London/New Delhi: UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan on September 30 expressed concern at Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami being stopped from a meeting at the Gurdwara in Glasgow. She stressed that the safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and places of worship in the UK must be open to all.

In a post on X, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from meeting with the Gurdwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all.”

Her remarks came hours after India’s Ministry of External Affairs raised the issue of stopping High Commissioner Doraiswami by a few radicals from entering a gurdwara in Scotland with the British Foreign Office.

A MEA source in Delhi said: “Instead of getting into an argument, the Indian High Commissioner decided to leave. The issue has been raised with the UK Foreign Office and also the police.”

Doraiswami was on September 29 prevented from entering the gurdwara, as per the reports. The fresh incident comes in the wake of a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Canada-based pro-Khalistan harliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a statement, the Indian High Commission in London said: “On September 29, 2023, three persons -- all from areas outside Scotland -- deliberately disrupted a planned interaction organized by the Gurdwara Committee for the community, the High Commissioner and the Consul General of India. This interaction was to discuss community and consular issues.”

The statement said that the organisers included senior community leaders, ladies and committee members, and a member of Scottish Parliament. “They were threatened and abused by these elements. In an effort to prevent any potential altercation, the High Commissioner and Consul General decided to leave the premises shortly upon their arrival,” it said. It further said that one of the non-local extremist elements attempted to violently force open the HC’s car door – “a matter that will require suitable police consideration”.

“It is due to the quick reaction of one of the organizers, who physically intervened at the car door, that a bigger incident was avoided,” it said. “The High Commission of India has reported this disgraceful incident to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police. Multiple community organisations including the organisers have formally regretted the incident and have urged the authorities to take action against the culprits,” the statement added.

The fresh incident comes in the wake of a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Canada-based pro-Khalistan harliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar.