There are other ways in which the British authorities can act when they see extremism of any form, says Ellis…reports Asian Lite News
Alex Ellis, the UK’s High Commissioner to India, on Wednesday said the incident in Glasgow last week where his Indian counterpart was blocked from entering a gurdwara by pro-Khalistan extremists was something that “absolutely should not have happened.”
Arrests were made after protesters gathered outside the High Commission of India in London on Monday, waving anti-India placards and chanting slogans, and similar action had been taken in March too, he said.
“There are other ways in which the British authorities can act where they see extremism of any form. For example closing down TV stations, charities and schools, none of which are what they say they are,” the UK envoy said at the India Today Conclave here.
Security “around people and the buildings of India” too was enhanced, he added. “Something happened (in Glasgow) which absolutely should not have happened,” Ellis further said.
As per a statement issued by the High Commission of India in London, three people from outside Scotland deliberately disrupted Indian High Commissioner Vikram Dorwaiswami’s visit to Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib on Friday evening, and one even attempted to violently force open the diplomatic vehicle when Dorwaiswami and others arrived.
As they hurled threats and abuse, the High Commissioner and Consul General of India decided to leave to avert any further altercation. Ellis, meanwhile, also said that the UK has good communication with the Indian authorities, and the two countries have created a joint (anti) extremism task force.
“We take it (extremism) seriously and that is why we have taken the measures whether in terms of security, or in other ways to frustrate unacceptable extremism in my country,” the British envoy added.
Earlier, criticising the British government for not tackling the extremist elements, Colin Bloom, a former advisor to the Boris Johnson government, has demanded an apology for the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, following an incident in which he was prevented from attending an event at Glasgow Gurdwara.
Bloom described the so-called Khalistan movement as a “power grab” by pro-Khalistan extremists seeking to take control of Gurdwaras.
Bloom was reacting to the disruption, of the planned interaction of the Indian High Commissioner with the Sikh community at Glasgow Gurdwara, by “extremist elements” on Saturday.
“My understanding is, and I think I’m right in saying that the Gurudwara in Glasgow, the committee had arranged an event to host the Indian High Commissioner and others to come to an event and to have a reception at the Gurudwara complex. These guys turned up and had harassed the management committee and then had harassed the Indian High Commissioner and sadly, he had to leave. It’s very sad for the people who had planned to attend the event, those who had organized it at the Gurudwara, and, of course, for the Indian High Commissioner, because this was precisely the sort of event that I’m sure he would have wanted to attend,” he said in an exclusive interview.
“I was very shocked when I saw what had happened at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. And I think that it sort of highlights and demonstrates just how concerning the issue of both Khalistan extremists are, but also how the pro-Khalistan sort of activists, just how far they’re prepared to travel and what they’re prepared to do,” he added.
Scotland Police has responded to the incident and said that the case is under investigation.
Urging the UK administration to act against the extremist elements, he said, “But, the individuals concerned feel that they have a legitimate case and that they feel that they can harass and intimidate people. And I think that’s completely wrong and they need to be dealt with for what they’re doing. And I feel very sorry for everyone involved, I think particularly the High Commissioner, who deserves an apology.”
Bloom is the author of ‘The Bloom Review, Does Government do God?’. He was also appointed by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an Independent Faith Engagement advisor in order to make suggestions on how the government should interact with religious organisations in England.
He also cautioned that the incident on Saturday is just a minor illustration of “something much, much bigger” that has been “going on and getting bigger” for many years.
Bloom also emphasised that the majority of people from the Sikh community are peaceful people and don’t represent extremist ideology. He, however, also pointed out a “power grab” stating that the fringe elements end up taking over the management of the Gurdwaras in many instances.
“I think what it shows is that there is actually the vast majority of British Sikhs are amongst the nicest, kindest, most generous and peaceful people you’d ever want to meet. What I’m talking about is a tiny, tiny minority who are within the Sikh community who have these either extremist or certainly very aggressive and militant tendencies, and that they have to travel so far to do it,” Bloom said.
He said that such incidents point to extremists desire to grab power, wealth and influence.
