India Raises Concerns With UK Over Entry Denial Of Envoy Into Scotland Gurudwara

India has formally raised concerns with the United Kingdom's foreign office and the local police regarding an incident in which its High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, was prevented from entering a gurdwara in Scotland, according to government sources as reported by ANI.

The sources said, "Doraiswami was on Friday stopped by a few radicals from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow. The Indian High Commissioner decided to leave instead of getting into an argument,"

A purported video posted on the Instagram channel of 'Sikh Youth UK' showed a man, allegedly a pro-Khalistani activist, obstructing Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow gurdwara located on Albert Drive.

This incident comes amidst a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada concerning the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned the incident. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa emphasized that gurdwaras are open to individuals from all religions and communities, and Sikhs are known for their commitment to humanity.

"I strongly condemn this (that Vikram Doraiswami was allegedly stopped from entering a gurdwara in Scotland). 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. Sikhs are the saviours. PM Modi has praised the work of our community. Sikhs are represented everywhere in the world. The safest place for the Sikhs in the world is in India...," said BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa as quoted by ANI.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also criticized the incident, stating that the UK Envoy should not have been prevented from entering the gurdwara underscoring that gurdwaras welcome people of all religions.

In the purported video posted by 'Sikh Youth UK' on social media, a protestor is heard saying, "They are hurting Sikhs in Canada and other places, every Sikh should protest against any Indian Ambassador like we did here in Glasgow."

A pro-Khalistani activist talked about the incident and said, "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,"..." We are fed up with the UK-India collusion. The recent tensions since Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing have led to British Sikhs being targeted. This is to do with Avtar Singh Khanda and Jagtar Singh Johal too" as reported by India Today

In a related development, Avtar Singh Khanda, the UK-based chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the primary handler of Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, passed away in a hospital in Birmingham in June. He had aided Amritpal Singh in evading the police for 37 days in Punjab earlier this year.

On the other hand, Jagtar Singh Johal has been detained in Tihar jail in Delhi since 2017 over his alleged involvement with pro-Khalistani terror groups, as per a report in India Today.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who visited India for the G20 Summit in Delhi earlier this September said, "Let me just say unequivocally that no form of extremism or violence like that is acceptable in the UK," when questioned about the Khalistan issue. He also asserted that the UK is working with the Indian government to handle the pro-Khalistani extremism.