UK Gurdwara condemns Khalistani extremists for denying entry to Indian envoy
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The Glasgow Gurdwara, where Khalistani extremists prevented an Indian envoy from entering, has issued a strong condemnation of the incident, emphasising its openness to people from all communities and backgrounds.
In a statement, the Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib Sikh Sabha expressed its deep disapproval of the "disorderly behaviour" that occurred during the incident. The Gurdwara clarified that it was open to individuals from diverse communities.
The statement read, "An incident occurred on 29 September 2023, at Glasgow Gurdwara, where the Indian High Commissioner was on a personal visit, facilitated by a member of the Scottish Parliament. Certain unknown individuals from outside the Glasgow area attempted to disrupt this visit, following which the visiting party decided to leave the premises."
The Gurdwara further noted that the "unruly individuals" continued to disrupt the congregation even after the Indian envoy had left.
"Glasgow Gurdwara strongly condemns such disorderly behaviour aimed at disrupting the peaceful proceedings of a Sikh place of worship," the statement added.
The incident involved Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami being prevented from entering the Gurdwara by Khalistani extremists. A viral video on social media depicted a man obstructing the Indian High Commissioner's entry into the Gurdwara in Glasgow, with two individuals attempting to open the door of his car in the parking area. The car eventually left the premises of Glasgow Gurudwara Saheb.
The Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom issued a statement and said it was non-local extremist elements that threatened the envoy. The press release said all three persons were from areas outside Scotland.
India has raised the matter with the UK government, describing the incident as "disgraceful." Junior UK Foreign Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan acknowledged the viral video and expressed her concerns.
"The safety and security of foreign diplomats are of utmost importance, and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all," she stated.
This incident occurred against the backdrop of a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations of "Indian government agents" being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.