'Khalistan Movement Hyped Up': Sikh Leaders Condemn Violence In US, UK By Armitpal Supporters

A group of protestors in support of Amritpal grabbed the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London while an attempt was made to set fire to Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

Sikh leaders Jasdeep Singh (left) and Balgendra Singh Shami (right) condemned violence by Amritpal supporters. ( Image Source :ANI )

Sikh leaders from India and abroad have condemned the violence at the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco by supporters of fugitive Khalistani leader and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh. 

On Sunday, a group of protestors grabbed the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London and waved separatist Khalistani flags, and chanted pro-Khalistan slogans leading to arrests related to the violent disorder. 

In San Francisco, the protestors made an attempt to set fire to the Indian Consulate with senior Indian diplomats informing their American counterparts that they anticipate more such protests by anti-national elements in the coming weeks.

The move has been condemned by Sikh leaders from India and abroad. 

Whatever happened in Punjab is very unfortunate. I also condemn the violence incident that happened in United Kingdom & at Indian consulate in San Francisco. As we are democratic country, we have full rights to protest but it should be peaceful: Balgendra Singh Shami, Sikh leader pic.twitter.com/r0d7FcEXHo

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2023

A Sikh leader from Washington, Jasdeep Singh said everybody has a right to protest but it should be peaceful. 

“We condemn any violence that has happened outside the Indian Embassy in San Francisco or the desecration of the Indian flag in London. Everybody has a right to protest but it should be peaceful & no violence or vandalism should happen,” he said while speaking to the news agency ANI.

He said that reporting of the Khalistani movement in the US and Canada is “all hyped up.”

“Whatever you're seeing in the media, that there's a Khalistan movement going on in America & Canada is all hyped up. There's more than a million Sikhs who live in North America and out of that, only 50 show up outside the Indian Embassy to protest,” he added. 

“Whatever happened in Punjab is very unfortunate. I also condemn the violent incident that happened in the United Kingdom and at the Indian consulate in San Francisco. As we are a democratic country, we have full rights to protest but it should be peaceful,” echoed another Sikh leader Balgendra Singh Shami. 

Back home, former president of Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Baljit Singh Daduwal said no such step should be taken that will affect the Sikh community across the world. 

“We should not take any such step which will affect the Sikh community across the world... Punjab needs peace, brotherhood, and development,” he said. 

The Khalistani leader is still on the run while his uncle Harjeet Singh who surrendered Sunday night has been sent to Dibrugarh Central Jail.