US condemns Khalistani arson attempt at Indian Consulate in San Francisco

The Consulate of India in San Francisco experienced an attack perpetrated by Khalistan supporters, who attempted to set ablaze the diplomatic facility.

This marked the second occurrence of such violence within a few months, eliciting a firm rebuke from the US government, which categorised it as a "criminal offense." A video shared by Khalistan supporters on Twitter, dated July 2, depicted the arson incident at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

In the video, bearing the phrase "violence begets violence," there were additional scenes featuring news articles concerning the demise of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

Nijjar, recognised as one of India's most-wanted terrorists with a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh (around £9.609,34 GBP) on his head, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Canada the previous month.

Responding to the incident, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a tweet on Monday (03) said, “The US 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 US is a criminal offence.”

Diya TV, a south Asian broadcast TV network in the US, said in a tweet 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; the damage was limited and no staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified,” it said. The outlet also posted a video of the arson attack.

A poster being shared on social media says that a "Khalistan Freedom Rally" will be organised on July 8 that will start in Berkeley, California and end at the Indian embassy in San Francisco.

This is the second time within months that the Indian Consulate in San Francisco has come under attack from Khalistani supporters.

On March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday (03) said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US 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 US, Canada, the UK and Australia, he told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign.

"We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK 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 minister said. "We will raise the issue of posters with those governments," Jaishankar said.

(PTI)