People belonging to the Sikh community today protested outside the British High Commission in New Delhi against ‘pro-Khalistan’ activists pulling down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London yesterday even as various Opposition parties asserted that it was the responsibility of the host government to protect Indian missions abroad.
Carrying the tricolour and placards, the protesters raised the slogan “Bharat humara swabhiman hai (India is our pride)” and said that they would not tolerate any insult to the national flag.
The government had last night summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete “absence of security” at the Indian High Commission in London where the tricolour flying atop was grabbed by a group of protesters waving ‘Khalistani’ flags.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi found “unacceptable” the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties fully backed the government’s stand with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor saying, “This can’t be allowed and the External Affairs Ministry should take up the matter with the host countries to protect the High Commission and embassies.”
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, said, “the UK government should apologise to India and take action against the miscreants.”