Unacceptable, India tells UK on vandalism by ‘Pakincited elements’
INDIA/LONDONIndia on Wednesday conveyed to the UK its strong concern over protests by “Pakistanincited elements” that resulted in the vandalisation of the Indian high commission in London twice in less than a month. Tuesday’s violent protest outside the mission was the second such incident since August 15. Some 2,500 protestors from across the UK, most of them of Pakistani and Kashmiri origin, joined the “Kashmir Freedom March” from Parliament Square to the high commission at Aldwych. The protestors, including proKhalistani elements, carried flags of Pakistanoccupied Kashmir and Khalistan. The protestors threw stones, bottles, eggs, tomatoes and shoes at the Indian high commission, smashing several windows.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “We consider these incidents to be unacceptable and have strongly urged the Government of UK to take action against those involved, and take necessary steps to ensure the normal functioning of our mission and the safety and security of our personnel.”
India, he said, is “deeply concerned by the reports of unruly demonstrations by Pakistanincited elements and consequent organised vandalism of the property of the high commission of India in London”. Tuesday’s protest was the second time in recent weeks that such an incident had affected the “security and the normal functioning of our mission”, he added. The official Twitter handle of the Indian mission had tweeted a photo of a smashed window and said: “Another violent protest outside the Indian High Commission in London today, 3 September 2019. Damage caused to the premises.”
(Hindustan Times)