‘Absolutely unacceptable’: US condemns attack by Khalistanis on San Francisco consulate
The United States on Monday condemned the attack by Khalistani supporters on the Indian Consulate General in San Francisco and said it was absolutely unacceptable.
This came a day after the protesters shouting pro-Khalistan slogans broke through security barriers to install two Khalistani banners inside the Consulate premises. A huge graffiti that read “Free Amritpal” was also spray-painted on the outer wall of the San Francisco building. The protesters who entered the Consulate premises also hit the door and windows with iron rods.
“That vandalism, it’s just absolutely unacceptable,” said John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for strategic communications at the White House. Talking to reporters, he said the State Department’s diplomatic security service is working with local authorities to investigate “properly”.
The White House National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, also condemned the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and said the US is committed to the safety and security of the facilities and the diplomats who work within them.
The State Department also issued a statement condemning the attack. “The US condemns the attack on Sunday against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Violence against diplomatic facilities within the US is a punishable crime,” it said.
“We pledge to defend the safety and security of these facilities as well as the diplomats who work within them,” said the US State Department spokesperson.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum also issued a statement condemning the attacks and said “violence and vandalism will not be condoned or tolerated”. It asked local authorities to take the necessary action against the attackers.
IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST ATTACKERS
The Indian diaspora in San Francisco asked the city police and law-enforcement officials to take immediate and necessary actions against those responsible for the attack.
Community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria said it is important to remember that everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but violence, threats, and abuses have no place in society and are unacceptable.
Similar incidents of protests by Khalistani supporters were reported in the UK as well. Khalistan supporters demonstrated outside the Indian High Commission in the UK, sloganeering with flags and posters of separatist leader Amritpal Singh.