Extremist Sikh activists stop Indian High Commissioner from entering a gurudwara in Glasgow

Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was allegedly stopped from entering a gurudwara in Glasgow, Scotland, by extremist Sikh activists. This comes amidst the ongoing showdown between India and Canada over Canada's allegation that India was complicit in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

A pro-Khalistan activist was allegedly seen preventing the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow Gurdwara on Albert Drive in a video that has gone popular on social media. "They are hurting Sikhs in Canada and other places, every Sikh should protest against any Indian Ambassador like we did here in Glasgow,” one of the protestor’s is reportedly heard saying in the video.

Two men can be seen standing near the High Commissioner's car in the parking lot. One of them tried to open the car door that was locked from inside. Following this, the Commissioner's car drives off the gurdwara premises. The gurdwara managing committee had invited the Indian official, and in a longer version of the video, the Sikh extremists can be seen threatening the members of the managing committee as well. As per reports, the issue has been raised with the UK foreign office and a police complaint has been filed.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has strongly condemned the incident. "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 the BJP leader.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has also severely criticized this incident. In a statement, SGPC General Secretary Grewal said that the UK envoy's entry should not have been stopped. A gurdwara is a place of worship for all religions.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that "Indian government agents" were responsible for the murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a dispute broke out between the two nations. Trudeau's accusations were deemed "absurd" by India.