Pakistan’s religious leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi, in his recent video, spewed his hatred at Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He accused Maharaja Ranjit Singh of murdering Muslims in his speeches. He also provoked Pakistanis to vandalise the statue.
After which, a group of Islamic extremists in Pakistan vandalised the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, erected at the Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila), at the Mai Jindan’s Haveli on December 12 (Saturday). The fort is an important historical monument for Sikhs and is located near Gurdwara Dera Sahib related to Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
The extremists entered inside the Qila with wooden rods, went straight to the statue, and started hitting it aggressively–breaking one of its arms and damaging other parts.
The attackers also emphasized and reiterated that it was against their religion to construct a statue in a Muslim country and they shall keep continuing and repeating such acts of vandalism.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has demanded immediate action against Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi, for hurting the sentiments of the Sikhs.
Addressing a press meet here, DSGMC chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the offensive speech by Rizvi had deeply anguished the Sikh community. The extremists who damaged the statue were radicalised by speeches of Pakistani preacher Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi-the founder of Tehreek-e-Labbaik. Maulana in his speeches hurled abuses at Maharaja Ranjit Singh and urged Pakistanis to vandalise the statue.
It is not for the first time that the statue has been attacked. In August 2019, two attackers, identified as Adnan Mughal and Asad, damaged the statue after which it was kept covered for a long time.
