Khalisani Pulls Down National Flag At London High Commission, Alarms Security Concerns

March 20, 2023

The foreign ministry summoned the seniormost diplomat of UK in New Delhi late last evening as the Indian flag was pulled down from the Indian High Commission in London by Khalistan sympathisers protesting against the police crackdown on separatist Amritpal Singh. In a sharply worded statement, the ministry demanded an explanation for “absence of security” at the high commission premises and said the UK government’s “indifference” to Indian diplomats and personnel was “unacceptable”.

The protests over the crackdown started last evening evening. Cellphone videos posted on social media showed protesters climbing the building and taking down the Indian flag. In Australia’s Brisbane, pro-Khalistan groups carried out what they called a referendum on Khalistan.

“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 foreign ministry said in its statement.

The ministry also said it finds “unacceptable” the “indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel”.

“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 statement read.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis, meanwhile tweeted, “I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London – totally unacceptable.”

I condemn the disgraceful acts today against the people and premises of the @HCI_London – totally unacceptable.

— Alex Ellis (@AlexWEllis) March 19, 2023