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New Delhi: India is upset with the violent demonstration over the Kashmir issue outside its high commission in London — the second in a month — and has urged the British government to take strong action against those involved.

Analysts and former diplomats said London needs to urgently tackle protesting groups as such incidents could strain ties with New Delhi.

“We are deeply concerned by the reports of an unruly demonstration by Pakistan-incited elements and the consequent organised vandalism of the property of the High Commission of India in London,” the Ministry of External Affairs said Wednesday.

“We consider these incidents to be unacceptable and have strongly urged the government of UK to take action against those involved, and take necessary steps to ensure the normal functioning of our mission and the safety and security of our personnel.”

According to reports, as many as 10,000 protesters staged a violent agitation in front of the Indian High Commission building in London smashing window panes and damaging the property.

The agitating groups were taking part in the ‘Kashmir Freedom March’ that began at Parliament Square Tuesday and moved towards India House, with protesters waving placards and chanting slogans such as “Azadi” and “stop shelling in Kashmir”.

This is the second time such an incident has taken place at the high commission over the Kashmir issue — there had been massive anti-India demonstrations on 15 August over the Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370.

‘UK should rein in protesting groups’

Former diplomats are now calling on the UK government to act against these “fringe groups”.

“This isn’t the first time such vandalism has taken place,” said former foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai. “In 2009, several hundreds of LTTE protesters had vandalised India House. Generally, these protesters are kept at a safe distance but this incident clearly shows they have violated those rules.”

Mathai, who was India’s high commissioner to the UK between 2013 and 2015, added that such protests give off the wrong impression. “UK needs to address these fringe groups. They need to regulate these agitating groups,” he said. “These things don’t leave a good impression in the minds of Indians.”

The protests come nearly a month after the Modi government enforced a communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August.

While the international community has maintained that this is India’s internal matter, leaders in the US, UK and the European Union have highlighted the need to uphold human rights in the Valley, advocating the need to relax the communication blockade.

British Labour MP Liam Byrne, who took part in the agitation Tuesday, tweeted: “Today thousands of people marched from Downing Street to the Indian High Commission to send a clear message to Mr Modi — you cannot silence the people of Kashmir.”

Today thousands of people marched from Downing Street to the Indian High Commission to send a clear message to Mr Modi – you cannot silence the people of Kashmir. Sign my petition to the House of Commons here: https://t.co/CXMFGtToMd#1MonthOfKashmirShutdown #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/6c3AtRFw6b — Liam Byrne (@liambyrnemp) September 3, 2019

According to veteran diplomat and former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, there is “a strong anti-Delhi lobby within the UK administration”.

“But violence is no longer unacceptable. Some action has to be taken,” he said. “We should now organise counter-demonstrations. India should postpone any important visits there and put economic pressure on the UK, especially on trade.”

Sibal added that the government should not come under international pressure and should relax the communication blockade in the Valley only after a proper internal assessment.

Also read: US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders wades into Kashmir issue, calls for blackout to end

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