Taranjit Sandhu Heckled by Pro-Khalistani Elements during Gurdwara Visit in New York

Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, encountered a hostile reception from pro-Khalistani elements during his visit to the Hicksville Gurdwara in Long Island, New York. The incident unfolded as Ambassador Sandhu went to offer prayers on the occasion of Gurpurab.

A purported video shared on social media platforms captured the Ambassador being confronted by extremists who made statements regarding India-designated terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The video also showed Sandhu leaving the premises in his vehicle, while a lone protestor raised the Khalistani flag outside the Gurdwara.

Earlier, Sandhu had visited the Guru Nanak Darbar in Long Island, New York, to celebrate Gurpurab with the local Sangat. He shared his experience on X, saying, “Privileged to join the local Sangat, including from Afghanistan, at Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island in celebrating Gurpurab – listened to Kirtan, spoke about Guru Nanak’s everlasting message of togetherness, unity, and equality, partook langar, and sought blessings for all.”

This incident adds to the recent surge in pro-Khalistani activities, with notable incidents in countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, and the US. In July, Khalistan extremists carried out an arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, prompting India to request evidence from US authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

This marks the second instance within two months where an Indian envoy faced disruption from pro-Khalistani elements. In September, Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from entering a Gurdwara in Glasgow, Scotland.

In response to such incidents, India has consistently raised concerns about the security of diplomats and premises with the respective authorities. Last week, during discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US shared inputs on the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others, reflecting a shared concern for both nations’ security interests. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that necessary follow-up action is underway in response to these inputs.