New Delhi: A group of Indian-Americans held a peace rally in front of the consulate in San Francisco on Friday after the consulate was vandalised by separatist Sikhs early this week.
Scores of Indian Americans came from in and around San Francisco and waved the tricolour flag to show solidarity with India.
#WATCH | United States: Indians gather outside the Indian consulate in San Francisco in support of India’s unity pic.twitter.com/tuLxMBV3q0
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2023
On Sunday, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans, opened the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. The flags were, however, remved by two consulate personnel.
The Indian-Americans condemned the destructive activities of separatist Sikhs, who were also present there in small numbers.
According to PTI, local police were present at the protest site in sizable numbers to prevent any untoward incident. Some of the separatist Sikhs chanted pro-Khalistan slogans, but they were outnumbered by a large gathering of Indian Americans who chanted “Vande Mataram” and waved the Indian national flag along with that of the US.
India on Monday lodged a strong protest with the US Charge d’Affaires in Delhi over the incident of vandalism at the Indian consulate general in San Francisco by some pro-Khalistan elements during a protest.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said the US government was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
About 4.2 million Indian American/Indian origin people reside in the US. Persons of Indian origin (3.18 million) constitute the third largest Asian ethnic group in the US, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, a case was registered by the Delhi Police on Friday in connection with the protest held outside the Indian High Commission in London on March 19.
A case was registered by the special cell under the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act as it involves unlawful activities carried out by certain people holding Indian nationality abroad, reported PTI, citing officials.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the Delhi Police to take legal action on the receipt of a report from the Ministry of External Affairs over the incident at the Indian High Commission.
