'Non-local Extremists Disrupted Event': India After Diplomats Denied Entry Into Scotland Gurudwara

The Indian High Commission in London on Saturday said “non-local extremist elements” deliberately disrupted High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami’s visit to a gurdwara in Scotland. This was a planned interaction organised by the gurdwara committee and could not take place as “three persons from areas outside Scotland” threatened and abused the organisers, following which the high commissioner and consul-general decided to leave.

“On September 29, 2023, three persons — all from areas outside Scotland — deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organised by the gurudwara committee for the community, the high commissioner and the consul general of India. The organisers included senior community leaders, ladies and committee members, and a member of the Scottish Parliament. They were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the HC and CG decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival,” the Indian High Commission in London said in a statement, which was issued amid outrage over Doraiswami being stopped from entering the gurdwara.

But, the Indian High Commission said he and the Consul-General of India were to attend a pre-planned event. The organisers of the interaction included senior community leaders, women, committee members and a Scottish MP.

Doraiswami, it seems, decided to leave after the outsiders issued threats to the organisers as well. The Indian High Commission in London further said one of the persons violently forced open the envoy’s car door but a prompt reaction and physical intervention by the organisers avoided a “bigger incident” from taking place.

The high commission also said the matter requires police investigation and a number of community organisations, including the organisers of the interaction, have formally regretted the incident and urged the authorities to take action against the culprits.

“One of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the HC’s car door — a matter that will require suitable police consideration. It is due to the quick reaction of one of the organisers, who physically intervened at the car door, that a bigger incident was avoided. Multiple community organisations, including the organisers have formally regretted the incident and have urged the authorities to take action against the culprits,” the statement read.

Doraiswami was touring Scotland this week and was blocked from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow by pro-Khalistan extremists. During the planned visit to Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib on Albert Drive, members of Sikh Youths UK posted videos of their face-off with gurdwara officials as a few of them approached the high commissioner’s car and asked him to leave.

“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,” a Sikh man is heard saying in a video posted on social media.

The high commissioner’s two-day visit to Scotland involved a series of meetings and discussions with local political leaders, diaspora representatives, business chiefs and university groups.

The local police said it was called to the “disturbance” and its enquiries remain ongoing. “We were called around 1.05 pm on Friday, 29 September, to a report of a disturbance that happened in the Albert Drive area of Glasgow. There were no reports of any injuries and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances,” said a Police Scotland spokesperson.

In one of the first reactions from the UK government, a minister from the Foreign, Commonwealth an Development Office (FCDO) said she was concerned about the gurdwara incident. “Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner @VDoraiswami was stopped from meeting with the Gurudwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all,” said Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who is the Minister for Indo-Pacific at the FCDO.

Effects of the India-Canada face-off in UK?

The incident follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in his country’s Parliament last week over the killing of Canada-based Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau said his government is pursuing “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government killed the Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil. The external affairs ministry, however, strongly rejected these allegations leading to a face-off in which diplomatic relations were suspended. India had earlier designated Nijjar a terrorist.

During Doraiswami’s Glasgow tour as well, the issue of British Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal in custody on terrorism charges in India was also raised by Scotland’s First Minister Hamza Yousaf. “Replying to some issues raised by FM (First Minister Hamza) Yousaf, HC (High Commissioner) stressed that due process is being given under laws to Mr Johal, who faces 8 serious terror charges. FM also ‘appreciated’ HC’s clear message that rights of all communities are guaranteed in India’s pluralist and free democracy,” the Indian High Commission tweeted with reference to the meeting.

(With PTI inputs)