India’s consulate in the United States city of San Francisco was allegedly vandalized by pro-Khalistan separatists, drawing sharp condemnation from the United States State Department. According to a report published on Diya TV, a local community channel in the US, pro-Khalistan supporters set fire to the consulate in the early hours of Sunday (July 2) morning. However, the local fire department quickly doused the flames, and no staffers were injured. This was the second attack on the consulate in just a few months.
The United States State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, condemned the alleged incident. He 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 offense.”
A local community leader Ajay Bhutoria also expressed his deep concern over the issue. He urged the local authorities to do their best to ensure the consulate can perform its functions without hindrance. He added that India and the US partner in global peace, security, and prosperity. “The Indian Consulate in San Francisco is an essential hub for providing consular services and fostering bilateral relations with the United States. It is vital for the safety and security of the consulate and its staff that they can work in a safe environment,” Bhutoria said.
Bhutoria also urged the United States not to give any space to extremist Khalistani ideology and called on other nations worldwide to do the same. He urged the local community to come forward and show their solidarity with the Indian consulate in the city.
In March, videos of a large crowd attacking the consulate went viral. The protestors were shouting pro-Khalistan slogans and broke through security barriers to install Khalistani flags inside the premises. They also smashed the windows and doors with iron rods. A considerable graffiti was also spray-painted on the building, reading ‘Free Amritpal.’
The US State Department is investigating the matter to find the culprits. It is believed that the same people who attacked in March may have carried out this one too.
A poster shared on social media reports says that a ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ will be organized in the city on July 8. It will start from Berkeley and will culminate at the Indian embassy in San Francisco. The rally is organized by the Khalistani Sikh Liberation Front (KSLF), a pro-Khalistan organization based in California. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian national shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month, leads the KSLF. He was a wanted person by Indian law enforcement agencies and was facing a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh. The NIA had declared him a terrorist. He also founded a convicted terrorist group, the Khalistan Tiger Force.
