The US has condemned the recent attack by pro-Khalistan radicals on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, describing it as a “criminal offence.”
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller published a tweet on Monday, condemning the attack and deeming such violence on diplomatic entities as a “criminal offence.”
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.
— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) July 3, 2023
The Attack
In a tweet, Diya TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the US, reported that “a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate.”
“The fire was quickly suppressed by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited, and no staffers were harmed,” it stated, adding that local, state, and federal authorities had been alerted.
A video shared on Twitter by Khalistan supporters on 2 July showed the Indian Consulate in San Francisco being set on fire. The video, which had the phrase “violence begets violence” inscribed, also had news clippings related to the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
In a poster purportedly circulated by Sikh radicals, the Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, consul general of the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco, have been accused of getting involved in the murder of Nijjar in June.
Nijjar, one of India’s most wanted terrorists with a bounty of Rs 10 lakh ($12,200), was shot dead last month outside a gurdwara in Canada.
ARSON ATTEMPT AT SF INDIAN CONSULATE: #DiyaTV has verified with @CGISFO @NagenTV that a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate. The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited and no… pic.twitter.com/bHXNPmqSVm
— Diya TV - 24/7 * Free * Local (@DiyaTV) July 3, 2023
Indian Concerns Regarding Increase in Khalistani Activities Globally
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a BJP politician, denounced the incident in San Francisco, tweeting, “I strongly condemn the incident of the Indian Consulate being set on fire in San Francisco, United States on 2 July.” “The Government of India has always stood with Sikhs whenever they are in trouble in any part of the world. I urge Sikhs all over the world to unite against such terror activities sponsored by ISI,” he added.
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar stated on Monday that India had advised its partner countries, including Canada, the UK, and the US, not to provide space to “extremist Khalistani ideology” as it is “not good” for bilateral relations.
In response to allegations of Khalistani posters naming prominent Indian officials in Canada, the EAM confirmed that the issue will be raised with the government of that country.
Meanwhile, India has also served a demarche to the Canadian government on the protests planned by pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits outside Indian High Commission in Ottawa and two consulates in Toronto and Vancouver on 8 July.
#WATCH | On fire at Indian Consulate in San Francisco, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, says "We condemn in strong voice the attempt to set on fire the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Consulates are a ray of hope and a support centre for the people of our country living in… pic.twitter.com/nejLedznvE
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2023
Similar Incident in March
This is the second time within months that Khalistani supporters have attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Khalistani supporters had previously vandalised the consulate in March as Punjab Police in India were on a national search operation for pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.
Protesters shouting pro-Khalistan chants tore down improvised security barriers placed by local police and installed two Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. These flags were quickly removed by two consular personnel.
Amritpal is a known supporter of the Khalistan movement, which advocates for the independence of Punjab from India. He also led Waris Punjab De, an organisation that intended to organise farmers in opposition to farm bill reforms adopted, and then repealed, by Indian PM Narendra Modi’s government.
According to a statement issued by India after the March incident, the US government was reminded of its fundamental duty to defend and secure diplomatic premises and requested to take adequate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. “Our Embassy in Washington DC also conveyed our concerns to the US State Department along similar lines,” the statement added.