New Delhi: Three days after the flag at the Indian high commission was removed by protestors, India has removed the security barriers outside the UK high commission and the residence of the British high commissioner in retaliation.
Delhi | Barricades removed from outside the British High Commission. pic.twitter.com/54sfrJ8h7E
— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2023
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On Sunday, the Indian flag at the High Commission in London was brought down by a pro-Khalistan protestor. India summoned the UK deputy high commissioner to India to lodge a protest and accused the British government of “indifference” to the security of diplomatic premises.
On Monday, the Indian high commissioner in the UK Vikram Doraiswami interacted with “concerned Indian community leaders” and appreciated their solidarity following the attack on the High Commission.
A day later, Doraiswamy issued a video about the situation in Punjab and the efforts to arrest Amritpal Singh.
HC @VDoraiswami addressing on the situation in Punjab. @MEAIndia @sujitjoyghosh @ANI @ndtv @CGI_Bghm pic.twitter.com/KA4kOBUQ8d
— India in the UK (@HCI_London) March 21, 2023
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Also on March 21, some Indians gathered near the Indian high commission in London to protest the bringing down of the Indian flag by Sikh groups.
Indians gather outside the @HCI_London with tiranga and ‘jai ho’ chants to protest against the disrespect to India’s flag by Khalistanis on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/uFnopugUjW
— Ruhi Khan ⚡️ (@khanruhi) March 21, 2023
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Three days after the attack, on March 22, the long concrete blocks that restricted vehicular movement outside the Gates of the UK high commission in Chanakyapuri were removed. Similarly, there were no barriers at the UK high commissioner’s residence in Rajaji marg.
The last time India took such a step was when cranes came out to publicly remove security barricades outside the US embassy in 2013. At that time, Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade had been arrested and body-searched for the alleged mistreatment of a domestic worker from India and faced allegations of visa fraud.
There was no official response from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the tit-for-tat step taken against the UK high commission.
A British high commission spokesperson said, “We do not comment on security matters.”
Protests were also scheduled outside the Indian high commission in London later on Wednesday, for which there was heavy police presence, as per reports.
As in most countries, the security of the outer perimeter of diplomatic missions is handled by the local police.
Incidentally, India had also lodged a protest with the US Charge d’Affaires over the damage to the doors and windows of the San Francisco consulate after summoning her to the MEA. But security barriers outside the US embassy remain in place for now and it remains to be seen if similar action will soon be taken.
During the Khobragade crisis ten years ago, India curtailed bilateral contact with the US. A visiting delegation of lawmakers was refused appointments with top Indian officials. So far, that doesn’t seem to be the direction. On Wednesday, the Indian minister for renewable energy R.K. Singh did meet with the top UK official for the department of energy security and net zero.
