Just read this news item on Rediff.
Apparently, officials of the Evacuee Property Trust Board of Pakistan, concealed the information from its Chairman, that the property to be demolished houses the only Hindu Temple in Lahore. And the Chairman 'unknowingly' gave the order to demolish the Krishna Temple and build a commercial complex in its place.
Imagine if some thing similar happened in India. We would have seen major riots in most communally sensitive urban areas. But I guess Pakistan is much more secular than India, and so, demolishing temples or Buddha statues is no big deal - progress is more important.
However, it is interesting to note that several opposition members of the National Assembly have raised their voices against this act:
So, it is not the question of hurting the sentiments of Pakistan's Hindu citizens, but about safeguarding Pakistan's reputation among the international community. Wah Wah !
Now that the temple has been demolished (this is not the only temple to be demolished under the auspices of the EPTW though), will the Pakistani authorities sanction the land and funds to build a new temple for the Hindus of Lahore? May be they will.And may be Arundhati Roy might speak about this in an interview with Al Jazeera. And may be I will win the Booker prize some day soon.
Apparently, officials of the Evacuee Property Trust Board of Pakistan, concealed the information from its Chairman, that the property to be demolished houses the only Hindu Temple in Lahore. And the Chairman 'unknowingly' gave the order to demolish the Krishna Temple and build a commercial complex in its place.
Imagine if some thing similar happened in India. We would have seen major riots in most communally sensitive urban areas. But I guess Pakistan is much more secular than India, and so, demolishing temples or Buddha statues is no big deal - progress is more important.
However, it is interesting to note that several opposition members of the National Assembly have raised their voices against this act:
saying such an act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with neighbouring countries.
So, it is not the question of hurting the sentiments of Pakistan's Hindu citizens, but about safeguarding Pakistan's reputation among the international community. Wah Wah !
Now that the temple has been demolished (this is not the only temple to be demolished under the auspices of the EPTW though), will the Pakistani authorities sanction the land and funds to build a new temple for the Hindus of Lahore? May be they will.And may be Arundhati Roy might speak about this in an interview with Al Jazeera. And may be I will win the Booker prize some day soon.
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