On Monday 7th December, the Scotland Yard had reportedly arrested several protestors who had gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London earlier on Sunday as they demonstrated their support for the farmers in India. According to reports, the Metropolitan Police had arrested as many as 13 people for breaching Covid-19 regulations off whom four have been released while nine others remain in custody.
Commenting on the protest outside India House Building, a spokesperson at the High Commission of India, London informed, “The protesters had gathered in large numbers around 3500 to 4000 in front of the high commission flouting social distancing norms during a pandemic. About 700 vehicles had participated in the rally. Protesters were seen to have arrived by vehicles. High Commission had been informed that as per normal practice, permission had been sought from London Met Police for a drive past protest involving about 40 vehicles. We were also aware that the police had given specific warning against gathering of more than 30 people. The developing situation was brought to the attention of the UK Foreign Office and Home Office. London Metropolitan Police managed, controlled and eventually disposed the crowds. We could see that a few violent were arrested.
Anti-India separatists and Khalistanis at the protest
These protestors who had gathered to apparently oppose the agricultural legislations in India also reportedly had some Khalistani and anti-India separatist forces. These included Khalistani militant Paramjeet Singh Pamma who has been living in exile in the UK and is wanted by India for conspiracy on several domestic attacks. But, while the protestors had sought permission from London’s Metropolitan Police for a drive past protest involving 40 vehicles, officials estimate there were over 3,000 people who flouted government’s social distancing norms at the demonstration.
Noting the presence of anti-India forces at the demonstrations, the spokesperson further elaborated, “The gathering was led by anti-India separatists who had taken the opportunity of the farm protests in India to pursue their own anti-India agenda. As many are aware, the protest against Agricultural reform bills in India is part of a democratic process. The Government of India is in talks with the protesters and needless to say, it is an internal issue of India.
“In recent days, The High Commission has comprehensively briefed the relevant interlocutors in the UK Govt and the Parliament on the fundamental features of the path breaking farming sector reforms initiated by the Govt of India. The fact that currently the Govt of India has reached out to the Farmer organisations in India to address any of their apprehensions and concerns about the relevant reform measures is part of the democratic decision-making process and exemplifies the spirit of responsive governance in India.”
In the meantime a video has been circulating on social media which zooms in on a police officer who appears to punch a man in the face and then backs away. The video is reportedly being examined by the Met Office. Chief Superintendent Raj Kohli responded to the footage on Twitter, writing, "The footage has been passed on to the relevant people."
36 Labour MPs write a letter to Dominic Raab
This is not the first time British Sikhs have protested in “support” of the farmers. There have been several fundraising campaigns, virtual webinars and campaigns across Southall and Slough primarily organised by British Sikhs in their opposition of the Indian Central Government.
Recently, a group of 36 cross-party parliamentarians signed a letter written by Labour MP for Slough Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. The letter signed by other Indian-origin MPs including Valerie Vaz, Virendra Sharma and Seema Malhotra urged Raab to make a representation with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, about the impact on British Punjabis affected by the demonstrations by farmers against new agricultural reforms in India.
The letter notes, “This is a joint letter calling for representation to be made by yourself to your Indian counterpart about the impact on British Sikhs and Punjabis, with longstanding links to land and farming in India. This is an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the U.K. and those linked to Punjab, although it also heavily impacts other Indian States. Many British Sikhs and Punjabis have taken this matter up with their MPs, as they are directly affected with family members and ancestral land in Punjab.”
In the meantime, Lord Indarjit Singh, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, also raised the issue in the Upper House of Parliament earlier this week.
India has repeatedly called the remarks by foreign leaders and politicians on protests by farmers as “ill-informed” and “unwarranted” as the matter pertained to the internal affairs of a democratic country. While the FCDO is yet to respond to the letter or with an official statement on the matter.
