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North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

16 JULY 14, 2023

US lawmakers condemn attempted arson

at Indian Consulate as “vile, unacceptable”

OUR BUREAU
Washington, DC
everal lawmakers in the United States con-
demned the attempted arson and violent rhet-
Soric aimed at Indian diplomats, including the
Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit
Singh Sandhu.
US Congressmen Shri Thanedar, Rich McCor-
mick and Brian Fitzpatrick, from Michigan 13th
district, Georgia’s 6th Congressional district and
Pennsylnania’s 1st Congressional district respec-
tively, took to Twitter to register their outrage at at-
tempts by pro-Khalistani elements to “instil terror”.
A group of Khalistan radicals, on July 2, tried to set
the Indian consulate in San Francisco on fire.
US Congressman Shri Thanedar criticised the
incident in a strong-worded tweet.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the
attacks at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.
Violence and attempts to instil terror are unaccept-
able in democracy,” tweeted Thanedar.
McCormick termed the attack on the Indian
Consulate in San Francisco as ‘unacceptable’.
He tweeted, “This attack on the Indian con-
sulate in San Francisco is vile and unacceptable.
Americans stand by our allies and our patriotic In-
dian-American community.”
Rep Fitzpatrick called for appropriate legal ac-
tion against those involved in the incident.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, he wrote,
“This kind of violence is lawless and unacceptable. I Indians gather in solidarity outside Indian consulate in San Francisco after an attack in March (ANI Photo)
firmly condemn the repeated hateful attacks on the
Indian Consulate and look forward to those involved criminal offence and will not be tolerated. We urge Singh Nijjar in Canada.
being held accountable with appropriate legal action.” the State Department to coordinate with law en- According to sources, India on Monday (July
The attempted arson attack on the Indian Con- forcement in their investigation of the damage at 3) raised concerns over threats to its diplomats in
sulate by pro-Khalistanis and their ensuing rally on the Indian Consulate expeditiously and hold those posters being circulated in Canada with information
July 8 was also condemned by the co-chairs of India involved accountable,” the release added. on a pro-Khalistan rally to be held on July 8. The
Caucus, saying free speech is not a license to pro- Earlier, on July 2, around 1.40 am, a group of posters contained threats to the Indian ambassador
voke violence. Khalistan radicals made an attempt to set the Indian to Canada and the consulate general in Toronto.
Co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on In- Consulate in San Francisco on fire, sources told ANI. A similar poster announcing the rally date also
dia, Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz, in a press re- A video of the incident was verified by sources came to the fore in San Francisco.
lease, said, “As the co-chairs of the India Caucus, who told ANI the fire was suppressed quickly by The rally is being held in the name of Harjit
we strongly condemn the attempted arson and the San Francisco Fire Department. The Local San Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani
vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco Francisco police department, special diplomatic se- terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in
and the posters circulating on social media with vi- curity personnel, and state and federal authorities Canada’s Surrey on June 18.
olent rhetoric aimed at Indian diplomats, including were notified and began investigating the incident. This is not the first time that the San Francis-
Ambassador Sandhu.” Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador Taranjit co consulate has come under attack. Multiple inci-
They also appealed to the US State Department Singh Sandhu and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, Con- dents of protests by Khalistan supporters have been
to investigate the damage and take necessary action. sul General, Consulate General of India, San staged outside the Indian embassy and the San
“We support the right to free speech and free- Francisco, were targeted in a poster purportedly Francisco Consulate.However, no action against
dom of expression for every American, but that circulated by Sikh extremists, who accused them any person or group has been taken as yet.
is not a license to vandalize property or incite vi- of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Ti- The extremist Sikh groups are also planning to
olence. Violence against diplomatic facilities is a ger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep rally outside the Indian missions in the US on July 8.

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