Pak Hindus feel vindicated after Govt. asks NAPA to vacate Hindu Gymkhana building

Karachi, June 26 (ANI): The Culture and Tourism minister of Sindh, Sassui Palejo has asked the National Academy of Performing Art (NAPA) to vacate the premises of the Hindu Gymkhana, which was rented out to it in 2005.

Replying to a question put up by Senator Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Palejo told the Sindh Assembly that a notice in this regard has already been dispatched to NAPA.

Palejo said that the Gymkhana's building has been declared a 'protected building' under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act 1994.

The Sindh government was forced to take the action, as civil society, members of Hindu Community and culture-friendly people have been criticising the way the building is being utilized in the recent past, The Daily Times reports.

They said that the building of the Gymkhana should only be used for the purpose it was constructed, that is for holding social and cultural events of the Hindu community.

They also opined that the building should be given back to the Department of Culture and Tourism for establishing an Arts and Crafts centre to prevent it from being misutilised.

The Hindu Gymkhana was built during 1925 to1927 by famous philanthropist Seth Ram Gopaldas Goverthandas Mohatta.

Mohatta's main motive behind its construction was to provide a separate place for Hindus to organize their cultural activities and social gatherings. (ANI)