By Shoukat Dar
LONDON: The Federation of Sikh Organisations (FSO) and Sikh Youth Organisations (SYO) on Wednesday organized a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London to condemn the brutality of the Indian police against the Sikh community in Indian Punjab. The diplomatic staff members of the Indian High Commission threw water bottles at pro-Khalistan movement Sikh protesters from the roof of the commission building.
For the protest, the Khalistan movement’s supporters arrived in London from various other cities in the United Kingdom. As the area around the Indian high commission echoed with slogans of Khalistan, a score of police officers were deployed to protect the diplomatic staff confined in the building.
The police have called for more personnel to control the enraged protesters. Last week, the Indian flag was removed from the High Commission building.
According to media reports, three days after the incident, the Indian government removed the security barriers outside the UK high commission in Dehli and the residence of the British high commissioner in retaliation.
India cannot forcefully suppress Khalistan movement: Speakers
During today’s protests, Sikh leaders addressed the protestors and said: ‘We are only asking India for the basic right of freedom.”
During the protests, Sikh leaders addressed the protesters and said: ‘We are only asking India for the basic right of freedom.”
They said India cannot forcefully suppress the Khalistan movement, adding, “Through the referendum, we want to tell the world that we want independence from India.”
The diplomatic staff inside the building then hung a huge tri-colored Indian flag on top of the building. As more police officers arrived at the site of the protest, a police helicopter was also sent to protect the high commission.
Meanwhile, the enraged Sikh youth threw shoes on pictures of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
