British leaders have strongly criticized the actions of radical Sikh elements who prevented Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami from entering a gurdwara in Scotland. The incident occurred when a group of radical Sikh activists clashed with the management committee of Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib in Glasgow, where Doraiswami had been invited. The activists, allegedly linked to the Canadian government’s accusations about Indian government agents, sought to forcibly open the door of Doraiswami’s vehicle. The British police intervened, and the Indian side informed the UK foreign ministry about the incident.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK minister for the Indo-Pacific, expressed concern, emphasizing the importance of the safety of foreign diplomats and the openness of places of worship. Colin Bloom, who led an independent faith engagement review, called for the UK government to address these “extremist fringe elements.” The incident has raised tensions amid a backdrop of increased activities by pro-Khalistan activists in various countries, targeting Indian diplomats and diplomatic facilities.