AMRITSAR
: While admitting that a 'local person' of a religious shrine had tried to encroach upon Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan Bhai Taru Singh, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has come out with a clarification and an assurance to take action against the 'delinquents'. However, the assurance has come only after the issue was raised by New Delhi .
ETPB secretary Sanaullah Khan informed on Tuesday that Sohail Butt
Attari
, a 'local person' of Darbar Hazrat Shah Kaku Chisti, and his accomplices were conspiring to provoke people against the historical Gurdwara Taru Singh in Lahore and occupy its attached vacant plot in Landa Bazar.
The gurdwara was built at the site where Bhai Taru Singh made the supreme sacrifice in 1745. Pakistan has claimed that the structure was at the location of Masjid Shahid Ganj and tried to convert it into a mosque. New Delhi had lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan high commission on Monday over reports that a gurdwara in Lahore is being converted into a mosque.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said this incident was being viewed with grave concern in India. "Pakistan was also called upon to look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities, including protection of their religious rights and cultural heritage," he said.
Sanaullah said Attari's accomplice Raza Butt had tried to defame Pakistan by uploading a 'baseless' propaganda video against the Sikh community of Pakistan. He said multiple conspiracies of anti-state elements were being hatched to malign Pakistan's image, especially after the success of the
Kartarpur Corridor project. Strict disciplinary action would be taken against the delinquents, he added. ETPB chairman Aamer Ahmad said, "We are fully aware of the incident and have informed the local law and enforcement agencies."
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