The Indian High Commission in London on Thursday registered a formal complaint with the United Kingdom foreign office over its building being trashed by thousands of anti-India protesters on September 2.
As part of protests, about 10,000 British Pakistanis, Kashmiris, and pro-Khalistan Sikhs pelted stones, eggs, and bottles, smashed windows of the building when protesting over the India government’s decision to revoke Article 370.
Indian high commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam met foreign office director-general Richard Moore on Wednesday to talk about India’s concerns.
Commenting on the meeting, a diplomat at the high commission told The Times of India: “The foreign office were not happy about the situation. If and when these protests happen again, they are saying they will take stricter measures and make security arrangements better. We will have to see if this happens again and only then can we judge if they have taken stricter measures.”
“We have been saying for years they should not protest in front of our building but we are always told that would not be possible because of freedom of expression. I can’t say if we are satisfied with this but we put our concerns across in the most direct way possible,” the diplomat said.
“This is sensitive issue as we are talking about the security of the mission building. You never know if the situation will escalate and what they might do next time. It was quite intimidating throughout the day for the staff. The services of the HCI could not function at all because of lack of movement.”
After the meeting, the Indian high commission tweeted saying: “DG said physical damage to High Commission property was completely unacceptable. He added that the safety and security of all diplomatic missions and their staff are of upmost concern to UK.”
High Commissioner met DG(Political) FCO, inter alia about violent protest of 3 September. DG said physical damage to High Commission property was completely unacceptable. He added that the safety and security of all diplomatic missions and their staff are of upmost concern to UK.
— India in the UK (@HCI_London) September 4, 2019
The protests that took place at the Indian embassy in London is the second one as the first protest took place on Indian Independence Day (August 15) and at that time the building was vandalized too.
Indian origin councilors wrote to Pakistan-origin London Sadiq Khan, Indian origin UK home secretary Priti Patel and foreign secretary Dominic Raab asking what firm action was being taken against the organizers of these protesters.
The Hindu Forum Britain also wrote to Priti Patel criticizing the policing and calling for a meeting with her.
