New DelhiForeign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday said that India has lodged a strong protest with the UK over the vandalism incident at the Indian High Commission in London and said that the British authorities need to make adequate security arrangements. Responding to questions during a media briefing on the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida here, the Foreign Secretary said the British Deputy High Commissioner was summoned on Sunday to apprise him of India’s concerns.
“With regard to the UK incident, we have already issued India’s response late yesterday evening in which the Deputy High Commissioner to the UK was summoned… seeking clarification and asking the culprits and perpetrators that yesterday What happened in London?” be swiftly arrested and prosecuted,” the foreign secretary said.
On Sunday, the senior-most UK diplomat was summoned to New Delhi to express India’s strong protest over the action by separatist and anti-India elements against the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs had said that an explanation was sought “for the complete absence” of British security that had allowed these separatist and extremist elements to enter the High Commission premises.
“She was reminded of the UK government’s basic obligations under the Vienna Convention. India views the UK government’s apathy towards the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK as unacceptable,” the MEA statement said. It is expected that the British Government will take steps to identify, arrest and prosecute everyone involved in the incident and will take strong measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”
British High Commissioner Alex Ellis condemned the vandalism incident at the Indian High Commission in Britain. “I condemn today’s shameful acts against the people and premises of the Indian High Commission – completely unacceptable,” he added.