The United States has strongly condemned vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, terming the violence a "criminal offense".
A video by Khalistan supporters dated July 2 posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The MEA, on July 4, has summoned Canadian High Commissioner after Khalistan posters threatened Indian diplomats in Canada, said sources.
The video, with the words “violence begets violence” emblazoned over it, also showed news articles related to the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of ₹10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month.
“The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a tweet on July 3.
Diya TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the U.S., said in a tweet that “a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 a.m. in the San Francisco Indian Consulate."
"The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited and no staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified,” it said.
The outfit also posted a video of the arson attack.
Space to Khalistan ideology, not good for ties: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on July 3 said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. not to give space to “extremist Khalistani ideology” as it is “not good” for relations.
He was responding to reports of Khalistani posters in Canada naming senior Indian diplomats.
The Minister said the issue will be raised with the government of that country.
The “radical, extremist Khalistani ideology” is not good for India or its partner countries such as the United States, Canada, the U.K. and Australia, he told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign.
“We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their [Khalistanis] radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations,” the External Affairs Minister said.
“We will raise the issue of posters with those governments,” Mr. Jaishankar said.
Published - July 04, 2023 08:30 am IST
