'Disgraceful': India After Envoy To UK Denied Entry To Glasgow Gurudwara

According to a purported video posted on the Instagram channel of ‘Sikh Youth UK’ a man reportedly a pro-Khalistani activist was seen blocking Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow gurdwara located on Albert Drive.

LONDON: India’s High Commission to the United Kingdom on Saturday said it has reported to authorities in the UK the “disgraceful incident” at the Glasgow Gurudwara where elements from outside Scotland “deliberately disrupted” a planned interaction organised for the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami. “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 High Commission further said that it has reported “this disgraceful incident to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police.” Multiple community organisations including the organisers, comprising senior community leaders, ladies and Committee members and a member of the Scottish Parliament, have formally regretted the incident and have urged the authorities to take action against the culprits, the statement read.

ब्रिटेन में भारतीय उच्चायुक्त विक्रम दोराइस्वामी को स्कॉटलैंड में गुरुद्वारे में रोके जाने पर बीजेपी नेता आर पी सिंह ने क्या कहा सुनिए #Khalistani #Scotland #VikramDoraiswami #BJP @ramm_sharma @anchorjiya @bramhprakash7 pic.twitter.com/dyEiry9kVk — Zee News (@ZeeNews) September 30, 2023

“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. The Indian Mission also stated that one of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the High Commissioner's car door – “a matter that will require suitable police consideration.”

The Indian mission in London also said that due to the quick reaction of one of the organisers, who physically intervened at the car door, “a bigger incident was avoided.” The statement was released after purported social media videos showed Doraiswami being accosted near the parking area of the gurdwara located on Albert Drive in Glasgow reportedly by pro-Khalistani elements who blocking the Indian envoy from entering the gurudwara.

On Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, allegedly stopped from entering a Gurudwara in Scotland, High Commission of India, London says "On September 29, 2023, three persons-- all from areas outside Scotland--deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organized… pic.twitter.com/pAUmo5ijXl

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2023

Government sources earlier today said that India had raised the issue with the United Kingdom foreign office and the police. “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 latest incident comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar this June outside a gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia.