'Alarming apathy': India lambasts Pakistan over demolition of century-old Punjab temple | India News - Hindustan Times

**India Condemns Demolition of Century‑Old Hindu Temple in Pakistan’s Punjab Province**

New Delhi on Tuesday issued a strong diplomatic protest after reports emerged that a 100‑year‑old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province was demolished by local authorities. The structure, identified by heritage activists as the historic **Shri Ramdev Temple** in the town of **Mianwali**, had been listed by the Pakistani government as a protected cultural site in 2015. According to witnesses, demolition crews began dismantling the shrine early on Monday, citing an alleged lack of legal ownership documents, and completed the work within hours, leaving only a concrete slab where the sanctum once stood. The move sparked immediate outrage among Hindu community groups in Pakistan and India, who argued that the temple’s destruction violated both domestic heritage laws and international conventions on the protection of cultural property.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded by describing the act as “reprehensible” and “an alarming display of apathy toward minority heritage.” In a formal note verbale sent to Islamabad, the MEA demanded a full explanation from the Pakistani authorities, a reversal of the demolition, and assurances that similar sites would be safeguarded in the future. The Indian foreign ministry also raised the issue with the **UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)**, urging the body to monitor the protection of minority religious sites in South Asia. Minister **S. Jaishankar** emphasized that “the demolition of a place of worship is not merely a local administrative decision; it reverberates across borders, affecting communal harmony and the shared cultural fabric of the subcontinent.”

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a brief statement claiming that the demolition was carried out after a legal review that found the temple’s ownership unclear and that the site would be repurposed for a community welfare project. The ministry rejected India’s allegations of religious intolerance, asserting that the government respects all faiths and adheres to heritage preservation laws. Nonetheless, heritage NGOs in Pakistan, such as the **Heritage Foundation of Pakistan**, have called for an independent investigation, warning that the incident could further strain Indo‑Pak relations, already tense over issues ranging from trade to security. Diplomatic sources indicate that both capitals may raise the matter at the upcoming **South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)** summit, seeking a bilateral mechanism to protect minority religious sites.