BJP, VHP leaders condemn demolition of temple in Lahore

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Demolition of a Krishna temple in Pakistani city of Lahore to make way for a shopping mall today evoked strong condemnation from the BJP and the VHP.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader L K Advani said it had ''shocked millions in our country''.

He recalled the invitation extended to him by the Pakistan government last year to visit the Katasraj temple, about 60 km from Lahore, and inaugurate the project for restoration of the ancient shrines.

''The latest happening has naturally shocked millions in our country,'' Mr Advani said in a statement.

Pakistani daily 'Dawn' had reported on Monday that the Evacuee Trust Property Board has allowed a jeweller to demolish the Hindu temple in Lahore and construct a commercial building in its place.

The UPI agency had stated that this was the last remaining temple in the capital of Pakistan's West Pubjab province.

Meanwhile, claiming the incident may dent the cordial Indo-Pak relations, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said the demolition of the temple had hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus in India and in many parts of the world.

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, in Srinagar for a visit, termed the demolition an unfortunate act and a wrong step, adding the Pakistan government must respect and protect places of worship of the minority communities.

VHP leader Pravin Togadia, talking to UNI in Ahmedabad, today called upon the countrymen to boycott Pakistani music, ghazals and singers and urged the government to ban Pakistani goods, saying,''if there is no Krishna tune in Lahore, then there can be no Pakistani music in India''.

''Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu. Indians pray to Him. No Hindu would tolerate breaking the ancient Krishna temple in Lahore.'' He also asked the government to call off the peace talks with Pakistan, saying there can never be peace with a country ''which is breaking our faith into pieces from Kashmir to Kandahar and from Dhaka and Assam''.

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