The management of Glasgow Gurdwara, where a top Indian diplomat in the UK was accosted and prevented from entering by Khalistani supporters, on Sunday condemned the "disorderly behaviour" in a statement, adding that all communities were welcome to the Sikh place of worship.
"An incident occurred on 29 September 2023 at Glasgow Gurdwara where the Indian High Commissioner was on a personal visit, facilitated by a member of the Scottish Parliament. Certain unknown individuals from outside the Glasgow area attempted to disrupt this visit, following which the visiting party decided to leave the premises," the statement by Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib Sikh Sabha stated.
“Glasgow Gurdwara strongly condemns such disorderly behaviour to disrupt the peaceful proceedings of a Sikh place of worship," the statement added.
The Gurudwara added that the ‘unruly individuals’ continued to disturb the congregation even after the Indian envoy had left.
Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, was stopped from entering the Gurdwara by Khalistani sympathisers on Saturday.
A video circulating on social media shows a person obstructing Doraiswami from entering the Gurdwara. Two men can be seen trying to open the door of the High Commissioner's car in the parking area. Moments later, the car is seen leaving the premises of the holy place.
India has brought up the "disgraceful" incident with the UK government. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a junior UK foreign minister, acknowledged the video circulating on social media and said she was ‘concerned’.
"The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all," she tweeted.
The incident comes in the midst of escalating diplomatic tension between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused "agents of the Indian government" of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
