Amid simmering tensions over the killing of Khalistani terrrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, was prevented from entering a gurdwara in Scotland, according to reports.
Doraiswami, who arrived for a meeting with the committee of the Glasgow Gurdwara, was confronted by a group of radical Sikh activists. “I don't think the gurdwara committee is too happy about what happened. But Indian officials are not welcome in any gurdwara in the UK,” a pro-Khalistan activist told the Times of India.
“The recent tensions since the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing have led to British Sikhs being targeted. This is to do with Avtar Singh Khanda and Jagtar Singh Johal too,” he added.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged of “possible” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia earlier this year. Pro-Khalistan leader Khanda, mastermind behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London, died of unknown causes in a hospital in June.
Though he was reportedly suffering from cancer, Khanda's family and supporters have alleged foul play in his sudden death.
In a video posted on the Instagram account of Sikh Youth UK, activists are seen trying to open the door of Doraiswami's car, but it is locked from the inside. The car then leaves as committee members look on.
One of the activists then faces the camera and said: “This is exactly how we should greet anyone from the Indian government who comes to the gurudwara in an official capacity. We know what has happened in Canada.”
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa strongly condemned the incident. Speaking to ANI, he said: “Anyone from any religion or community can come here (Gurdwara). We are not that religion that believes in violence instead we are among those who are saviours of humanity.”
