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Khalistani supporters remove Indian flag in London, India summons senior-most UK diplomat

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 20 Mar 2023, 10:03 am

New Delhi: India summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi on Sunday night to convey its strong protest after some Khalistani supporters removed the Indian flag from outside the Indian High Commission in London.

India also demanded an explanation for the "complete absence of British security" that allowed the Khalistani elements to enter the Indian High Commission premises.

India also said it finds “unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK”.

The statement also demanded that the perpetrators be immediately arrested and prosecuted and stringent measures be put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Videos on social media showed a group of Khalistani supporters shouting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving Khalistani flags gathered outside the Indian High Commission. One from the group is seen clambering on the verandah of the Indian High Commission and removing the Indian flag, to cheering and shouting of Khalistani slogans by the crowd.

The MEA statement issued late in the night read: “The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India’s strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day."

“An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention," read the statement.

“India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK," it said.

“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,” it said.

Meanwhile, the UK High Commissioner in New Delhi Alex Ellis in a tweet said: “I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London - totally unacceptable.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: "I condemn the violent disorder and vandalism that took place at the Indian High Commission today. There is no place in our city for this kind of behaviour.An investigation has been launched by the Met into today’s events."

The incident comes a day after the action to arrest pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

His lawyer has claimed that Amritpal Singh has already been arrested by the police but the Punjab Police are not producing him in court.

A petition has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard by Amritpal Singh's lawyer and it will be heard on March 21.

(With UNI inputs)