Central Gurudwara (Sikh temple) in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. (File photo by Media Scotland)
Indias diplomatic mission in the UK has condemned a "disgraceful incident" outside a Sikh temple in Glasgow, Scotland amid a continued conflict between New Delhi and Khalistan secessionists.
Indian High Commissioner in London Vikram Doraiswami accompanied by the consul-general planned to visit the Sikh temple in Glasgow on Friday when they were prevented from entering it by Sikh extremists.
The High Commission of India, London said in a statement that the two officials were threatened and abused by the extremist elements and then forced to leave the premises to prevent a major incident.
It said one of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently open the door of the high commissioners car, creating a clear security concern for the Indian officials and "a matter that will require suitable police consideration."
Doraiswami said the event was "deliberately disrupted", adding it was only due to the quick reaction of one of the organizers, who physically intervened at the car door, "that a bigger incident was avoided."
He urged UK authorities to take action against the culprits and the instigators of the incident.
The UKs minister for Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said the safety and security of foreign diplomats was of utmost importance for No.10.
Indias diplomatic relation with British Commonwealth heavyweight Canada has hit rock bottom in recent weeks amid a row over the killing of a Sikh leader belonging to the Khalistan movement, a separatist pressure group that seeks to create a sovereign state for Sikhs in the Punjab region shared between India and Pakistan.
Canadas prime minister has said that he believed there were "credible allegations of a potential link" between Indian agents and the June murder of Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, outside a gurudwara in British Columbia.
India has called the claim "absurd", saying "allegations (leveled by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada."
New Delhi has also urged Ottawa authorities to launch a crackdown and arrest "terrorists" harbored in the country, a reference to Sikh separatists.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/27386
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