India to get Lahore Gurudwara evicted: Pranab

New Delhi, Aug 23: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today assured the Lok Sabha that he would take up with the Pakistan authorities the complaint regarding illegal occupation of a Gurudwara in Lahore by anti-social elements and get it evicted as early as possible.

The issue was raised by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) member S S Dhindsa during Zero Hour as a special mention. He sought to highlight the issue as an adjournment motion, but the Chair allowed it to be put as a special mention.

Mr Mukherjee said he had asked his office to be in touch with the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan in regard to the Gurudwara issue.

''This shrine will be released and unauthorised persons occupying it evicted as early as possible,'' Mr Mukherjee said, amid applause by members from both the treasury and Opposition benches.

In his submission, Mr Dhindsa said the government should immediately take up the issue as the Gurudwara had been under the ''hooligans'' for quite some time now.

He said if action was not taken immediately to evict the anti-socials, it might snowball into a major issue like the Lal Masjid.

UNI