• Friday, March 29, 2024

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India mission attack: Navendu Mishra MP, 7 Labour leaders write to Doraiswami expressing solidarity

Pro-Khalistan protesters attempt to pull down the Indian national flag at the Indian high commission in London on Sunday, March 19, 2021. (ANI Photo)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Navendu Mishra MP on Tuesday (21) wrote to the Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, expressing solidarity in the wake of the protest and vandalism that took place at the high commission on Sunday (19) by pro-Khalistan mob that also attempted to pull down the Indian national flag.

The letter was signed by five Labour parliamentarians apart from Mishra and two Labour members of the London Assembly who condemned the incident and welcomed the investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police. They also vowed to put pressure on the the country’s Conservative government to ensure that all diplomatic missions in the country are protected.

The MPs included, besides Mishra, Mike Amesbury, Virendra Sharma, Tulip Siddiq, Stephen Timms and Gareth Thomas while the members of the London assembly were Unmesh Desai and Krupesh Hirani.

Navendu Mishra MP
Navendu Mishra MP (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

“We are writing to express support in light of the violent disorder and vandalism that took place against the High Commission on Sunday 19 March 2023. This behaviour must be condemned in all forms, and we welcome the investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police,” the Indian-origin MP, who is also the chair of Labour Convention of Indian Organisations, wrote.

Mishra also said that the protest at the mission which transformed into violence and vandalism was promoted on social media platforms at least 24 hours before, adding that it was disappointing that the home office failed to provide adequate protection.

“All diplomatic missions, diplomats, staff and families are protected under the Vienna Convention. The failure of the home office to fulfil this obligation must be addressed by the government urgently,” he said.

Indian high commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami holds a meeting with the members of the Indian community on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, after the Indian high commission in London was allegedly vandalised by separatist and extremist elements
Indian high commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami holds a meeting with the members of the Indian community on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, after the Indian high commission in London was allegedly vandalised by separatist and extremist elements on March 19, 2023. (ANI Photo)

Mishra wrote that the ability to take part in peaceful protest, demonstrations and democratic debate are an important part of Britain’s tradition but vandalism or violence aimed at any person or institution is not acceptable.

In conclusion, he thanked the staff members and their families at the mission and said the Labour would continue to press the UK government to ensure that all diplomatic missions in Britain are protected and the country’s international obligations are honoured.

India on Sunday summoned British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott following the incident at the high commission in London and lodged a strong protest. An explanation was demanded over the alleged absence of the British security that allowed the protesters to enter the mission premises, the country’s external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Scott was also “reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK government under the Vienna Convention”, the statement added.

The vandalism took place a day after the police in the northern Indian state of Punjab launched a massive manhunt against Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan radical preacher.

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