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After India’s protest, UK cancels ‘Burhan Wani Day’ rally

Srinagar: The Birmingham City Council on Wednesday was forced to withdraw permission granted to the organisers of a rally titled “Burhan Wani Day” to mark the first death anniversary of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

The Indian High Commission in London wrote to the UK Foreign Office to register its protest.

According to a report in the Indian Express, “India has protested to the UK over a planned rally to mark “Burhan Wani Day” in Birmingham on Saturday, questioning how the British government can allow the “glorification of terrorists” on its soil.”

Burhan was killed last year on July 8, in an encounter with the Indian Armed forces, catalyzing a massive uprising and prolonged period of curfews and shutdowns across the valley, in which as many as 85 people were killed and thousands of others were injured in daily clashes between the Indian Armed Forces and the protesters for a period of over four months.

The Birmingham City Council had initially given permission for the memorial rally to be held Burhan’s first death anniversary at Victoria Square on July 8.

The social media had been advertising the event, and various posters had been circulated.

The Indian Government flagged its concerns with the British Government, which led to the Birmingham City Council cancelling the event.

According to reports, the Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, Dinesh Patnaik, lodged a formal complaint with the Foreign and commonwealth Office (FCO), saying that “allowing anti-India elements to flourish here in the name of democracy will not do”.

 

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