In a protest by Khalistan supporters at High Commission of India in London, a protestor on Sun🧔day climbed the mission's balcony and pulled down the Ind🦋ian flag.
In a 𝓡video of the incident, a man is seen on the balcony bringing down the Indian flag. Towards the end of the video, a man believed to be an Indian official comes to the balcony from inside the mission and snatches the flag before the protestor could do any further vandalism.
Responding strongly to the breachꦕ of security at the In𝐆dian mission, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott in New Delhi to register its protest.
In a statement, the MEA said "an explanation was demanded for the complete absence of B🌱ritish security" that let "separatist and extremist element" violate♎ the limits of the Indian mission and vandalise the national flag.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and British High Commissioner Alex Ellis cond𓂃emned the vandalism at the Indian mission.
In a tweet, Khan said, "I condemn the violent disorder and vandalism that took place at the Indian High Commission today. There is no place in our city for this kind of behaviour. An inve🅰stigation has been launched by the Met into today♐’s events."
Ellis tweeted that the act was꧃ "ꦜtotally unacceptable" and "disgraceful".
What happened at the London mission?
Supporters of Khalistan were protesting on Sunday at the High Commission of India in London with pro-Khalistan slogan. Amid the protest, one person climbed the mission's balcony and brought down the flag. Theဣ protesters were waving Khalistani flags during the protest.
The Khalistan movement refers to the separatist movement that seeks a Sikh nation to be carved out of India called Khalistan. The Khalistan movement waged a bloody♓ insurgency in India for decades, primarily in Punjab, before it finally ebbed in 1990s. Though the armed element ebbed by the '90s, there exists strong support for the movement abroad, notably in the United Kingdom and Canada, that seeks to incite trouble in India.
Following the vandalism, officials from the Indian 💛mission said the "attempted but failed⛦" attack was foiled and the tricolour was now flying "grander".
Scotland Yard said it was called to reports of disorder on Sunday afternoon and thaꦯt a man has been arrested as its e🐻nquiries continue.
The Metropolitan Polic♐e statement said, "There was no report of any injury, however windows were broken at the High Commission building...Officers attended the location. The majority of those present had dispersed prior to the arrival of police. An inve🌼stigation was launched, and one male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. Enquiries continue."
In videos the incident, the man pulling down the In𒁃dian flag on the balcony is also seen waving the Khalistan 🧸flag on the balcony. London-based journalist Naomi Canton reported that the attempt was to replace the Indian flag on the pole with the Khalistan flag.
The Khal♍istan supporters' vandalism at th𒀰e Indian mission in London comes at a time when authorities are cracking down on Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh and his radical organisation Waris Punjab De in Punjab.
How did India react?
In a strongly-worded statement issued after British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott was summoned, the MEA termed the incident "unacceptable" and said an explanation𝔉 was demanded over the incident and flagged the complete lack of security.
The MEA also demandꦫed arrest and prosecution of those involved in the vandalism.
The MEA said, "The seni🤡or-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.
"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 obl🌸igations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.
"India finds unacceptable the indifference of the🌸 UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic pr𝓡emises 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 involveꦇd in today’s incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents."
Bigger flag put up at London mission
Following t🍬he vandalism at the Indian mission in London, an even bigger Indian national flag was put on the building.
Photograph of a larger Ind✅ian flag covering much of the building housing the High Commission of India in London appeared in media reports.
This is not the first time in recent past that Indian or India-related entities have been ta🐷r♔geted by Khalistan supporters.
In Australia, four Hindu temples have bee🍬n vandalised in th🐻e past months. Similar anti-India activities have been reported from Canada too. These incidents have been linked to Khalistani groups based abroad.
Reacting to the London incident, international relations expert Ian Hall noted, "Escalating public and diplomatic protests. If this spike in Sikh separatist activity isn't on the radar of Australian authorities, it must be. It is already complicating India-UK relations and we shouldn🏅't think ourselves immune."
Not the first time London mission was targeted
The𝓡 Sunday's vandalism was not the first time the High Commission of India in London was targeted.
Earli💃er in 2019, the Indian mission in London ꦐwas targeted twice in violent protests.
In Septemb📖er 2019, the Indian mission in London suffered visible damage in the vandalism. A photograph was shared by the missio𝕴n on Twitter at the time.
One Labour Party MP had also participated in the protest. MP Liam Byrne shared a video on Twitter and wroꦐte, "Today thousands of people marched from Downing Street to the Indian High Commission to send a clear message to Mr Modi - you cannot silence the people of Kashmir."
(With PTI inputs)
