Pro-Khalistan activists heckled India’s Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu during his visit to a gurudwara in New York on the occasion of Guruprab.
A viral video on social media shows pro-Khalistani elements confronting Sandhu and making statements about Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, pro-Khalistan men designated as terrorists by India.
Sandhu visited the Guru Nanak Darbar in Long Island, New York and took part in the Guruprab celebrations. In the video, a lone protester is seen raising the Khalistani flag while he is leaving in his vehicle from the gurudwara premises.
Tweeting about his visit, the ambassador said, ”Privileged to join the local Sangat, including from Afghanistan, at Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in celebrating Gurpurab- listened to Kirtan, spoke about Guru Nanak’s everlasting message of togetherness, unity, and equality, partook langar, and sought blessings for all.”
Pro-Khalistan activists have been conducting protests outside Indian embassies and heckling Indian envoys during their visits to gurudwaras. In September, India’s envoy to UK Vikram Doraiswami was stopped by pro-Khalistani activists from visiting a gurudwara in Glasgow. A video then posted on the Instagram handle ‘Sikh Youth UK’ shows the ambassador’s car being stopped by Khalistani supporters and the car leaving the premises. Reportedly, pro-Khalistan activists approached the envoy’s vehicle and asked him to leave. The High Commission of India, London called the incident disgraceful.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemning the incident told ANI, “As far as Taranjit Singh Sandhu is concerned, he has got a legacy. His father was Teja Singh Samundari who fought for Chabi wala Morcha for Gurudwara, before independence. I believe that this kind of heckling of him is not justified at all. I condemn this."
Protests against Indian embassies increased after Canada alleged of “possible” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia earlier this year.
