‘Enemy of India & Sikhs:’ BJP slams attack on San Francisco consulate by Khalistan supporters

Incidentally, a poster is also doing the rounds in Canada which accuses two Indian diplomats of playing a role in the June killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Protesters waving Khalistan flags gathered outside the Indian Consulate in San Francisco in March 2023 | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned an attempt to set the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire by Khalistan supporters.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said consulates were a “ray of hope, it is a centre of help for Indians”.

“They are trying to put out a message… They put photos of Indian diplomats in Canada on posters… they were targeted and people made to believe that they had a hand in the killing of a Sikh extremist,” Sirsa said, adding, “The Indian state believes in saving the lives of Sikhs. India is a state that rescued Sikhs trapped in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India doesn’t want to harm Sikhs.”

Sirsa made the comments after the San Francisco consulate came under attack from Khalistan supporters on 2 July — the second such act of violence within months.

Incidentally, a poster is also doing the rounds in Canada – featuring the faces of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava – accusing them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Sirsa denounced these people as the enemy of India as well as Sikhs. “They have played into the hands of the ISI. I request Sikh community abroad to identify these people… strict action should also be taken against them for vilifying Sikhs,” the BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, the US has strongly condemned the act of arson on the Indian consulate, which was filmed and posted on Twitter.

The footage had the words “violence begets violence” emblazoned over it and also showed news articles related to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a tweet, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller 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.”