Published 14:56 IST, January 4th 2020
Rahul Gandhi condemns attack on Nankana Sahib with a jibe, says 'bigotry knows no borders'
Breaking his silence over the attack on Nankana Sahab Gurudwara in Pakistan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday has unequivocally condemned it.
Breaking his silence over the attack on Nankana Sahab Gurudwara in Pakistan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday has condemned it. He has said that bigotry knows no boundaries and is like poison. He added that love, mutual respect and understanding is an antidote to fight Bigotry. This comes amid the Sikh community's massive protest in the national capital against Pakistan's atrocities on minorities.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated its concern for the minority Sikh community in Pakistan, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External affairs. Furthermore, it added that these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place is condemnable and called upon the Pakistan government to act on it. It requested Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well being of the Sikh community.
Nankana Sahib attacked
On Friday, a video emerged of a mob of 400 people pelting stones in the Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan. Visuals show that the mob surrounding the Gurudwara and pelting stones at the Gurudwara which is the birthplace of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. Sources report that the mob was led by Mohd. Imran Attari -the brother of Mohammed Hassan who was responsible for the forcible conversion of a Pakistani Sikh girl - Jagjit Kaur. No arrests have been made till now.
Sources report that the protestors consisting of Muslim residents of Nankana Sahib had proclaimed that they will soon change the name from Nankana Sahib to Ghulaman-e-Mustafa. Moreover, the mob allegedly claimed that 'no Sikh will remain in Nankana'. Reports suggest that several Sikh devotees were stranded inside the Gurdwara which was attacked by the mob on Friday evening.
Forced conversion Pak Sikh girl
Meanwhile, the main leader of the mob is the brother of Mohammed Hassan - who was accused of kidnapping and forcibly converting a Sikh girl -Jagjit Kaur. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Sirsa, in August, had shared a video of the grieving family telling how 18-year old Jagjit Kaur was allegedly abducted and converted to Islam in Pakistan. On September 3, the victim was reunited with her family after Pakistan faced global anger due to inaction. Pakistan had claimed that Punjab's Nankana Sahib police had arrested eight people - including Hassan, in connection with the case. Despite being rescued, reports claim that Jagjit Kaur - now known as Ayesha refused to convert back to Sikhism.
Updated 14:56 IST, January 4th 2020