Vandalism at Indian High Commission raised in UK Parliament

Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman referred to as for a debate in British Parliament to debate steps to ban teams behind the violence

Tricolour at UK’s India House post-violence on Sunday. (PTI)

By Press Trust of India: The vandalism by pro-Khalistan extremists on the Indian High Commission right here was on Thursday raised within the House of Commons, with British MPs demanding motion towards “Khalistani hooligans” and the protection of India’s diplomatic workers.

While Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman referred to as for a debate in Parliament to debate steps to ban teams behind the violence, Opposition Labour Party MP Gareth Thomas requested the Leader of the House of Commons in regards to the steps being taken to make sure there may be “no repeat of such behaviour”.

The Cabinet minister addressing the Business of the House, Penny Mordaunt, responded by reiterating Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier assertion saying a evaluate of the safety measures across the Indian mission right here.

“We strongly condemn the vandalism and violent acts that took place outside the Indian High Commission in London. It was a completely unacceptable action against the High Commission and its staff,” Mordaunt instructed MPs.

“There is ongoing work with the Metropolitan Police to review the protection measures around the High Commission, and any changes will be made to ensure the safety and security of its staff so that they can go about their business, serving both this country and India,” she mentioned.

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Blackman identified that the assault on Sunday was the sixth time in as a few years that the Indian High Commission has been attacked in an analogous manner. “The hooliganism of Khalistani hooligans outside the Indian high commission on Sunday is a disgrace to this country,” he said.

“Khalistani militants are working internationally; Canada, the US and Australia noticed related assaults over the weekend. We are harbouring Khalistani terrorists on this nation proper now. Can we have now a debate in authorities time on what motion we will take to make sure that these terrorists are held to account and banned on this nation,” he mentioned.

Earlier on Thursday, Blackman – as chair of the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) – raised the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) within the Commons and sought an replace from the Business and Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston, who confirmed that the eighth spherical of FTA negotiations are presently underway.

“Both nations have committed to and are working together for a mutually ambitious deal. We are working through substantive issues such as goods, market access, services and investment,” mentioned Huddleston. Asked if the FTA is prone to be concluded by Diwali this yr, having missed the Diwali 2022 deadline, the minister confused that “it is about the deal, not the date”. “We will not tie our hands by setting an arbitrary deadline,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in London has been working to counter disinformation being spread on social media alleging that the objects hurled during Wednesday’s planned pro-Khalistan demonstration came from India House. “Fact verify: the reality is, a small minority of protesters threw water bottles, ink balloons, eggs and flares on the High Commission in London, a few of which hit different protestors and the police.

Nothing was thrown by mission workers at our personal brethren. We have proof,” the High Commission tweeted. “Do not imagine disinformation aimed to disrupt concord. Indians will all the time respect the non secular beliefs of all,” it said, alongside videos showing water bottles and coloured flares being hurled by Khalistan flag-bearing protesters towards India House.

The UK government has condemned the attacks as “unacceptable” and dedicated to “robustly respond” to such incidents of violence.

Published On:

Mar 24, 2023