CCTV images have been released showing the moment a Sikh man had his turban ripped off in a racist attack.
Detectives have issued a picture of a man they are trying to trace following the assault outside Parliament, which police are treating as a hate crime.
Ravneet Singh, 37, was waiting near Portcullis House when he was approached by a man who shouted ‘Muslim go back’
The attacker then attempted to wrench his turban off his head, but couldn’t remove it completely, and ran off.
CCTV stills show the man, who is white, 5ft 10ins tall and of stocky build moments before the assault
An image taken moments after the assault was posted on Twitter by Dr Rajwant Singh who saw it unfold.
Mr Singh, a Sikh project manager for an environmental firm based in India , had been waiting to visit Labour MP Tanmanjeet Dhesi as part of a three week trip to the UK.
An image of the assault, near Big Ben at 5.20pm on February 21, was posted on Twitter and sparked outrage.
Mr Singh told The Independent: ‘He was pulling at my turban strongly. It half moved and I grabbed it.
‘Before he could do anything else I shouted at him and he ran.
‘He made a racist comment in another language that I didn’t recognise.
‘He was a white man, but he didn’t sound English.
‘He said something like ‘Muslim go back’.’
Mr Singh added: ‘He held my turban with both hands and kept shaking it.
‘My turban was almost down to my face. Then he also tried to injure my neck.
‘I kept shouting what’s this, stop it. He did not budge. Soon security guards were there and he ran away.’
Mr Singh is a prominent Sikh environmentalist from Punjab, India
Mr Desi, the Labour MP for Slough, told MailOnline: ‘I am disgusted that someone filled with hatred tried to pull off the turban of one of my guests.
‘While consoling Ravneet, I felt embarrassed that he would be left with a personal scar from his visit, while also giving him a negative perception of our country.
‘It has been pointed out previously on several occasions to the Government that their hate crime action plan totally ignores Sikhs.
‘Given such incidents, the Government needs to address this genuine community demand to properly monitor and record hate crime against Sikhs.’
Officers said the man wanted for questioning over the hate crime is white , 5ft 10ins tall of stocky build and short black hair with stubble.
He was wearing a dark blue jacket, blue jeans, black shoes and a black backpack.
Mr Singh did not require medical treatment.
Scotland Yard in statement said: ‘The Met have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities and the hidden nature of this crime, which remains largely under-reported.
Mr Singh (right) was waiting to meet Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (centre)
‘The MPS stands together with policing partners, colleagues and groups to investigate all hate crime allegations, support victims and their families, and bring perpetrators to justice.
‘We would appeal to anyone who witnesses or suffers any hate of any type to immediately report it so that action can quickly be taken and catch those responsible.’
Anyone who has information concerning the man wanted for questioning is urged to call Westminster CSU on 0207 321 7662 or tweet @MetCC. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.