LONDON: UK will review the security of the Indian high commission here following two unruly protests in three days by Khalistan supporters, foreign secretary James Cleverly said Wednesday evening after India removed security barricades from outside the British high commission in Delhi as well as the residence of Alex Ellis, Britain’s high commissioner to India.
Cleverly said acts of violence directed at the Indian mission staff were “unacceptable”. “We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian high commission, and will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff,” Cleverly said. “We will always take the security of the high commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this,” Cleverly added.
The vandalism by pro-Khalistan supporters at the Indian high commission was on Thursday raised in the House of Commons too, with British MPs demanding action against “Khalistani hooligans” and the safety of India’s diplomatic staff. Conservative MP Bob Blackman described the attacks on the Indian mission as “disgraceful” and called for all Khalistani organisations to be banned in Britain while Labour MP Gareth Thomas asked the leader of the House what steps were being taken to ensure there is “no repeat of such behaviour”. Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt reiterated Cleverly’s statement on reviewing the security of the Indian high commission.
On Sunday, two security staffers at the mission were injured after a scuffle with a pro-Khalistan protester who scaled the balcony and tried to rip down the Indian flag. Windows were smashed using flagpoles. At Wednesday’s protests, paint and eggs were thrown at the building.
Blackman also denounced the attacks while speaking in a committee room of the Houses of Parliament, pointing out that the Indian high commission had been attacked half-a-dozen times in the past few years, “orchestrated by opponents of India”. He called for all organisations banned in India to be outlawed in Britain as well. “We are tolerating in the UK people who are calling for the overthrow of India by armed insurrection. That is absolutely unacceptable. Why is the UK allowing those terrorists to operate freely and openly in our society? We should call them out and proscribe them in their entirety, seize their assets and say they are not welcome to stay in our country. Otherwise, we will see an escalation in violence. We should arrest them and punish them,” Blackman said
Blackman said the acts at the weekend were organised by Khalistani militants to take place “simultaneously” in Canada, US and Australia.
Earlier, speaking in the House of Commons, Blackman said “we are harbouring Khalistani terrorists in this country” and called for a debate on action to ensure they are held to account.
Meanwhile, police said a 22-year-old man was held over Sunday’s incident and bailed later, while no arrests had been made over Wednesday’s trouble.
Cleverly said acts of violence directed at the Indian mission staff were “unacceptable”. “We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian high commission, and will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff,” Cleverly said. “We will always take the security of the high commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this,” Cleverly added.
The vandalism by pro-Khalistan supporters at the Indian high commission was on Thursday raised in the House of Commons too, with British MPs demanding action against “Khalistani hooligans” and the safety of India’s diplomatic staff. Conservative MP Bob Blackman described the attacks on the Indian mission as “disgraceful” and called for all Khalistani organisations to be banned in Britain while Labour MP Gareth Thomas asked the leader of the House what steps were being taken to ensure there is “no repeat of such behaviour”. Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt reiterated Cleverly’s statement on reviewing the security of the Indian high commission.
On Sunday, two security staffers at the mission were injured after a scuffle with a pro-Khalistan protester who scaled the balcony and tried to rip down the Indian flag. Windows were smashed using flagpoles. At Wednesday’s protests, paint and eggs were thrown at the building.
Blackman also denounced the attacks while speaking in a committee room of the Houses of Parliament, pointing out that the Indian high commission had been attacked half-a-dozen times in the past few years, “orchestrated by opponents of India”. He called for all organisations banned in India to be outlawed in Britain as well. “We are tolerating in the UK people who are calling for the overthrow of India by armed insurrection. That is absolutely unacceptable. Why is the UK allowing those terrorists to operate freely and openly in our society? We should call them out and proscribe them in their entirety, seize their assets and say they are not welcome to stay in our country. Otherwise, we will see an escalation in violence. We should arrest them and punish them,” Blackman said
Blackman said the acts at the weekend were organised by Khalistani militants to take place “simultaneously” in Canada, US and Australia.
Earlier, speaking in the House of Commons, Blackman said “we are harbouring Khalistani terrorists in this country” and called for a debate on action to ensure they are held to account.
Meanwhile, police said a 22-year-old man was held over Sunday’s incident and bailed later, while no arrests had been made over Wednesday’s trouble.
