New Delhi: Days after Sikh separatists breached External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar’s security cordon in London, India Friday issued a stern warning to the United Kingdom, demanding action, not words.
“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 … 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,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said at a regular press briefing Friday.
His statement came as a response to a Sikh separatist tearing up an Indian flag in front of Jaishankar’s vehicle after breaking his security cordon outside Chatham House Wednesday. A group of Sikh separatists were present on the other side of the road late Wednesday evening when the Indian External Affairs Minister was leaving Chatham House after holding a public event there.
In a statement Thursday, the British foreign office condemned the incident at Chatham House. The Metropolitan Police (London) “acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations”, according to the statement.
On Thursday, India summoned the British chargé d’affaires Christina Scott and gave her a demarche over the incident in Delhi, ThePrint reported earlier. The meeting was said to have been brief.
For India, the issue of Sikh separatists preventing legitimate diplomatic work in the UK continues to remain an irritant in ties.
“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,” said Jaiswal Friday.
Before the UK chargé d’affaires was issued the demarche Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a statement condemning the incident and deploring the “misuse of democratic freedoms” by “such elements”.
It is not the first time Sikh separatists have prevented Indian diplomatic activities in the UK.
In September 2023, India’s High Commissioner in London, Vikram Doraiswami, was prevented from entering a gurdwara in the Scottish city of Glasgow by protesters linked to the Sikh separatist movement.
In March of the same year, the Indian flag was detached from its High Commission premises in London by Sikh separatists. On both occasions, the Indian government took up the matter with London.
Jaishankar is on a five-day visit to the UK and Ireland. While in London, he called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his counterpart David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Jaishankar discussed the issue of tackling extremism with Cooper.
The EAM carried on to Dublin Thursday, where he called on Irish President Michael D. Higgins. On Friday, Jaishankar met with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris. During the meeting, the duo discussed a new action plan to reinvigorate ties and agreed to set up a Joint Economic Commission.
In Ireland, Jaishankar also interacted with students at the University College of Dublin and the Indian community in Ireland during the visit.
He will carry on to Belfast, where he is set to open India’s new consulate before opening another in Manchester.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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