Days ahead of the G20 Summit, several Delhi metro stations in the national capital were defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti allegedly by people associated with proscribed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a front for the separatist Khalistan Group. The anti-India slogans were seen on the walls of Shivaji Park, Udyog Nagar, Paschim Vihar, Nangloi and Punjabi Bagh. The slogans read “India Banega Khalistan (India will become Khalistan) and “Khalistan Zindabad (Long Live Khalistan).”
In a video, Delhi police personnel were seen removing the Pro-Khalistan slogans written on the wall of Maharaja Surajmal Stadium Metro Station.
“In more than 5 metro stations somebody has written ‘Delhi Banega Khalistan and Khalistan Zindabad’. Delhi Police is taking legal action against this,” the Delhi Police said.
The incident has raised security concerns ahead of the G20 Summit scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10 in Delhi under India’s presidency. The G20 Summit will be attended by several top leaders of the world, including US President Joe Biden, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
It has also come at a time when the national capital is playing host to the B20 Summit India, 2023. The three-day summit started on August 25 and ended on Sunday. Around 1,500 delegates from 55 countries attended the summit. Given the latest defacement incident, the security around metro stations is likely to be increased.