NEW DELHI: India on Sunday summoned Britain’s top diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a protest over a demonstration held outside its diplomatic mission in London.
The Indian national flag at the High Commission was pulled down during the protest.
Some of the protesters carried separatist Khalistani flags.
“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 Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.
“An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of the 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 Indian statement added.
“India 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,” the ministry said.
Britain is home to a large Punjabi diaspora.
The London protesters were angry over an Indian police crackdown against Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab) organisation leader Amritpal Singh and his supporters in the state of Punjab.
More than 110 people have been arrested in the Sikh-majority state since Saturday in what the police have called a “mega crackdown”.
Police and paramilitary forces held “flag marches” (parades meant as a show of force) all over Punjab as the manhunt continued for Amritpal.
The Waris Punjab De chief, who evaded a police chase on Saturday, has been accused of espousing radicalism. — BERNAMA
