New Delhi: India on March 19, summoned a senior United Kingdom diplomat over the removal of the Indian flag atop the high commission building in London by pro-Khalistan protesters, accusing the UK of “indifference” to the security of Indian diplomatic premises.
Videos of pro-Khalistan protesters outside the Indian high commission in the UK had spread across social media. Amidst chants of Khalistan Zindabad, a protestor climbed onto the flagpole above the door and brought down the Indian flag without any hindrance from any security personnel.
With the UK High Commissioner Alexander W. Ellis travelling, his deputy Christina Scott was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs. . Ahead of his colleague being summoned, Ellis posted on his official Twitter account that the “disgraceful acts” at India House in London were “totally unacceptable”.
Later, UK Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Tariq Ahmad tweeted that he was “appalled” at the attack and described it as a “completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the mission and its staff”.
“The UK Government will always take the security of the Indian High Commission seriously,” he wrote.