Amid recent tensions, a group of Khalistani supporters confronted Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu outside a New York gurdwara, leveling accusations regarding the demise of Sikh figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar and an alleged plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated individual associated with the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group.
The incident unfolded shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, disclosed on November 22 that the US had shared concerning information about potential links between organized crime, arms trafficking, terrorism, and other illicit activities. Both nations agreed to pursue necessary steps based on these inputs.
The altercation occurred at the Hicksville Gurdwara in New York, where a person confronted Ambassador Sandhu, attributing responsibility for Nijjar's death, who was fatally shot in Canada earlier this year.
A video shared by BJP spokesperson RP Singh Khalsa depicted Sandhu surrounded by individuals amidst continuous verbal confrontations.
"Khalistani supporters attempted to accost Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu with unfounded accusations regarding his involvement in the alleged plot against Gurpatwant, an advocate for the SFJ and the Khalistan Referendum," Khalsa stated.
"Himmat Singh, leading the pro-Khalistani group at Hicksville Gurdwara in New York, also accused Ambassador Sandhu of India's purported role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who served as President of Surrey Gurdwara and coordinated the Canadian chapter of the Khalistan Referendum."
This event echoes a similar incident from September when Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami faced restrictions from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow by a few Khalistani radicals in Scotland.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently registered a fresh case against designated individual terrorist Pannun following a viral video where he threatened Air India passengers with a global blockade and hinted at closing the airline's operations.
Bagchi's statement on November 22 highlighted the ongoing examination of issues arising from US inputs by relevant departments. He emphasized the shared concern between both nations regarding these inputs, considering their implications for national security interests.
"India takes such inputs seriously as they directly impact our national security," the MEA spokesperson affirmed, emphasizing the ongoing examination of the context and implications of the US-provided information by relevant Indian authorities.
(With Agency Inputs)
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