The BRICS TimesAn Indian-origin climate activist walking from Malta to India accused the Indian Embassy in Rome of misconduct. The mission fired back sharply, saying his claims had no basis in fact. At the heart of the row: the activist refused to show ID at the gate.
A viral video sparks a heated diplomatic row in Rome
A climate activist of Indian origin has stirred up a major controversy. He accused staff at the Indian Embassy in Italy of physically manhandling him outside the mission in Rome. The Embassy hit back hard, dismissing the allegations as completely baseless. The incident exploded on social media after a video went viral online.
The activist, identified as Jaydip Lakhankiya, uploaded the footage himself. In the clip, he is in a heated argument with a person believed to be an Embassy staffer. The staffer asks him to stop recording. He also signals others to escort the activist inside the premises. The exchange drew massive attention across multiple platforms.
Indian Embassy calls the claims outright false
The Indian Embassy in Rome wasted no time firing back. It issued a firm official statement rejecting the accusations entirely. “We have seen a video made by a certain Indian national. Claims being made by him are false and fabricated. He had come to the Embassy and we were ready to meet him, but he refused to show his identity/passport. We follow some standard security protocols for visitors to the Embassy,” the mission posted on X.
The Embassy made a key point in its defence. It said the activist’s video left out a critical detail. He had blocked his own entry by refusing to identify himself at the gate. Standard security checks apply to every visitor at Indian diplomatic missions. These checks protect both staff and visitors. The mission stressed that such protocols are routine and non-negotiable. It also reaffirmed that help remains available to all Indian nationals who follow the established process.
Activist tells a completely different story
Lakhankiya, however, offered a sharply different account of what happened. He said he was not even trying to enter the Embassy that day. He is currently on a long-distance walk covering the route from Malta to India. His mission is to raise awareness about climate change. By the time he reached Rome, he had already covered over 1,500 km on foot.
He said he had been trying to schedule an appointment with the Embassy for four months. He never received any reply. On the day of the incident, he only wanted to photograph the Embassy from outside as proof of reaching Rome.
“I am not referring to every Indian Embassy or the Government of India. I am sharing my personal experience with the Indian Embassy in Rome,” he said.
‘I was just filming outside; they came to us’
The activist said things took an unpleasant turn without any provocation from his side. “I was not there to meet the Embassy because they didn’t give me an appointment… I went there just to take a photo from outside so I have proof that I was there. I was shooting a video on the street when an officer approached us in a rude manner and began questioning us,” he alleged.
He started recording the interaction because he felt the situation was getting out of hand. In the video that went viral, Lakhankiya is heard saying, “Do not touch me, this isn’t your street. You are not in India.” He insisted he was simply standing on a public street. “I was not bothering them… but still they treated us like this,” he added.
Two opposing narratives, one viral moment
The dispute now presents two very different versions of the same encounter. The Indian Embassy stands firmly by its security protocols. The activist insists he faced unnecessary hostility on Italian soil. Both sides remain firm on their respective positions. The video continues to circulate online, keeping the controversy alive. The Ministry of External Affairs has also been tagged in the Embassy’s statement, suggesting the matter may draw wider attention.
