- Monday, March 03, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
India faced pro-Khalistan protesters staging demonstrations in four major democracies around the world over the last few days after authorities in its northern state of Punjab launched a massive manhunt to nab radical preacher and Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh on Saturday (18) but New Delhi dealt with the show of protests on foreign soil sternly, even forcing some of them to take strong measures.
The ugliest protests were seen at the Indian high commission in London and the consulate general in San Francisco, US, where pro-Khalistan mobs committed acts of vandalism. At the UK mission, even the Indian Tricolour was dishonoured, earning a backlash not only in India but also in the UK and elsewhere. There were also reports that protesters attempted to set the mission on fire hours before the vandalism took place on Sunday (19).
In San Francisco, Khalistan sympathisers smashed doors and windows at the Indian consulate after breaking down barricades put up outside the building on Monday (20). Even the property’s wall was defaced with the graffiti ‘#Free Amritpal”.
In Australia, supporters of Singh protested outside the country’s parliament building in Canberra and it happened amid heightened tensions over an upcoming referendum on Khalistan.
In British Columbia in Canada, too, pro-Khalistan activists protested against a scheduled visit by the Indian high commissioner to the country. An event was also cancelled on security grounds and an Indian-origin journalist was heckled.
New Delhi did not take things lying down and summoned top diplomatic representatives of both the UK and US on its soil over the respective incidents in London and San Francisco.
While it sought explanation from the UK representative over the “complete absence of British security” that allowed the protesters to enter the diplomatic premises in London, it also “reminded” the US government of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation.
Both the western nations assured India of their commitments to protect the Indian missions and diplomats posted on their respective soil.
On Wednesday (22), a fresh protest was held by hundreds of Khalistan supporters in front of the Indian mission in London and this time, heavy barricades were put in place and a significant number of police personnel were deployed. This happened after the police in New Delhi removed barriers from outside the British high commission’s building in the Indian capital saying it was causing inconvenience to commuters.
Both India’s diplomatic mission and diaspora came up with strong reactions against the pulling down of the Indian Tricolour in the UK. While a massive Indian flag was put on display at the mission after Sunday’s ruckus and again on Wednesday when the Khalistan protesters were demonstrating, the local Indians expressed their solidarity outside the mission waving Tricolours and dancing to the tune of Indian songs and chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ (Hail Mother India).
The protesters were perhaps angered more by the display of the gigantic Indian Tricolour on Wednesday and they threw water bottles and ink at the patrolling police officers. The area outside India House was blockaded by Scotland Yard as a result and several additional uniformed and horse-mounted officers were deployed immediately.
