sites of Sikhism. Thousands of Hindus from all over the world, Sikhs arrive at Nankana Sahib a few days before the Sikh Guru festival and stay here for ten days and participate in various ceremonies.
India condemns the vandalism at Gurudwara
Ministry of External Affairs of India reacted sharply to the incident. Condemning the violence at Gurudwara in Nankana Sahib, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “India strongly condemns vandalism at the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan and calls upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and well being of the Sikh community.”
India strongly condemns vandalism at the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan and calls upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and well being of the Sikh community. https://t.co/Nx1317xQ1T pic.twitter.com/dFykWJa2xP
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 3, 2020
Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh and Akali Dal Chief condemn the attack
Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh reacting to the incident appealed Pakistan PM Imran Khan to rescue the Sikh devotees stranded at the Gurudwara and save them from the angry mob surrounding it.
Appeal to @ImranKhanPTI to immediately intervene to ensure that the devotees stranded in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are rescued and the historic Gurdwara is saved from the angry mob surrounding it.https://t.co/Cpmfn1T8ss
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 3, 2020
Mob attack on Gurdwara Sri #NankanaSahib, birth place of Guru Nanak Dev ji, is a despicable act and I urge PM @narendramodi ji to take it up with Pak PM @ImranKhanPTI. We have to ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan and I trust that the govt will address the issue on priority. pic.twitter.com/h5SDuIxndH
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 3, 2020
Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also expressed concern. He called the vandalism a “Despicable Act” and urged PM Modi to take the matter up with his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan. He tweeted, “We have to ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan and I trust that the govt will address the issue on priority.”
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