Foreign Secretary James Cleverly
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that the UK will reassess the security at the Indian High Commission here in response to “unacceptable” acts of violence by pro-Khalistan protestors, adding that the government takes these issues extremely seriously and will “robustly” respond to such instances.
On Wednesday, 2,000 demonstrators carrying flags for Khalistan converged onto the Indian mission in this area for a planned rally. They threw objects and screamed slogans in the face of increased security and barricades.
Contrary to the tumultuous situation on Sunday when the India House was attacked, the demonstrators were positioned across the street, and uniformed police officers were on patrol and on guard duty the entire time.
Pro-Khalistan slogans were chanted by the protesters, who included some men wearing turbans as well as some women and children. The protesters came from various parts of the UK by bus.
Statement by Foreign Secretary Cleverly
Foreign Secretary Cleverly said in a statement on Wednesday that the British government takes such matters very seriously and will “robustly” respond to the attack while working with the Metropolitan Police to make the necessary changes to ensure the security of the mission’s staff.
The minister cited heightened security measures in place at India House for a planned demonstration on Wednesday, which included several police officers standing guard outside the building, as well as many mounted officers on horseback patrolling the area, as well as helicopter surveillance.
“Violent acts against staff at the Indian High Commission in London are unacceptable”, Mr. Cleverly said.
James Cleverly stated that the police investigation is still ongoing and that the government is in close contact with the Indian High Commission in London as well as the Indian government in New Delhi.
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission and will make the necessary changes to ensure the safety of its staff”, he added.
“We will always take the security of the High Commission and all foreign missions in the UK extremely seriously, and we will prevent and respond to incidents like this”, James Cleverly went on to say.
The minister remarked on the “thriving” India-UK relationship, which is fueled by deep personal ties between our two countries.
He further said, “Our joint 2030 Roadmap guides our relationship and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and assisting in the resolution of shared challenges”.
“We want to strengthen ties between the United Kingdom and India in the future”, Cleverly added.
The statement comes in response to the Indian government’s strong protest over the lack of adequate security measures at its London mission.
Also read: Security Heightened Around Indian Mission In London For Protests By British Sikh Groups
Since the violent disorder on Sunday, when Khalistan flag-waving extremists smashed windows at the mission and attempted to pull down the tricolor from the flagpole, an obvious Met Police presence has been visible around the Indian High Commission in Aldwych.
Similar groups were scheduled to demonstrate against India on Wednesday, but the protestors were restricted to a walled area across from the structure. As scenes of enraged protestors tossing flares and water bottles toward India House briefly played out, more police were deployed.
In response to the protest, the Indian High Commission flew a massive national flag over the building’s exterior in addition to multiple tricolors affixed to its windows.
While everything was going on, High Commissioner Doraiswami used Twitter to dispel rumors about events in Punjab linked to legal action against the separatist group ‘Waris Punjab De’.
He reassured British Punjabis that the ‘sensationalist tales’ spread on social media are untrue.
Police in New Delhi dismantled barricades outside the British High Commission “that posed difficulties” for commuters. Officials stated on Wednesday that the diplomatic mission’s security was still intact.
(With input from PTI)
