‘Completely Unacceptable’: UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Condemns Pro-Khalistani Posters

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly assured that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount. 

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

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United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday condemned posters by Khalistani sympathisers calling for an attack on Indian diplomats in the UK. “Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable,” he tweeted on Thursday. Clevelry also said in the tweet that it has been made clear to the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount. 

Posters by pro-Khalistanis have been widely shared on Twitter which called for attacks on Indian diplomats in UK, Canada, and Australia as they gave a call for a “Khalistan Freedom Rally” on July 8 at 12:30 pm against Indian officials. 

British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis also “amplified” the assurance by Cleverly.

Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable.

We have made clear to @VDoraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount.

— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) July 6, 2023

The UK Foreign Secretary’s statement comes just hours after Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya condemned such a poster. 

“Khalistanis in Canada continue to reach new low in abusing our Charter of Rights and Freedom by promoting violence and hate,” Arya tweeted. Sharing the poster which called for a “Khalistan Freedom Rally”, the MP said, “we should note the snakes in our backyard.” 

“While it is good to see Canadian authorities are noticing, we should note the snakes in our backyard are raising their heads and hissing.” 

“It is only a question of time when they bite to kill,” he added. 

Referring to the Brampton event where some pro-Khalistanis celebrated the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Arya said, “Emboldened by non-criticism from elected officials of a recent Brampton parade portraying and celebrating the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, they are now openly calling for violence against India diplomats.”