India condemns Hindu temple demolition in Pakistan’s Punjab:Hindu group alleges Madrasa plan, Islamabad says 100-year-old structure fell due to rain

India has strongly condemned the reported demolition of a more than 100-year-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province, calling the incident a serious concern for the country’s minority communities and their religious rights. The temple was located in Siraj village in Narowal district, around 130 km from Lahore. Reports of its demolition emerged on August 21, with representatives of the Hindu community and local residents alleging that the structure was deliberately demolished to facilitate the use of its land or nearby property for a madrasa. Pakistani officials, however, have rejected the allegations and claimed that the temple building collapsed on its own following heavy rainfall. India says temple destruction raises concerns over minority rights Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken the reports with serious concern and condemned the destruction of the historic Hindu temple in Siraj village. According to the Indian government, incidents of this nature highlight the vulnerable position of minority communities in Pakistan and raise serious concerns about violations of their religious rights and the protection of their places of worship. Hindu community alleges deliberate demolition The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), along with members of the Hindu community and local residents, has alleged that religious extremists intentionally demolished the temple. According to PTI, the groups claimed that following the demolition, efforts were made to acquire the temple’s land for use by a nearby madrasa. PMMP President Aslam Parvez Sahotra has demanded government action against those responsible. He said he met Punjab’s Additional Home Secretary on August 28 and submitted a written complaint seeking an investigation and action against the accused. Sahotra also alleged that members of the banned right-wing Islamic political organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were involved in the demolition. He further claimed that after the structure was brought down, metal items, bricks and other material from the temple’s spire were removed from the site. Dispute over land and proposed madrasa According to Sahotra, land adjoining the temple had earlier been leased by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) for the construction of a madrasa. The lease was subsequently cancelled, he said, citing non-payment of rent and failure to use the land for its stated purpose. The allegations have added another layer to the dispute, with the Hindu community questioning whether the temple’s destruction was connected to the proposed use of the surrounding land. Pakistani officials say temple collapsed due to rain Pakistani officials have offered a different explanation for what happened. Senior ETPB official Rana Iftikhar said the temple building collapsed because of heavy rain. He also confirmed that the structure was more than a century old, estimating its age at around 100 to 125 years. Iftikhar said the temple itself was not registered by name in official records. He clarified that while land adjacent to the structure had been leased for a religious educational institution, the land on which the temple stood had not been leased to anyone. He added that senior ETPB officials would decide whether the historic structure should be rebuilt or restored. The conflicting claims have now raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the temple’s demolition and whether it was the result of natural collapse or deliberate destruction. ​