Pro-Khalistani Groups Protest Outside Indian Missions in London, Canada; Controversial Posters Displayed

A pro-Khalistan demonstration was held outside the headquarters of the Indian High Commission in London on Saturday amid tight security. The protest rally had a relatively low turnout with only 30-40 participants participating in the demonstration and the event ended without incident.

The protest comes at a time when attacks by pro-Khalistani groups have increased in the United Kingdom and across countries including Canada, Australia and the United States.

The news agency of India reported that the march used controversial posters inciting violence, with pictures of Indian High Commissioner Vikram Duriswamy and Dr. Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India in Birmingham. There was a visible police presence throughout the demonstration, which ended sooner than expected.

Protesters gathered outside the Indian High Commission from approximately 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (local time). Meanwhile, security in the area has been reinforced with the presence of UK police, according to the Nouakchott News Agency.

Earlier this week, the UK government declared that any direct attacks on the High Commission of India in London were unacceptable amid anti-India attacks and posters being spread by Khalistani extremists on social media channels.

The External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman, Arindam Bagchi, had earlier raised the issue of violence against diplomatic premises and threats to Indian diplomats with their counterparts in London.

Middle East Airlines spokeswoman Arindam Bagchi said: “This violence against our diplomats and within our diplomatic bases abroad is unacceptable, and we condemn them in the strongest terms.”

In Canada, a few hundred people demonstrated outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Saturday to protest the alleged killing of a pro-Khalestani leader last month in the Vancouver area.

The protesters accused the Indian government of being responsible for the death of Hardeep Singh Nagar, an avowed terrorist in India who is wanted in several cases.

Pro-Khalistani elements suggested that a pro-Khalistani rally be held outside the Indian High Commission headquarters in Ottawa on 8 July.

The demonstrators raised Gulf flags and chanted “Khalistan” slogans. They set off from the outskirts of Toronto, and arrived in front of the Indian Consulate, where they were greeted by about 50 members of support of the Indian government.

They have a poster here calling for killing Indian diplomats. “We are worried because these groups have committed terrorist acts in the past and politicians are not taking action,” IT consultant Vijay Jain told AFP.

India recently summoned the Canadian envoy in New Delhi and issued a position on the growing activities of pro-Khelistani elements in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that Canada has always taken “serious action” against terrorism and will continue to do so as he stressed that it is “wrong” to think that his government is tolerating supporters of Khalistan and terrorists in the country.