Glasgow:
The Glasgow Gurdwara, where an Indian envoy was stopped by Khalistani extremists, today issued a statement strongly condemning the incident. The Gurdwara addressed the ‘disorderly behaviour’ and said they were open to people from all communities and backgrounds.
“On 29 September 2023, an incident took place at Glasgow Gurdwara where the Indian High Commissioner was on a personal visit facilitated by a Member of the Scottish Parliament. Certain unknown persons from outside the Glasgow area attempted to disrupt this visit following which the visiting party decided to leave the premises,” the statement from Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib Sikh Sabha said.
The Gurdwara said the “unruly individuals” continued to disturb the congregation even after the Indian envoy left.
“Glasgow Gurdwara strongly condemns such disorderly behavior to disrupt the peaceful conduct of a Sikh place of worship,” the statement said.
Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from entering the Gurdwara by Khalistani extremists on Saturday.
An alleged video going viral on social media shows a man preventing Indian High Commissioner to Britain Vikram Doraiswami from entering the gurdwara in Glasgow on Friday. Two men are also seen trying to open the door of the High Commissioner’s car in the parking lot. The car is then seen leaving the premises of Glasgow Gurudwara Saheb.
India has raised the ‘shameful’ incident with the British government. British Foreign Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan acknowledged the video went viral on social media and said she was “concerned.”
“The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of paramount importance and our places of worship in Britain must be accessible to all,” she said on X, formerly Twitter.
The incident comes amid the deepening diplomatic row between India and Canada, sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing “Indian government agents” of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.