U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on Tuesday, sought to allay security concerns of the Indian High Commission on a day when pro-Khalistan protesters, held a demonstration across India House, home of the High Commission in London. Mr. Cleverly said he was in touch with the High Commission in London and the government in New Delhi on the matter.
“Acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission in London are unacceptable and I have made our position clear to the High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami,” Mr. Cleverly said, adding that the U.K. government was working with the Metropolitan Police and would “make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff as we did for today’s demonstration”.
Dozens of police officers had guarded the High Commission on Tuesday and managed the protestors, who tried breaking the cordon, threw water bottles, flares and ink balloons across the road at the premises and the officers.
Protesters had taken down the national flag from the front of India House on Sunday, with the government accusing the U.K. authorities of “ indifference” and retaliating by lowering protection for the residence of the British High Commissioner to India in New Delhi.
In Tuesday’s statement, Mr. Cleverly said the U.K. would always take the security of the High Commission and other missions “extremely seriously” and said the U.K.-India relationship was “thriving” .
“We want to build deeper ties between the U.K. and India for the future,” he said.
