Shreya Varanasi, Pune
On Friday, Khalistani activists prevented the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from accessing a Gurdwara in Scotland. A video posted by Sikh Youth UK depicted a confrontation between the Khalistani activists and the officials at the Glasgow Gurdwara on Alberta Drive.
This dispute revolved around the preparation of Langar, the communal kitchen service, for the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami. In the video, one of the officials was observed confiscating the camera from the activist. The video also shows pro-Khalistan activists ganging up on the High Commissioner’s car and forcing him to leave.
A man is heard saying in the now-viral video, “This is exactly how we should be greeting any Indian ambassador, anyone from the Indian government who comes in an official capacity under any excuse of doing visa applications or whatever it might be.”
The incident occurred as the High Commissioner’s two-day visit to Scotland was drawing to a close. During his visit, he engaged in a range of activities, including meetings and talks with local political figures, representatives from the diaspora, business leaders, and university organizations.
The radical Sikh activists discovered that Doraiswami had scheduled a meeting with the Gurdwara committee, prompting their abrupt arrival at the scene, as reported by Times of India.
The Khalistani activist said a small group of individuals arrived and conveyed to the High Commissioner that his presence was unwelcome. This resulted in his departure and a minor altercation. It is believed that the Gurdwara committee was displeased with the incident and this emphasized on the general unwelcoming attitude towards Indian officials in UK Gurdwaras.
The activist further claimed that the frustration stems from what they perceive as collusion between the UK and India. Recent tensions, particularly following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have placed British Sikhs in a vulnerable position. This tension is also linked to figures like Avtar Singh Khanda and Jagtar Singh Johal.
This development comes in the wake of a recent statement made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the country’s parliament. Trudeau indicated that the authorities are actively investigating credible allegations regarding the involvement of the Indian government in Nijjar’s murder. These allegations, which label Nijjar as a designated terrorist, have been firmly refuted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as baseless and driven by ulterior motives.