Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian ambassador to the United States, was allegedly heckled by a group of pro-Khalistani elements while on a visit to the Hicksville Gurdwara in New York's Long Island. Sandhu had gone to the gurdwara to offer prayers on the occasion of Gurpurab.
Sandhu can be purportedly seen in a video being confronted by the mob who were making statements about India-designated terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Sharing a purported video on social media X, Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson RP Singh wrote, “Khalistanies tried to heckle Indian Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS with basless Questions for his role in the failed plot to assassinate Gurpatwant, (SFJ) and Khalistan Referendum campaign.”
“Himmat Singh who led the pro Khalistanies at Hicksville Gurdwara in New York also accused ambassador Sandhu for India’s role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was President of Surrey Gurdwara and the coordinator for Canadian Chapter of the Khalistan Referendum,” Singh added.
The Indian envoy could be seen leaving the premises in his vehicle, while a protestor raised the Khalistani flag outside the Gurdwara.
"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," Sandhu posted on X.
There has been a spike in pro-Khalistani incidents in countries like the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
Devotees and members of the Indo-Canadian community in the town of Surrey in British Columbia confronted pro-Khalistan elements who had come to protest a consular camp at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir on Sunday.
According to temple officials nearly 200 counter-protestors faced off for over three hours against the pro-Khalistan protest, which had been called by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ.
The two groups faced off across the road in front of the temple as Surrey Police deployed nearly 20 personnel to keep them apart.
The banned Sikhs for Justice has warned the Hindu community to “stop sponsoring” the killers of its principal in the province Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was killed on June 18 in Surrey.
Nijjar’s killing led to a rupture in relations with India after Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between his murder and Indian agents. Part of the information that led to that statement came from the US. India had described those allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
(With inputs from agencies)