Politics

India summons top UK diplomat after pro-Khalistani groups pull down tricolour at Indian High Commission in London

The MEA registered its "strong protest" against the incident, criticizing the UK's "indifference" towards the safety of Indian diplomatic premises and staff

PGurus Newsdesk

March 20, 2023

The MEA registered its "strong protest" against the incident, criticizing the UK's "indifference" towards the safety of Indian diplomatic premises and staff

India lodges strong protest with British envoy over lack of security at the embassy

Late on Sunday, The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the highest-ranking UK diplomat in India to express its strong displeasure over certain pro-Khalistani groups that allegedly removed the Indian flag from the Indian High Commission in London.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted: “India lodges strong protest with the UK”, along with a Ministry statement.

India lodges strong protest with UK.

Press Release ➡️ https://t.co/Apz9tgy1Ki pic.twitter.com/PV2VyUw1Lt

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 19, 2023

Some pro-Khalistani groups staged a demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London over the Punjab government’s crackdown against self-styled radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

The MEA, in a strongly-worded statement, said an explanation was demanded for the complete absence of 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,” the Ministry said in its statement.

A statement said it finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.

“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 added.

Khalistan sympathizers were protesting against the police crackdown on separatist Amritpal Singh in India. Over the weekend, as per the Punjab police, 112 supporters of Amritpal Singh were arrested. While Amritpal Singh is on the run, an operation to arrest him and against Waris Punjab De (WPD) is still on. The Punjab police situation in the state is peaceful.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in London has put a large Indian flag in front of the mission.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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