New Delhi, Mar 7 :
India today slammed the UK government for its inaction on Khalistani elements who heckled External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his London visit, and said it “brings out the license accorded” to the separatists.
In a stern statement, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing:
“We have conveyed our deep concern to the UK authorities about the breach of security arrangements by UK-based separatist and extremist elements during EAM’s visit.
“There is a larger context to the incident. It brings out both the license accorded to such forces, as well as indifference to their intimidation, threats, and other actions aimed at impeding our legitimate diplomatic activities in the UK.
“While we have noted the statement issued by the UK Foreign Office on the matter, our view of its sincerity would depend on the action taken against culprits on this and previous occasions,” he said.
India’s strong statement comes a day after it issued a condemnation of the breach of security during EAM’s London visit when a group of Khalistani separatists heckled him and tried to block his car.
On Wednesday evening, EAM Jaishankar was heckled by a group of Khalistani supporters who were shouting anti-India slogans when the minister was going for a programme in London.
As the External Affairs Minister left the venue, one among the pro-Khalistani elements dashed in front of his car and tore the national flag of India, according to visuals on social media.
The issue was raised in the British parliament yesterday by Conservative MP Bob Blackman who lambasted the government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the lack of security provided to the EAM.
“This is an affront to democracy, it’s an affront to our friends and allies in India; and we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” Blackman said.
Earlier, in January this year, India had protested the disruption of the screening of Kangana Ranaut’s film ‘Emergency’ in several halls in the UK by Khalistani elements. The film is based on the Emergency imposed by the former PM in 1975.
The MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said then that “Freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively, and those obstructing it must be held accountable. “
He expressed hope that the UK side would take appropriate action against those responsible.
In March 2023, relations between the two sides had deteriorated over the UK government’s inaction on the Khalistani issue.
India had summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi then to convey its strong protest after some Khalistani elements removed the Indian flag from outside the Indian High Commission in London and attempted to replace it with a Khalistani flag.
India had then also demanded an explanation for the complete absence of British security that allowed the Khalistani elements to enter the Indian High Commission premises.
India had demanded that the perpetrators be arrested and prosecuted and stringent measures be put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Later that year, India “disengaged” from the FTA trade talks over UK’s failure to condemn pro-Khalistani activists who vandalised the Indian High Commission.
India and the UK last week re-launched the trade talks under the Keir Starmer regime.
