New Delhi: A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is likely to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday to apprise him about the issue of the attempt to convert Gurudwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh into a mosque in Pakistan and urge the ministry to take up the issue with Pakistan government to ensure safety and security of the shrine.
SAD National Spokesman Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that certain miscreants claimed through a video that the land of the Gurudwara in the name of Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh, which is in fact place of his supreme sacrifice, belongs to a mosque.
Sirsa said that the delegation will urge the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take up the matter on a fast track basis so that concern of the Sikh community is resolved at the earliest.
The statement came a day after a video of Sohail Butt, who runs a shop in Lahore's Landa Bazar, claiming that the land on which Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh and its adjoining 4-5 kanals of Gurdwara land belongs to Mazar of Muslim prophet Hazrat Shah Kaku Chesti and adjoining Masjid Shaheed Ganj, went viral.
Sources reveal that Sohail Butt did this on the direction of some land mafia and one ISI officer namely Zain Saab. Sohail also said in a video that Pakistan being an Islamic nation only belongs to Muslims.
"We have urged the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take serious note of the incident and ensure that such miscreant elements are taught a lesson and Gurudwara Sahib remains safe and secure, " he added.
The incident has caused widespread anger and anguish among the Sikh community members residing worldwide.
There are several historical Sikh gurudwaras in Pakistan which are either in a dilapidated condition or are occupied by the land mafia and locals.
The Sikhs are facing persecution across Pakistan. There are many instances of Sikh girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim. The issues related to repatriation and facilitation of Hindu-Sikh Afghan minorities are also likely to be discussed during the meeting.
Around 11 members of minority communities of Afghanistan, including a Sikh community leader who was kidnapped and later released, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday after India granted them visas and facilitated their travel.
MEA said Nidan Singh Sachdeva, who was released from captivity on July 18, is among those who reached Delhi on Sunday.
Also read: 11 Afghan Sikhs to reach India on Sunday, likely to get Indian citizenship
