Ajit Karn
During the Amritpal Singh purge, Khalistani supporters and extremists in the United States and several other nations attacked Indian facilities. The United States condemned the violent incidents in response to the vandalism of the Indian consulate. Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel, stated that violence or the prospect of violence is never an acceptable form of protest.
“We condemn the recent violent incidents that occurred during protests at Indian diplomatic facilities in the United States,” said Vedant Patel when asked about the Indian American community in the United States living in fear of a few elements, or Khalistani elements, particularly in San Francisco.
“As you can see, we support the First Amendment rights of demonstrators and free speech activities. However, violence or the threat of violence is never a permissible form of protest,” he added at a press conference.
Vedant Patel stated that the United States Department of State is devoted to taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic facilities and personnel.
Vedant Patel stated, “In accordance with our obligations under the Vienna Convention, the Department is committed to taking all appropriate measures, including coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, to protect the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomats who work within them.”
The extremists attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on March 20, a day after Khalistani supporters removed the Indian national flag from the Indian High Commission in London. In the videos uploaded to social media, supporters can be seen attempting to storm the office, breaking down doors, and chanting slogans. The males are visible carrying Khalistani flags.
US says assault on journalist ‘unacceptable’
On March 26, pro-Khalistani protestors heckled and verbally harassed an on-duty Indian journalist, Lalit Jha, outside the Indian embassy in Washington. Lalit Jha claimed he was physically assaulted and verbally harassed while covering Saturday afternoon protests outside the Indian embassy in Washington.
When asked about the assault on Jha, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel stated that attacks against journalists are “never acceptable.” He stated that the United States condemns any act of violence against a journalist.
Vedant Patel stated, “Attacks against journalists are never acceptable, and we condemn any incidents of violence against a journalist doing their job, as well as any act of violence or vandalism against a diplomatic facility.”
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Outside the Indian Embassy in the United States, hundreds of Khalistan supporters congregated. The organizers used microphones to deliver anti-India speeches in both English and Punjabi and to accuse the Punjab Police of human rights abuses.
