India condemns “disgraceful incident” after High Commissioner to UK denied entry to Glasgow Gurudwara

The “disgraceful incident” at the Glasgow Gurudwara, where individuals from outside Scotland “deliberately disrupted” a planned interaction for the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, has been reported to UK authorities, the Indian High Commission to the UK said on Saturday.

“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. This interaction was to discuss community and consular issues”, the High Commission of India, London said in a statement today.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police have been informed of this disgusting incident, the High Commission added.

According to the statement, a number of community bodies, including the organisers, who were made up of senior community leaders, ladies and Committee members, and a member of the Scottish Parliament, officially lamented the occurrence and encouraged the authorities to punish those responsible.

“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,” it said.

One of the non-local radical members allegedly tried to forcibly force open the High Commissioner’s car door, according to the Indian Mission, and this incident “will require appropriate police consideration.”

The Indian embassy in London added that “a bigger incident was avoided” because to one of the organisers’ quick thinking and physical intervention at the car door.

The declaration was made in response to alleged social media videos that appeared to show Doraiswami being confronted by pro-Khalistani individuals outside the gurdwara on Albert Drive in Glasgow, preventing the Indian envoy from entering the gurudwara.

Earlier today, according to government sources, India has discussed the matter with the police and the British Foreign Office.

“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,” the sources had said.

The most recent incidence occurs in the midst of a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the execution of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, outside of a gurudwara, this past June.

(With agency inputs)