LONDON: A gigantic tricolour was draped from the Indian high commission building after a Khalistani protester brazenly scaled the exterior, pulled down the usual tricolour from the flagpole and then held and waved a “Khalistan flag” from the exterior balcony before both flags were snatched off him by a member of Indian diplomatic security staff.
An Indian high commission spokesman told TOI: “They attempted but failed, and now a grander tricolour is flying.”
Protesters looked on from the street waving Khalistan flags and screaming “Khalistan Zindabad” as the man appeared to plan to set fire to the flag.
Police did not arrive on the scene until the incident was over and most of the protesters dispersed. So far only one man has been arrested.
Friends of Society International UK (FISI UK) said: “An India high commission official braved the hooligans and restored the pride of India by taking the flag away from them. The Indian official had to act due to lack of appropriate security present at the premises.”
The protest was by radicalised British Sikhs angry at the massive security crackdown in Punjab to arrest Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh.
There are no British police visibly stationed outside the Indian high commission. Protesters could be seen bashing on the front door to the building. Two members of security staff at the high commission sustained minor injuries. All the lower windows of the high commission were left broken and cracked by the violence.
The attack has provoked widespread anger amongst the Indian diaspora, especially as it is not the first such attack on the Indian high commission. Many questioned why the police were not present, demanded the perpetrators are arrested, and some called for a downgrading of the UK-India bilateral relationship. Overseas Friends of BJP UK slammed the “utter failure” of the Metropolitan police and its intelligence to provide security to the Indian high commission and called for the UK to “ban” the Khalistani organisations behind the protest. Insight UK pointed out that under the Vienna Convention, the host country has an obligation to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the diplomatic mission.
Param Shah, director of FICCI UK, said: “Unless the UK government acts swiftly and decisively, I fear that this disgraceful attack will disrupt the otherwise flourishing India-UK bilateral relationship, especially as we seek to conclude a free trade agreement.”
The Metropolitan police said they were investigating the incident. “One male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. He has been bailed to a central London police station on a date in mid-June,” a police spokesman said.
British high commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted: “I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London- totally unacceptable.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, junior minister for South Asia, tweeted: “This is a completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the mission and its staff. The UK government will always take the security of the Indian high commission seriously.” @UCCININD replied to him: “If Indian high commission in London doesn’t have UK government security.Why are Indian police guarding UK consulates all over India? Wasting Indian taxpayers’ money (sic ).” Another, @MKG1869m, tweeted: “Surely the police and security services knew this protest was taking place so how come a terrorist managed to climb the balcony?”
An Indian high commission spokesman told TOI: “They attempted but failed, and now a grander tricolour is flying.”
Protesters looked on from the street waving Khalistan flags and screaming “Khalistan Zindabad” as the man appeared to plan to set fire to the flag.
Police did not arrive on the scene until the incident was over and most of the protesters dispersed. So far only one man has been arrested.
Friends of Society International UK (FISI UK) said: “An India high commission official braved the hooligans and restored the pride of India by taking the flag away from them. The Indian official had to act due to lack of appropriate security present at the premises.”
The protest was by radicalised British Sikhs angry at the massive security crackdown in Punjab to arrest Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh.
There are no British police visibly stationed outside the Indian high commission. Protesters could be seen bashing on the front door to the building. Two members of security staff at the high commission sustained minor injuries. All the lower windows of the high commission were left broken and cracked by the violence.
The attack has provoked widespread anger amongst the Indian diaspora, especially as it is not the first such attack on the Indian high commission. Many questioned why the police were not present, demanded the perpetrators are arrested, and some called for a downgrading of the UK-India bilateral relationship. Overseas Friends of BJP UK slammed the “utter failure” of the Metropolitan police and its intelligence to provide security to the Indian high commission and called for the UK to “ban” the Khalistani organisations behind the protest. Insight UK pointed out that under the Vienna Convention, the host country has an obligation to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the diplomatic mission.
Param Shah, director of FICCI UK, said: “Unless the UK government acts swiftly and decisively, I fear that this disgraceful attack will disrupt the otherwise flourishing India-UK bilateral relationship, especially as we seek to conclude a free trade agreement.”
The Metropolitan police said they were investigating the incident. “One male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. He has been bailed to a central London police station on a date in mid-June,” a police spokesman said.
British high commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted: “I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London- totally unacceptable.”
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, junior minister for South Asia, tweeted: “This is a completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the mission and its staff. The UK government will always take the security of the Indian high commission seriously.” @UCCININD replied to him: “If Indian high commission in London doesn’t have UK government security.Why are Indian police guarding UK consulates all over India? Wasting Indian taxpayers’ money (sic ).” Another, @MKG1869m, tweeted: “Surely the police and security services knew this protest was taking place so how come a terrorist managed to climb the balcony?”