Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday termed the attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan as “reprehensible” and asserted that the act must be “condemned unequivocally”.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said that “bigotry is a dangerous, age-old poison that knows no borders”, adding that “love, mutual respect and understanding is its only known antidote”.

The attack on Nankana Sahab is reprehensible & must be condemned unequivocally .

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Bigotry is a dangerous, age old poison that knows no borders.

Love + Mutual Respect + Understanding is its only known antidote.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 4, 2020

His remarks came a day after the gurdwara in Pakistan was attacked by a Muslim mob while Sikh devotees were stranded inside the shrine.

Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the attack came shortly after Union Minister and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Badal slammed the Congress leader for his “anti-Sikh face” and keeping mum on the stoning of Nankana Sahib Gurdwara.

“Cong leader @RahulGandhi’s refusal to condemn stoning of #GurdwaraNankanaSahib & threat to the very existence of holy shrine reveals his anti-Sikh face. Rahul working overtime to mislead ppl on #CAA but has no time to take on Pak & expose atrocities it’s committing against Sikhs (sic),” Harsimrat Badal said on Twitter.

Cong leader @RahulGandhi’s refusal to condemn stoning of #GurdwaraNankanaSahib & threat to the very existence of holy shrine reveals his anti-Sikh face. Rahul working overtime to mislead ppl on #CAA but has no time to take on Pak & expose atrocities it’s committing against Sikhs. pic.twitter.com/8Hu2iVM9m4

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) January 4, 2020

While questioning Gandhi’s silence over the issue, she also criticised the Congress for misleading people on the Citizenship law.

“Persecution of minorities in Pak is a reality. Today’s attack on Gurdwara Sri #NankanaSahib has shown its horrible face. I want to ask @capt_amarinder & @INCIndia how can they oppose PM @narendramodi’s noble humanitarian gesture of giving rights to such persecuted minorities! (sic)” Badal said in another tweet supporting the CAA.

Persecution of minorities in Pak is a reality. Today’s attack on Gurdwara Sri #NankanaSahib has shown its horrible face. I want to ask @capt_amarinder & @INCIndia how can they oppose PM @narendramodi’s noble humanitarian gesture of giving rights to such persecuted minorities! pic.twitter.com/pTDNjDilzX

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) January 3, 2020

Badal has also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan. She added that Sikhs are being attacked in Pakistan.

True face of Pak stands exposed! First Sikh minor girl kidnapped & forcibly married. Now kidnappers attacking victim family & holy shrine Gurdwara #NankanaSahib. I urge PM @narendramodi ji & @DrSJaishankar to ensure Pak stops this barbarity & ensure safety of Pak Sikh community. pic.twitter.com/Ix73iKQosa

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) January 3, 2020

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Nankana Sahib is a sacred place for Sikhs and people of all religions have respect for it. “If such an incident has occurred, all of us strongly condemn it,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement on Friday had called for strong action against the miscreants who had indulged in the desecration of the holy Gurdwara and attacked members of the minority Sikh community.

According to reports, hundreds of angry Muslims gathered outside the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara — the birthplace of Guru Nanak — and pelted stones at the shrine with devotees inside on Friday evening.

The mob was being reportedly led by the family of Mohammad Hassan, the boy who allegedly abducted and converted Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, who is the daughter of the gurdwara’s granthi.

However, Pakistan government late on Friday rejected reports that Nankana Sahib Gurdwara near Lahore was desecrated by a mob of Muslim residents.

The country’s foreign office in a midnight statement said the provincial authorities in the Punjab province informed that there was a minor scuffle in the city of Nankana Sahib on Friday which was between two Muslim groups.