The Sikh groups will protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in the national capital on Saturday, a day after an angry group of local residents pelted stones at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Leading Sikh outfits and the Narendra Modi regime have strongly condemned the incident and asked the Pakistan government to ensure the safety of Sikhs living in the country. Gurdwara Nankana Sahib is a revered Sikh shrine since it is the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev.

The incident took place allegedly on the opposition by the Sikhs to forcible abduction and conversion of a Sikh girl in the Nankana Sahibcity in August 2019.

Around 5 pm on Friday, around 400 Muslims of Nankana Sahib attacked the gurdwara and the nearby residences of local Sikhs with stones in protest against the lifting of Mohammad Mustafa with whom the girl had agreedto marry. The attack was led by Mohammad Imran Attari, brother Mustafa, who isalso a member of Ghulam-e-Mustafa, a Majbi Muslim organization.

During the protest, Imran said that the name of Nankana Sahib would be converted into Ghulam-e- Mustafa and only Muslims would live in Nankana. He said, "We will not let any Sikh live in Nankana Sahib and will change its names to Ghulam-e-Mustafa." He named Governor Punjab Mohammad Sarwar and Brig Aizaz for committing atrocities on his family under pressure of Sikhs.

The protests were finally called off after local authorities intervened.As the report of an attack on the Sikh shrine spread, India strongly condemned the "wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place". India also asked the Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the Sikh community and of the Gurdwara. It also asked the Pakistan government to take strong action against the miscreants who indulged in the acts.

"We are concerned at the vandalism carried out at the revered Nankana Sahib Gurdwara today. Members of the minority Sikh community have been subjected to acts of violence in the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji. These reprehensible actions followed the forcible abduction and conversion of Jagjit Kaur, the Sikh girl who was kidnapped from her home in the city of Nankana Sahib in August last year,"said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place. We call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community. Strong action must be taken against the miscreants who indulged in the desecration of the holy Gurudwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community. In addition, the Government of Pakistanis enjoined to take all measures to protect and preserve the sanctity of the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara and its surroundings," added an officialrelease.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said,"Appeal to Imran Khan to immediately intervene to ensure that the devotees stranded in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are rescued and the historic Gurdwara is saved from the angry mob surrounding it."