The US has condemned the recent attack on the Indian consulate building in San Francisco, calling it a criminal offence. “The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offense,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a tweet Monday. A video shared on social media by Khalistan supporters shows the consulate being set on fire early on Sunday morning. The video, which has the words “violence begets violence” emblazoned on it, also features news articles about the death of Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was on India’s list of most-wanted terrorists and carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada last month. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned the incident in San Francisco. “I strongly condemn the incident of Indian Consulate being set on fire in San Francisco, United States on July 2nd,” he tweeted. “Govt of India has always stood with Sikhs whenever they are in trouble in any part of the world. I urge Sikhs all over the world to unite against such terror activities sponsored by ISI.” I strongly condemn the incident of Indian Consulate being set on fire in #SanFrancisco, United States on July 2nd. Govt of India has always stood with Sikhs whenever they are in trouble in any part of the world. I urge Sikhs all over the world to unite against such terror… pic.twitter.com/VbeOXkK5BO — Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) July 4, 2023 Diya TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the US, said in a tweet that “a fire was set early Sunday morning between 1:30-2:30 am in the San Francisco Indian Consulate." "The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Department, damage was limited and no staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities have been notified,” it said. The outlet also posted a video of the arson attack. A poster being shared on social media says that a "Khalistan Freedom Rally" will be organised on July 8 that will start in Berkeley, California and end at the Indian embassy in San Francisco.
