Twitter users on Friday reacted with concern and a sense of urgency after a tweet that hundreds of agitated Muslim residents of Nankana Sahib had allegedly pelted Gurdwara Nankana Sahib with stones.
Video clips doing the rounds on the social media claimed the mob was led by the family of a youth, Mohammad Hassan, who was earlier accused of abducting and forcibly converting a Sikh girl for marriage.#NankanaSahib trended with 4,492 tweets.
Nankana Sahib, some 75 km west of Lahore, is the place where first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469.
Hear the video and feel the kind of terror minorities live with in Pakistan
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 3, 2020
Mohammad Hassan openly threatens to destroy Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and build the mosque in that place@ImranKhanPTI is urged to take action against communal trend of hatred@TimesNow @ANI @ZeeNews pic.twitter.com/OrxQV1m2Kh
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh later tweeted on @capt_amarinder: “Appeal Ato @ImranKhanPTI 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.”
Appeal to @ImranKhanPTI 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.https://t.co/Cpmfn1T8ss
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 3, 2020
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal tweeted: “Mob attack on Gurdwara Sri #NankanaSahib, birth place of Guru Nanak Dev ji, is a despicable act and I urge PM @narendramodi ji to take it up with Pak PM @ImranKhanPTI. We have to ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan and I trust that the govt will address the issue on priority.”
Mob attack on Gurdwara Sri #NankanaSahib, birth place of Guru Nanak Dev ji, is a despicable act and I urge PM @narendramodi ji to take it up with Pak PM @ImranKhanPTI. We have to ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan and I trust that the govt will address the issue on priority. pic.twitter.com/h5SDuIxndH
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 3, 2020
Earlier, one user posted a clip and wrote: “Very tense in #NankanaSahib after police arrested (?) father and another relative of Hassan as per the girl’s cousin. Gurduara Sahib attacked, claims being made no Sikh will be left & the city’s name will be changed.”
He tagged @ImranKhanPTI and @parbhandak with the post.One concerned user pointed out that “there are Sikh devotees inside the gurdwara.”
Another user claimed that a congregation had to be cancelled at Gurdwara Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib) and that tension was high in the area.
India strongly condemns vandalism at the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan and calls upon Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and well being of the Sikh community. https://t.co/Nx1317xQ1T pic.twitter.com/dFykWJa2xP
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 3, 2020
A later tweet showed a crowd still standing outside the gurdwara as evening fell: “#NankanaSahib just now; a mob still surrounded the #GurdwaraNankanaSahib gate.”
One user remarked: “That’s why #CAA is necessary.”
Another remarked: “Where is @capt_amarinder when you need him?”
पाकिस्तान में मजहबी नफरत का आलम देखिए- ये उग्र भीड़ सिखों को पाकिस्तान से बाहर निकालने के नारे लगा रही है और चिल्ला चिल्लाकर कह रही है कि ननकाना साहब का नाम बदलकर ग़ुलाम अली मुस्तफ़ा रख देंगे@ZeeNews @ANI @PTI_News @TimesNow @ABPNews @republic @thetribunechd pic.twitter.com/j6OObmGCkq
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 3, 2020
DSGMC & @Akali_Dal_ organising a peaceful protest outside Pak Embassy on Saturday, 04 Jan 2020 in wake of attack on Janam Asthan Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Pak
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 3, 2020
Assembly time:1 pm
Place:Teen Murti Golchakkar, New Delhi
Let’s all stand united against this communal hatred in Pak @ANI pic.twitter.com/kiCKtTGasF
“What is wrong with these people… a kidnapper’s family is leading a mob and stoning a place of worship. These guys are barbarians,” read one post.
One user commented: “Look at what is happening to the Sikhs in Pakistan.”
All in control ? !!!!#NankanaSahib https://t.co/8kqrB1Mlts pic.twitter.com/GBfPxrcvbz
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ راویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) January 3, 2020
#NankanaSahib ; @parbhandak president Satwant Singh had meeting with the #Sikhs at Nankana Sahib at mid night and demanded that Pak government should arrest the culprits under section 295. #GopalSinghChawla also seen in the video . pic.twitter.com/X8nM2TVRnl
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ راویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) January 3, 2020