Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 18

The Centre should pressurise the Pakistan government to restore the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which was vandalised by a few miscreants recently, said senior BJP leader and former health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla while condemning the act.

Chawla said the Indian government should send a delegation to oversee the restoration of the statue and other minority religious places in Pakistan. She said several incidents of attack on gurdwaras and temples have been reported from Pakistan, but PM Imran Khan has taken no action.

Sikh body, Chief Khalsa Diwan, too, condemned the incident and demanded strict action from the Pakistan government. CKD president Nirmal Singh and other senior members said the Maharaja’s statue has been vandalised thrice in the past two years.

Nirmal Singh said Maharaja Ranjit Singh had ensured equal respect for all religions besides freedom to believe in one’s religion during his reign. Many Muslims had rose to prominence in his role and he made offerings to Muslim shires liberally.