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Cow Urine Poured On Indian Tricolour By Khalistani Gurcharan Singh Outside Indian High Commission In London
Nishtha Anushree
Oct 04, 2023, 06:29 PM | Updated 06:45 PM IST
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A gathering of Khalistani supporters organised a demonstration outside the Indian High Commission in London on Tuesday (2 October), coinciding with MK Gandhi's birth anniversary.
During the protest, demonstrators ignited the Indian Tricolour, and Gurcharan Singh, a prominent figure associated with Dal Khalsa UK, poured cow urine on the Indian national flag.
Adding to the controversy, Gurcharan Singh further provoked the situation by challenging UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to consume British cow urine, India Today reported.
Although police intervened and led Gurcharan Singh away during the protest, it remains unclear whether his actions resulted in an arrest. Singh has active associations with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and his actions and statements have frequently stirred controversy.
Notably, Paramjit Singh Pamma, listed as one of the 'most wanted' individuals by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was present at the protest.
Pamma, allegedly a member of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), utilised the occasion to issue threats and challenge India following the killing of Harjeet Singh Nijjar in Canada.
This protest occurred shortly after Khalistani extremists prevented Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, from entering a gurdwara in Glasgow, Scotland. India reported the incident to the British government, urging strict action against those responsible.
The connections between Gurcharan, Pamma, and their ties to the Pakistan High Commission in London have raised concerns. Given their established links to Pakistan, a country criticised for harboring elements working against India, these connections suggest a potential agenda to mobilise Khalistan elements against India from foreign soil.
In response to the Khalistan protests, the Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, commented on the contentious issue of the Khalistan referendum by SFJ, designated as a terrorist organisation in India.
Patel avoided direct commentary on the unofficial referendum but stressed the importance of fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to assemble, in line with the First Amendment protections in the United States.
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Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.
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