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Acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission in London are unacceptable: UK Foreign Secretary

Days after New Delhi lodged its strong protest with the UK government over the complete absence of British security cover at its (India’s) diplomatic mission in London following an attack by separatist and extremist elements on March 19, the UK Foreign Secretary said necessary security measures would be taken to ensure the safety and security of the diplomatic staff stationed here.

Denouncing Sunday’s incident as ‘unacceptable acts of violence’ towards staff at the Indian mission, Foreign Secretary Cleverly informed in a statement issued that a police investigation is currently underway and his government is in close contact with the officials in New Delhi.

“Acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission in London are unacceptable and I have made our position clear to the High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami. The police investigation is ongoing and we are in close contact with the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Government in New Delhi. 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 as we did for today’s demonstration,” the UK Foreign Secretary said.

In his statement, the British Foreign Secretary also talked of ‘deep and personal’ India-UK ties. He said, “The UK-India relationship, driven by the deep personal connections between our two countries, is thriving. Our joint 2030 Roadmap guides our relationship and shows what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and helping to tackle shared challenges. We want to build deeper ties between the UK and India for the future.”

It is pertinent to note that the statement by the top British official came in the aftermath of a security attack on the Indian High Commission building in London by separatist and extremist forces, wherein the protesters barged inside the Indian facility and vandalised the property. The perpetrators also brought down the tricolour flying atop the commission building, triggering massive outrage in New Delhi. India, miffed by the protests, earlier lodged a strong protest, demanding immediate action by the UK government in identifying, arresting, and prosecuting each of those involved in the incident. The government also said it finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel.

The Sunday’s incident also triggered massive public anger, especially among the Indian diaspora, as they demanded the early arrest of the perpetrators. In support of India’s unity, the Indian community gathered in large numbers in front of the Indian High Commission Office in London, where they waved Indian flags and danced on patriotic songs, expressing their solidarity

Meanwhile, in retaliation to the repeated protest, the Indian High Commission recently unfurled a giant national flag on the facade of the building.

 

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