New Delhi: Noting that violent extremism and radicalisation have no justification in a democracy, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Friday called for robust public action against Sikh radicals, including deportation, for their threats against Indian diplomats.
Doval raised the matter during talks with his visiting UK counterpart Tim Barrow in Delhi.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that Doval specifically addressed the recent threats by Sikh radicals and urged the UK government to take decisive action against such elements.
“He urged the UK government to take strong public action against these elements such as deportation or legal prosecution,” a source said.
Earlier in March, a Sikh radical in London climbed the High Commission of India’s balcony and pulled down the Indian flag as part of the protests organised by individuals associated with the Khalistan movement.
The term “Khalistan” refers to what is a proposed independent Sikh state sought by certain Sikh radical groups in Punjab that came into popular discoursive abroad, especially in UK and Canada besides Australia and the United States.
This was the second meeting between NSAs Barrow and Doval this year, following an informal meeting on 30 March.
Barrow is in New Delhi at the invitation of Doval for the India-UK Strategic Dialogue and is accompanied by senior British government officials.
Sources said that the talks focused on the review of existing cooperation and the exploration of futuristic areas of technology collaboration.
The sources also mentioned that the two officials initially had restricted talks, followed by delegation-level talks on both sides.
They agreed to enhance cooperation in addressing violent extremism and radicalisation, emphasising that there can be no justification for such acts in a democracy, according to sources.
Additionally, both sides agreed to collaborate on counterterrorism, countering terror financing, combating the use of the internet for terrorist purposes, illicit drug trafficking, and promoting counter-radicalization efforts.
Furthermore, deeper mutually beneficial collaboration in critical and emerging technologies was also agreed upon, the sources added.