India has condemned the incident of infiltration and damage to the tricolor by Khalistanis at the Indian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia. Citing the Vienna Convention, the Ministry of External Affairs demanded action against the culprits.
New Delhi. India on Thursday condemned the intrusion into the Indian Embassy in Croatia and the damage to the national flag by Khalistani activists and said the culprits should be held accountable. This is the latest in a series of actions by Khalistani activists targeting Indian missions abroad. Till now, most of such cases were coming from Canada, Britain and America only.
Let us tell you that the Indian Embassy in Croatia, the capital of the European Union member country, was targeted on January 22, a few days before the India-EU summit to be held in New Delhi on January 27. In a video posted online by Sikh for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a Khalistani activist is seen taking down the tricolor at the Indian Embassy in Grab and replacing it with a yellow Khalistan flag.
India strongly condemned the incident in Zagreb
A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We condemn the incident of infiltration and vandalism by anti-India elements at our embassy in Zagreb, Croatia. However, this statement did not mention Khalistani activists or Pannu. The statement said, the character and intentions of those doing such work clearly show what they intend to do. All law enforcement agencies around the world should take note of these.”
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The Ministry of External Affairs said that under the Vienna Convention, diplomatic places are considered “impenetrable” and must be protected. The Indian side has strongly taken up this matter with the Croatian authorities both in New Delhi and in Zagreb and asked them to hold the perpetrators accountable for these reprehensible and illegal acts.
Pannu’s claim- Delhi will be the target on 26th January
Pannu said in the video that Khalistani activists did this before the Republic Day on January 26. Speaking in front of a backdrop featuring photographs of President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pannu claimed that New Delhi would be the “target” on Republic Day. Let us tell you that European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations. Khalistani activists also wrote slogans like “Khalistan Zindabad” on the walls of the embassy. Speaking in Punjab, Pannu said the days of hoisting the national tricolor in Indian embassies were “numbered”. He said, “When Punjab becomes independent, the Indian flag will be replaced by the Khalistan flag.”
India declared Pannu a terrorist
India has declared Pannu and her organization SFJ as terrorists. Officials in Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States have formally complained about his activities. These activities include violent protests, vandalism and targeting of diplomatic missions, and threatening and intimidating Indian diplomats.