New Delhi: The Indian government has strongly condemned a security breach during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to the United Kingdom, criticizing the actions of a “small group of separatists and extremists.” The protest took place outside Chatham House in London, where Jaishankar was participating in a discussion. Demonstrators, identified as pro-Khalistan activists, carried flags, used loudspeakers, and chanted slogans, attempting to disrupt the diplomatic engagement. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing disappointment over the incident, calling it a misuse of democratic freedoms. India also urged the UK government to fulfill its diplomatic obligations by ensuring the safety and security of visiting officials.
Despite the demonstrations, Jaishankar continued his high-level meetings with British leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. His discussions covered crucial topics such as the movement of skilled professionals, people-to-people exchanges, and collaborative efforts to combat extremism and trafficking. Sharing details of his meeting with Cooper, Jaishankar posted on social media platform X, stating that both countries reaffirmed their commitment to addressing security threats posed by radical elements. His visit also touched upon broader geopolitical issues, including the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the UK’s stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Pro-Khalistan protests in London are not new, with similar incidents occurring in recent months. In January, extremists gathered outside the Indian High Commission, and more recently, they attempted to disrupt a screening of the film Emergency in Harrow. Addressing these disruptions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India consistently raises concerns with the UK government regarding such incidents. He stressed that freedom of speech should not be applied selectively and that those engaging in intimidation must be held accountable. With India-UK relations evolving across trade and security dimensions, Jaishankar’s visit highlights both the opportunities and the challenges in the partnership between the two nations.
