Pakistan is set to reopen an old Jain temple, after its rebuilding and restoration, which was attacked and vandalised by a mob in a reaction to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992, Anadolu agency reported.
The temple located at a famous junction in Lahore is called the Jain Mandir intersection.
On December 6, 1992, more than 150,000 people gathered to listen to the leaders of Bharat Janta Party (BJP) in Ayodhya.
After listening to speeches of their leaders, the crowd became violent and attacked the Babri Masjid. Later, riots broke out in which 23 mosques and 2,000 innocent people were killed. In response, aggression arose in Pakistan during a protest and they demolished nearly 30 temples.
Nearly 30 years after the incident, the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave an order to restore the temples of Jain and Neela Gumbad (Blue Tomb) situated in Lahore. The order given by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, also stated that the reconstruction of all temples must be completed without any delay, followed by a preliminary report within one month, as per agency reports.
A member of the National Assembly (MNA), Ramesh Kumar Vankwanil, who is also a member of a commission by the Top Court regarding minority rights, told Anadoulu agency “I have visited the site on December 2 and also appeared in the court regarding this.”
“Pakistan is following its own Constitution in which all religions have the right to practice their faith. I am feeling proud that we are setting examples for others,” he added.
On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court of India announced a verdict that the disputed land will be given to the Hindus and Muslims will obtain an alternative land of five acres of land in Ayodhya.
All accusers in the Babri Mosque demolition case including L.K. Advani of BJP, were acquitted on September 2020.
Dr Munawar Chand, Chairman for the Hindu Welfare Council Pakistan said, “We can never forget what happened in India in 1992, the response in Pakistan was also very angry but we cannot form an opinion on just one incident.”
“Our Muslim brothers have always stood by us. We wish we can have the Jain community again here in large numbers but this step of reconstruction of the Jain temple has given us immense happiness,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has nearly completed their paperwork for the reconstruction of the temples. They will start to reconstruct by next week which will finish in phases, according to the agency reports.
