Indian mission in touch with UK to prevent further attacks: MEA on incidents in Leicester, Birmingham

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday spoke on Leicester, Birmingham violence and said that the Indian mission is in touch with the UK to prevent further attacks and take action against perpetrators. The MEA spokesperson, Bagchi's remarks come after External Affair Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, earlier today, met with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and raised his concern over the recent attacks on Hindus and their worship places in Leicester and Birmingham.

Arindam Bagchi also commented on the Khalistan referendum in Canada and called it a 'farcical exercise that was held by extremist and radical elements.' "It's a farcical exercise that was held by extremist & radical elements in Canada. The matter was taken up with Canadian authorities. We find it deeply objectionable that politically motivated exercises are allowed in a friendly country," he said.

Bagchi further reacted to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks on Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and stressed that the 'reference of Kashmir by other countries in UNGA doesn't matter.' "It's a different issue, our position is very well known. J&K is our internal issue and we have expressed our opposition. Reference to Kashmir by other countries in UNGA doesn't matter," he said.

Notably, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday brought up the Kashmir issue during his address at the United Nations General Assembly session in New York and expressed hope for 'permanent peace' in the region.

"India and Pakistan, after having established their sovereignty and independence 75 years ago, they still haven't established peace and solidarity between one another. This is much unfortunate. We hope and pray that a fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir," Erdogan said, as per news agency PTI.