Khalistan flag raised outside Indian mission in London
Security has been raised near the Indian High commission in London after Khalistan flags were waved during demonstrations held over the new farm laws.
FollowSecurity has been raised near the Indian High commission in London after Khalistan flags were waved during demonstrations held over the new farm laws.
The rally was reportedly organized by Khalistani secessionist group Sikhs for Justice, which was banned by India last year.
Anti-India slogans were raised during the protest, which was held in violation of the Metropolitan police's guidelines in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Protests despite Metropolitan police advisory
The Metropolitan police had in an open letter advised people to avoid large gatherings.
"The government strongly advises people not to attend any large gatherings. We are still in the middle of a global pandemic and would urge you to consider other ways of making solidarity representations, perhaps in the form of a petition or an online forum," a statement read.
"Please be advised that you may also be at risk of committing a criminal offence. No person may participate in a gathering of more than 6 persons outdoors unless certain exemptions apply," it added.
Boris Johnson's government refuses to intervene
The protests came a day after the British government refused to be drawn into the farmers' protest in India.
The Boris Johnson government's clarification that the "police handling of protests are a matter for the government of India" came hours after 36 British MPs asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab in a letter to raise the issue with the Indian government.
Signatories to the letter include MPs from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Virendra Sharma, Seema Malhotra, Valerie Vaz, Nadia Whittome, Peter Bottomley, John McDonnell, Martin Docherty-Hughes and Alison Thewliss.
