Birmingham city council today withdrew its permission for a planned rally to mark Burhan Wani Day on Saturday after India lodged a protest with the UK government.
The rally was being planned by UK-based Kashmiri groups to mark the first death anniversary of the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit killed by Indian armed forces in Kashmir on July 8 last year.
India on Monday protested to the UK over the planned rally.
“We took a booking for a peaceful rally highlighting the human rights abuse in Kashmir. However, we are now aware of concerns raised about the promotional leaflet and, having assessed the material, have not given permission for the use of Victoria Square,” a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said.
India’s deputy high commissioner, Dinesh Patnaik, sent a “note verbale” on Monday to the Foreign Office including “details of Wani’s crimes and propagation of violence in the Valley.”
A “note verbale” is an unsigned diplomatic communication prepared in the third person and is used by foreign missions to highlight issues of importance between countries.
The UK Foreign Office had said the note “has been looked at” and would be handled by the relevant geographical desk within the department before a response can be issued.
A meeting was held earlier this week in Sparkbrook area of Birmingham to plan for the rally, which was scheduled to take place outside the Council House on Victoria Square in the heart of the city in the West Midlands region of England Saturday afternoon.
Groups such as Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe are involved in the organisation of the rally as part of ‘Martyrdom Day.’
The same groups waved images of Burhan Wani and ‘We Want Freedom’ posters during the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on June 4.
