|
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 15, 2006) –
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) bemoaned the destruction
of the last Hindu temple in Lahore, Pakistan. At the time
of the partition of India in 1947 Lahore was known as one
of the centers of culture and cosmopolitanism. Soon thereafter
its great artists, musicians, and its Hindu and Sikh populations
either moved voluntarily out of that city or were driven out
by the fundamentalist Muslim forces that have shaped the country
since then. “The last stroke in making Lahore totally
Muslim is the demolition of the only remaining Hindu temple
in the city”, said Ramesh Rao, member of the HAF Executive
Council.
A private developer was allowed to demolish
the ‘Krishna Mandir’ at Wachhoowali, Rang Mahal,
and construct a commercial building in its place. Government
officials, in charge of protecting minority interests, were
involved in the machinations that led to the destruction of
the last Hindu temple in Lahore. The Evacuee Property Trust
Board (EPTB), the government body maintaining properties of
minorities, especially Hindus and Sikhs, was said to have
concealed facts from the municipal board chairman about the
nature of the building. This is not the first time the EPTB
has permitted the demolition of a temple. It was only last
year that the Vehari temple in Punjab was razed for the construction
of a commercial building.
These acts of connivance of local authorities
in the destruction of non-Muslim religious symbols and in
harassing minority groups are in the established tradition
of driving minorities out of Pakistan. The Hindu population
in Pakistan, which was between 15 and 24 percent in 1947,
at the time of partition of India, has now been reduced to
less than two percent. “While we applaud the condemnation
by several opposition members of the National Assembly like
Pakistan People's Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-N, we
realize that the political, social, and religious dynamic
in Pakistan allows such attacks on minorities and minority
institutions with impunity,” said Dr. Mihir Meghani,
President of HAF. “Unless there is worldwide condemnation
of this act of destruction, and arrest and imprisonment of
officials involved in the matter, there is no hope for minorities
in Pakistan.”
The Hindu American Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3), non-partisan organization, promoting the Hindu
and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
|
