India on Wednesday strongly condemned the reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Narowal, Pakistan, calling on Islamabad to conduct a 'prompt and transparent investigation' into what New Delhi described as yet another disturbing attack on minority places of worship in the neighbouring country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) flagged the incident as a stark illustration of the deepening vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan.

What India Said

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to media queries, said New Delhi had taken note with 'deep concern' of reports concerning the destruction of a historic Hindu temple in village Siraj, Narowal, in Pakistan's Punjab province.

'We unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act of vandalism against a century old minority place of worship. The apparent apathy of authorities and failure to protect this century-old temple is alarming. Such incidents are a stark reminder of the continuing vulnerability of minority communities and the egregious violations of their religious freedoms and places of worship in Pakistan,' Jaiswal said.

He further demanded that the Pakistani government take 'immediate remedial measures' to restore the desecrated temple and fulfil its obligation to guarantee the 'safety, security and well-being' of all minority citizens and their cultural heritage.

Details of the Demolition

The temple, constructed over 100 years ago, was demolished on 21 August in Siraj village in Narowal city of Pakistan's Punjab province. The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party (PMMP), a minority rights organisation, confirmed that a group of individuals carried out the demolition, according to Pakistani daily Dawn.

A minority rights group alleged that the structure was intentionally razed to make way for the expansion of an adjacent seminary, and called for the temple to be reconstructed in its original form, according to local media reports.

A Pattern of Minority Heritage Destruction

This is not an isolated incident. In June, the 125-year-old Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Pakistan's Farooqabad was partially reduced to rubble after a local businessman allegedly carried out demolition work without any legal clearance or court order. Pakistani authorities reportedly acknowledged the destruction only after Sikh residents of Farooqabad took to the streets in protest.

A detailed account published by Khalsa Vox described the scene: machinery tearing into a building that generations of Sikhs had prayed in, with no warning issued to the community and no legal process followed. The report noted that an official later admitted the department had failed to take notice of the demolition until the local Sikh community was compelled to protest — a pattern that critics argue reflects institutional neglect of minority heritage in Pakistan.

Broader Implications

India's condemnation comes amid longstanding concerns about the treatment of Hindu, Sikh, and Christian minorities in Pakistan. Rights groups have repeatedly documented incidents of forced conversions, temple desecrations, and the demolition or encroachment of minority places of worship across the country. The MEA's response signals that New Delhi intends to keep international attention focused on these incidents, particularly as bilateral tensions between the two nations remain elevated.

Whether Pakistan's government acts on India's call for accountability — or whether this incident follows the pattern of the Farooqabad gurdwara case, where official response came only under public pressure — will be closely watched by minority communities and human rights observers alike.