New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday took aim at Sikh separatists in the UK asserting that “forces with extremist ideologies” must not be allowed to “misuse democratic freedoms”.
“We also agree that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account,” Modi declared while speaking to the press alongside his British counterpart Keir Starmer.
The Indian Prime Minister added: “On the matter of extradition of economic offenders as well, our agencies will continue to work together in close coordination and cooperation.”
While the Prime Minister’s statement did not directly mention them, Sikh separatists have attempted to disrupt Indian diplomatic activity in the UK, even breaking the security cordon during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to the Western European country earlier this year.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a special briefing prior to Modi’s visit to the UK had pointed out that Sikh separatists “impact social cohesion and social order” in nations where they are allowed to operate. There have been incidents by Sikh extremists against Indian diplomatic missions in the US, the UK and Canada in the last few years.
After the incident with Jaishankar in March, India issued a stern warning to the UK, demanding action not words, as the Sikh separatists were able to break through the foreign minister’s security cordon. The Ministry of External Affairs summoned British charge d’affaires Christina Scott and handed over a demarche.
In March 2023, the Indian flag was detached from the Indian High Commission in London after the building was breached by Sikh separatists protesting against police action aimed at arresting Amritpal Singh in the state of Punjab. He was arrested following a manhunt, and later successfully contested the 2024 general election from Khadoor Sahib.
That same year in September, Vikram Doraiswami, India’s High Commissioner to the UK was prevented from entering a gurdwara in the Scottish city of Glasgow by Sikh separatists. Doraiswami had been invited to visit the gurdwara by the local community.
These incidents have been some of the major irritants in ties between New Delhi and London. India has also raised the issue of the extradition of wanted fugitives who fled the country for the United Kingdom.
Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya are some of the well known cases of individuals wanted by Indian authorities, who currently reside in the UK. Nirav Modi is currently lodged in a British prison, while his attempts to appeal his extradition have been rejected by the courts in the UK so far.
The Indian Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to the UK from 23 July till 24 July, where he witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The CETA is considered to be India’s most comprehensive free trade agreement till date, and the most significant trade deal for London since its exit from the European Union (EU).
It is India’s first bilateral trade agreement with a Western nation. It will see duties removed across 99 percent of tariff lines, representing roughly 100 percent of the total value of trade for Indian exporters.
The deal will see the average tariff on Indian exports to the UK fall from 15 percent currently to 3 percent.
The UK has gained a number of wins in the trade deal, including seeing the tariffs on its whisky and gin exports to India halved from 150 percent to 75 percent. Within 10 years, the tariffs on such exports to India will fall by a further 35 percent.
During the visit the two leaders also agreed to the India-UK Vision 2035 strategy document, which covers defence and security, technology and innovation, climate and clean energy, education, investment and growth.
Modi will call on King Charles III before departing the UK for Maldives. In Maldives, the Indian Prime Minister will be the “guest of honour” at the island nation’s sixtieth Independence Day celebrations.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)