India summons top UK diplomat over pulling down of Indian Flag
After videos of the pulling down of the Indian flag at the Indian embassy in London United Kingdom during a protest by pro-Khalistan elements emerged on social media, India has summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete “absence of security.”
Unacceptable: India on pulling down Indian flag
A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India finds “unacceptable” the indifference of the British government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.
According to the media reports, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Christina Scott has been summoned to the MEA in view of the incident as High Commissioner Alex Ellis was out of Delhi.
“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,” the statement issued by the ministry said.
Demand for explanation over absence of British security
“An explanation was demanded the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the high commission premises,” it added.
Moreover, the ministry said that the diplomat was reminded of the basic obligations of the UK government under the Vienna Convention.
“India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK,” the MEA said.
The Indian ministry has demanded immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in today’s incident.
“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,” the MEA added.
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Condemns disgraceful act: High Commissioner
Taking to Twitter, the High Commissioner, Ellis wrote, “I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London – totally unacceptable.”
Taking notes from the viral video, images of shattered windows and men climbing the Indian embassy building were circulating on social media and videos from the scene showed an Indian official grabbing the flag from a protester through the first-floor window of the mission, while the protester was seen waving a Khalistani flag hanging off its ledge.
Scotland Yard said it was “aware” of an incident in the area but is yet to issue an official statement.
