Info4Now– A statue of the Sikh king Maharaja Ranjit Singh was smashed in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday in the wake of the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan. The statue, which was erected in 2019, has been attacked before. On Wednesday, the Sikh community in Peshawar took the Punjab province of Pakistan to task. Outraged, they demanded that if the Punjab administration could not protect the statue, they were willing to bring it to Peshawar.
A video of the incident on Tuesday has gone viral. As you can see, the statue is being smashed by two extremists. They are also seen rejoicing after the breakup. It is learned that the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was once again destroyed by the members of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan or TLP. However, the two accused were later arrested. This is not the first time, even before this, the statue of Ranjit Singh was smashed in August 2019.
India’s External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi protested strictly and saiid, “Such attacks on the cultural heritage of minority communities in Pakistan highlight the growing intolerance and lack of respect for minority communities in Pakistani society,”
The final outrage over this incident was the Sikh organization in Peshawar. The head of the organization, Garpal Singh, claimed that they wanted to bring the idol to Lahore. For this, they will reach the capital of Punjab province with their representatives and bring the idol to Peshawar. He reminded that there is a picture of Ranjit Singh in the historic Balahisa fort of Peshawar. Even though the picture has been there for the last 6 years, it has never been a crime.
“These are symptoms of a sick mindset. This is an attempt to undermine Pakistan’s assessment,” told Shahbaz Gill, Special Assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister. He also assured that immediate action would be taken against the accused.
Incidentally, history still remembers the reign of Sikh King Ranjit Singh for nearly forty years. The way in which he rose above religion and community and established equality for all has become an example to the world. He did not allow any religious orthodoxy and social inequality. Informed quarters think that the repeated demolition of the statue of the Maharaja is tantamount to a blow to equality.
By Amir Uddin Ahammad