Delhi BJP chief slams AAP silence on Pakistan Gurdwara demolition
Synopsis
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra has turned the demolition of a historic Gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan into a direct political attack on AAP — questioning why Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal have stayed silent for over a week on an issue that strikes at the heart of Sikh sentiment. With the Akal Takht already having declared Mann 'anti-Panthic', the BJP is pressing a credibility gap on one of AAP's core voter bases.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra on 2 July condemned the demolition of Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan .
Malhotra questioned the silence of Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal more than a week after the incident.
The Sri Akal Takht Sahib has reportedly declared Mann 'anti-Panthic', a charge BJP cited to question his credibility on Sikh issues.
BJP legislator Sardar Arvinder Singh Lovely said the demolition violates UNESCO norms protecting religious heritage sites over 100 years old .
The Indian government has reportedly conveyed a strong message to Pakistan and called for reconstruction of the demolished Gurdwara.
Both BJP leaders described the demolition as part of a recurring pattern of attacks on minority religious sites in Pakistan.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Harsh Malhotra on Thursday, 2 July sharply condemned the demolition of the historic Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan, and demanded to know why Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders — including Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal — have remained publicly silent on the matter more than a week after the incident.
BJP's Condemnation and Core Charge
Malhotra argued that the demolition is not an isolated episode, stating that attacks on Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and their places of worship have become a recurring pattern in Pakistan. He said Pakistan 'continues to remain a haven for terrorism' and that its government has left minority communities 'at the mercy of extremist elements.'
Malhotra contrasted this with the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he said has 'consistently worked to provide a sense of security and confidence to Sikhs and other minority communities.' He described AAP's silence — stretching beyond a week — as 'deeply condemnable' and said it had 'shocked the people of the country.'
Akal Takht Reference and AAP's Credibility on Sikh Issues
Malhotra went further, noting that Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann himself has faced accusations of violating Sikh religious traditions, and that the Sri Akal Takht Sahib has reportedly declared him 'anti-Panthic.' He argued that Mann's silence on the Farooqabad demolition is 'yet another indication' of AAP's disregard for Sikh values — a pointed political charge given that Punjab has a Sikh-majority population.
UNESCO Norms and Minority Rights
Delhi BJP legislator and chairman of the Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board, Sardar Arvinder Singh Lovely, joined Malhotra in condemning the demolition. Lovely said Pakistan 'pretends to be the protector of minorities around the world' while failing to safeguard minority religious sites within its own borders.
Lovely also invoked UNESCO guidelines, noting that under those norms, every country bears primary responsibility for protecting religious sites over 100 years old, and that any tampering with the original structure of such heritage sites constitutes a violation. He said the Farooqabad demolition qualifies as precisely such a breach.
He appreciated the Modi government for taking 'prompt cognisance' of the matter, saying it conveyed a strong message to the Pakistani government and called for the reconstruction of the demolished Gurdwara.
A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
Both Malhotra and Lovely emphasised that this is not the first time a minority religious site has been targeted in Pakistan. Similar acts intended to hurt the sentiments of minority communities have occurred previously, they said, making the latest demolition part of a broader, documented trend rather than a one-off event.
With the Indian government already on record demanding reconstruction, and political pressure mounting on AAP from the BJP ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, the Farooqabad Gurdwara demolition is likely to remain a live issue in both domestic politics and bilateral diplomacy.
Point of View
It is attempting to erode AAP's credibility among Sikh voters in Punjab — a constituency AAP cannot afford to lose. The UNESCO angle, while factually grounded, is also politically convenient, lending an international-law dimension to what is primarily a domestic attack. What is missing from this narrative is any AAP response, which leaves the story one-sided; if Mann or Kejriwal have commented through other channels, that context is absent. The broader issue — Pakistan's treatment of religious minorities — is serious and documented, but the BJP's deployment of it here is clearly calibrated for electoral optics rather than humanitarian concern alone.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan?
The historic Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan was demolished, triggering condemnation from Indian political leaders. The Indian government has reportedly called on Pakistan to reconstruct the demolished site.
Why is Delhi BJP targeting AAP and Bhagwant Mann over this issue?
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra accused AAP of remaining silent for over a week after the demolition, arguing that the party's failure to speak out reflects disregard for Sikh values. The BJP also cited the Sri Akal Takht Sahib's reported declaration of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann as 'anti-Panthic' to question his credibility on Sikh religious matters.
What is the UNESCO angle in this controversy?
BJP legislator Sardar Arvinder Singh Lovely stated that UNESCO guidelines require every country to protect religious sites over 100 years old, and that any alteration to the original structure of such heritage sites constitutes a violation. He argued the Farooqabad demolition breaches these norms.
What has the Indian government done in response to the demolition?
According to BJP leaders, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi took prompt cognisance of the demolition and conveyed a strong message to the Pakistani government, calling for the reconstruction of the Gurdwara.
Is this the first time a minority religious site has been targeted in Pakistan?
No. Both Malhotra and Lovely stated that attacks on Sikh, Hindu, and Christian places of worship have become a recurring pattern in Pakistan, and that similar incidents targeting minority religious sentiments have occurred previously.
