Punjab CM expresses outrage over vandalisation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's statue in Lahore

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday expressed shock over the vandalisation of a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Pakistan.

Shocked at the vandalisation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's statue at the Shahi Qila in Lahore. The desecration of the statue of our most respected Sikh ruler is highly condemnable. Strongly urge the@pid_gov tobring the culprits to book, Punjab choief minister tweeted.

The vandalisation of the statue near the grave of the first Maharaja of the Sikh empire in Shahi Qila took place on Saturday when the fort was opened for visitors. Two men broke one of its arms and damaged other parts of the statue.

The nine-feet statue, made of cold bronze, was unveiled at the Lahore Fort in June this year on the 180th death anniversary of the Maharaja.

The statue showed the regal Sikh emperor sitting on a horse in Sikh attire, complete with sword in hand.

It had taken eight months to build the statue of the Sikh ruler sitting sitting on his favourite horse 'Kahar Bahar' with a sword in hand. The horse was a gift from Dost Muhammad Khan, the founder of the Barazkai dynasty.

The statue was built and installed by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) in collaboration with the UK-based Sikh Heritage Foundation.