Chandigarh, July 28, 2020: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today condemned attempts to convert the historic Bhai Taru Singh Shaheedi Asthan gurdwara in Lahore into a mosque and urged Union External Affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar to take up the issue with the Pakistan government to ensure the character of the holy shrine was not changed in any manner whatsoever.
In a statement here, the SAD President said reports emanating from Pakistan indicated that constant efforts were being made to convert the eighteenth century shrine of Bhai Taru Singh into a mosque. Terming such efforts as reprehensible, Mr Sukhbir Badal said a clear cut assurance should be taken from the Pakistan government that such acts would not be allowed besides stressing upon the need to take strict action against the perpetrators who wanted to change the character of the gurdwara situated in Naulakha bazaar in Lahore.
The SAD President also requested Dr S Jaishankar to take up the issue of safety of all Sikh and Hindu religious shrines in Pakistan at the highest level. He said the Pakistan government should also ensure that Sikhs and Hindus did not face any impediments in observing the tenets of their faith.