Amritsar: A controversy has erupted in Pakistan’s Punjab province over the alleged demolition of a 100-125-year-old Hindu temple at Siraj in Narowal.According to Pak media reports on Friday, a minority rights organisation has alleged that the historic place of worship was demolished to facilitate the construction of a madrasa.Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have noted with deep concern disturbing reports of the destruction of a historic Hindu temple in Siraj village, Narowal, Pakistan. We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act of vandalism against a century-old minority place of worship.”Pak officials, however, have rejected the claim, saying the structure wasn’t intentionally razed but that a portion of the temple had collapsed following heavy rainfall.Media reports suggested the alleged involvement of members of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) behind the incident.Reports said Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), which advocates for minority rights, has urged Pakistan Punjab govt, led by chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, to take action against those responsible for the alleged incident. The party has also called for the restoration of the damaged religious site and reconstruction of the temple.On Friday, Sajjad Haider, spokesperson for Pakistan’s ministry of external affairs, issued a statement claiming that the Hindu temple at Adda Siraj, Narowal was not demolished. Rejecting the allegations as “politically motivated statements”, he said the temple’s structure was damaged on July 21 due to torrential rain. Local authorities have surveyed the damage and initiated steps for restoration of the building, he added.A Hindu leader of Pakistan, who asked not to be named, said the temple was deliberately demolished to pave way for the construction of a madrassa and that they had repeatedly taken up the issue with authorities but to no avail.
