Priya Aditi
US lawmakers and influential Indian-Americans have expressed strong condemnation of the attempted arson at the Indian consulate in San Francisco and called for swift action against the perpetrators of this “criminal act.” They have also condemned the “violent rhetoric” directed at India’s ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and emphasized that the right to free speech does not include the right to incite violence or harm property.
A video uploaded to Twitter by Khalistan supporters on July 2 depicted the act of arson at the San Francisco Indian consulate. The video exhibited the phrase “violence begets violence” and news articles about the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Canadian Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The previous month, Nijjar, a terrorist sought in India with a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot and killed outside a gurdwara in Canada.
Co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, Congressmen Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz, issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning the attempted arson and vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, as well as the posters circulating on social media with violent rhetoric directed at Indian diplomats, including ambassador Sandhu.
“We support the right to free speech and expression for all Americans, but this does not authorize vandalism or incitement to violence.” As a criminal offense, violence against diplomatic facilities will not be tolerated. The statement urged the State Department to expeditiously investigate the damage at the Indian Consulate in coordination with law enforcement and to hold those responsible accountable.
They affirmed their support for the freedom of speech and expression, but emphasized that it should not include the devastation of property or incitement to violence. They highlighted that violence against diplomatic facilities is a crime that will not be tolerated. They demanded that the State Department coordinate swiftly with law enforcement to investigate the damage to the Indian Consulate and hold those responsible accountable.
The assault on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco was deemed ‘unacceptable’ by US Representative McCormick. This assault on the Indian consulate in San Francisco is abhorrent and unjustifiable. Americans support our allies and our patriotic Indian-American community, tweeted McCormick.
Brian Fitzpatrick, a member of Congress, deemed the assault on the Indian consulate unacceptable, conveying his vehement condemnation and anticipating legal action against those responsible. As of Thursday, no action was taken against the attack’s perpetrators.
A spokesperson from the National Security Council of the White House emphasized that the United States considers the safety and security of diplomats very seriously, strongly condemning acts of violence or vandalism against diplomatic personnel or facilities.
Congressman Mike Lawler characterized the attempted conflagration at the Indian consulate as disturbing and expressed his hope for a continued strong partnership with India, the largest democracy in the world. Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American congressman, vehemently condemned the assault and stated that violence and attempts to instill fear have no place in a democracy.
Ro Khanna, an Indian-American congressman, condemned the social media posters targeting Indian diplomats, including Ambassador Sandhu. He emphasized that such language puts diplomats in peril and has no place in a democracy, citing his admiration for Ambassador Sandhu and his participation in discussions about human rights issues. Khanna emphasized that freedom of expression should not be used to incite violence.
This most recent assault on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco is the second incident involving Khalistani supporters in the past few months. On March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters assaulted and vandalized the consulate, shouting pro-Khalistan slogans and positioning Khalistani flags inside the building. The flags were eventually removed by consulate staff.
The South Asian Minorities Collective tweeted about the Khalistan movement’s efforts to regain strength in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, alluding to its connections to the Pakistani intelligence service.
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Jasdeep Singh, a leader of the Sikh religion, criticized the attack on the Indian consulate, characterizing it as “shameful and disgraceful.” He implored the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators, emphasizing that it is unacceptable to target consulates, diplomats, or anyone else. Singh also urged the Biden administration to guarantee the protection and safety of all consulates and diplomats in the United States, particularly those from India. He stated that the Sikh community generally respects the nation’s laws and supports government action against those who violate them.
