After the Indian High Commissioner to the UK was obstructed from entering a gurdwara in Scotland by a group of Khalistan supporters on Friday, sources said that the government of the United Kingdom has taken the matter seriously and assured India that action will be taken against the perpetrators.
High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was prevented from entering a gurdwara in Scotland’s Glasgow by two Khalistani radicals. In a purported video posted on the Instagram channel called ‘Sikh Youth UK,’ a man, reportedly a pro-Khalistani activist, can be seen blocking Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow Gurdwara on Albert Drive.
‘UK Taking Matter Seriously’
“Cops reached the spot on time and the UK assured India of action against the perpetrators. Gurdwaras in the UK are very welcoming to Indian Diplomats and Indian Community. Only a few radical men try to use it as an opportunity to get social media traction and to prove themself for the cause,” sources told News18.com.
Following the incident, India has raised the issue of diplomats’ security with the UK Foreign Office.
Sources said that as a part of outreach and also otherwise, gurudwara committees in the UK have a great understanding and mutual respect for Indian Diplomats and the UK High Commissioner is a regular visitor there.
They also clarified that the two radical men seen in the video are not part of the Gurudwara committee and action will be taken against them.
“Gurudwara in Glasgow invited High Commissioner Doraiwami for a function but somehow these two radical men got to know about it and they decided to create a scene at his arrival. Two radical men had nothing to do with the gurudwara administration. The High Commissioner did not want to spoil the function by going on in Gurudwara so he decided not to get down from the car,” they said.
Sources added that even after the Indian envoy left, the Gurudwara authorities requested him to come back, but due to security concerns Doraiswami was unable to attend the event.
“The situation in the UK is unlike Canada. Canada never took the ‘concerns’ of the Indian side seriously whereas the UK, since day one, has acted against these groups and took the matter seriously. Despite that India has again raised concerns regarding the security of the High Commissioner to the Foreign Policy,” they said.
The Video
The incident unfolded outside a Gurdwara in Glasgow, where Doraiswami had a planned meeting with the Gurdwara committee. The video showed two men near the High Commissioner’s car in the parking area. One of them is seen attempting to open the car door, which has been locked from the inside.
“…They are hurting Sikhs in Canada and other places, every Sikh should protest against any Indian Ambassador like we did here in Glasgow,” the man is heard saying in the video.
The ‘Sikh Youth UK’ claims that there is an ongoing ban on Indian officials visiting the gurdwara in their official capacities.
The purported video then shows the high commissioner’s car leaving the gurdwara premises.
