The top diplomat of the United Kingdom in New Delhi was summoned on Sunday late evening after the high commission flag of India was vandalised in the United Kingdom. After the incident, the UK government has responded and said that they would take the security of the Indian High Commission seriously, the vandalism committed at the mission by a group of protesters brandishing separatist Khalistani flags has been denounced as “disgraceful” and “totally unacceptable” by senior British officials.
On Sunday, pro-Khalistani protestors grabbed at the tricolour flying above the Indian High Commission, which resulted in an arrest for disorderly conduct. The tricolour is now flying “grander,” according to mission officials, who also claimed that the “attempted but failed” attack had been stopped. The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission was grabbed by the protestors on March 19, chanting pro-Khalistani slogans leading to an arrest in the case.
According to the metropolitan police, two of the security staff sustained minor injuries, which did not require hospitalisation for treatment and an investigation has also been launched in the case. An official said, “Windows were broken at the High Commission building. Officers attended the location. The majority of those present had dispersed before the arrival of police. An investigation was launched, and one male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. Inquiries continue.”
London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has also condemned the attack and responded to the incident through a tweet, “The violent disorder and vandalism that took place”. “There is no place in our city for this kind of behaviour. An investigation has been launched by the Met into today’s events.” British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis has described the incident as disgraceful and unacceptable.
According to the statement, India deems the UK government’s disregard for the security of Indian diplomatic facilities and staff in the UK to be intolerable. The incident has drawn a strong response from India, which summoned the senior UK official, Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott. The statement says, “India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK,” the MEA said, adding, “It is expected that the UK Government would take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in today’s incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents”.
Foreign Office minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said he was “appalled” and the government would take the security of the Indian High Commission “seriously”. This is a completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the Mission and its staff,” he tweeted.
The Sunday incident came after the crackdown on pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab, India. The similar radical actions were seen by pro-Khalistani supporters in Canada and Australia in past few months. Several Hindu temples were vandalised in both the countries by Khalistani supporters. After which, India has repeatedly raised the issue with the concerned authorities, in their respective countries.
During the recent visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese, he has assured the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Australia won’t tolerate any extreme actions like attacks on regional places.
Canada has also seen a rise in the anti-India activities, after which Ministry of External Affairs, issues a statement condemning the rise in the hate crimes against India in Canada.
India, on the other hand, expressed its strong concern to the British government regarding the security of its diplomatic presence and questioned the lack of adequate protection at the location.
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