The Ministry of External Affairs of India has charged this Wednesday against Pakistan for not having reacted to the demolition of an ancient Hindu temple in Siraj, a village located in the Narowal region, in the Pakistani province of Punjab, in the east of the country.
The spokesperson for External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, has pointed out that India "We have taken note with deep concern of the disturbing reports about the destruction of a historic Hindu temple in the village of Siraj, Narowal, Pakistan. We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act of vandalism against a century-old place of worship for a minority. The apparent apathy of the authorities and their lack of protection of this century-old temple are alarming."
In this context, Jaiswal has asked the Pakistani authorities for "a transparent investigation" into what happened and to "ensure that those responsible are held accountable," taking into account the "vulnerability" of religious minorities in the country and the "atrocious violations of their religious freedoms and places of worship."
The spokesperson has added that "The Government of Pakistan must take immediate corrective measures to restore the desecrated temple and fulfill its primary obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of all its citizens belonging to minorities and their cultural heritage."
The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), a party focused on defending the rights of minorities, claims that the temple was intentionally demolished to allow for the expansion of a madrasa, while the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) maintains that the building collapsed due to the intense rains recorded in the area.
According to the NDTV network, the alleged perpetrators would be linked to the extremist group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), although there is currently no official confirmation. Meanwhile, representatives of local minorities have reported the plundering of the hardware and metal elements of the temple's dome.