India reiterates its objection to Wani event in UK

LONDON : India on Thursday reiterated its “serious objection” to any event in the UK that seeks to “glorify” Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, whose killing in July 2016 triggered a prolonged period of unrest in the Kashmir valley.

An event to commemorate Wani’s death in Birmingham last July evoked a note verbale, or semi-formal communication, to the Foreign Office from India, prompting the local city council to withdraw permission. However, the event was held after the council allowed it to go ahead.

“We have no objection to peaceful events on political issues but take serious objection to any effort to glorify terrorists,” India’s deputy high commissioner Dinesh Patnaik said following reports that a simular event may be organised this year.

Home secretary Amber Rudd has been urged by Birmingham councillor Peter Douglas Osborn (Conservative) to ban any event to protest Wani’s killing this year.

Osborn, who is yet to receive a reply from Rudd, said on Thursday, “We should not be honouring terrorists, particularly people who want to drive other religions out of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The councillor wrote to Rudd that last year’s event in Birmingham had “caused a lot of upset to our Indian community”, and recalled that he had promised to get any event this year banned.