New Delhi: Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Friday that no form of extremism and violence is acceptable and that his government is working closely with India to tackle pro-Khalistan extremism. Sunak made these comments to news agency ANI during his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit scheduled to begin on 9 September.
“Let me just say unequivocally that no form of extremism or violence like that (Khalistani separatist protests) is acceptable in the UK and that is why we are working very closely with the Indian government to particularly tackle PKE (Pro-Khalistan Extremism),” Sunak said to ANI on his first official visit to India since he took over as UK’s prime minister in October last year. Sunak arrived for the summit Friday.
On 19 March this year, pro-Khalistan protesters pulled down the Indian flag outside the Indian High Commission in London. The protests were held in support of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was arrested by the Punjab Police nearly a month later on 23 April, after being on the run for 35 days.
As reported earlier, India lodged a strong protest against the protests with the UK government over this incident.
Sunak also said UK Security Minister’s Tom Tugendhat had spoken to “his counterpart” on the issue on his three-day visit to India last month. He was referring to Tugendhat’s visit to India for the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet in Kolkata.
“We have working groups together to share intelligence and information so that we can root out this kind of violent extremism, it is not right and I won’t tolerate it in the UK,” Sunak said,
Apart from sharing his views on Khalistan, Sunak also commented that he believes that G20 has been a “huge success” for India, further adding that “India is the right country at the right time in hosting this (G20).”
Also Read: Consensus on PM Modi’s push for action against economic fugitives likely at G20 summit
‘Not for me to say what positions India can take on issues’
In response to a query on India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war, Sunak emphatically said it wasn’t for him to “tell India what positions to take on international issues”. “But I know India rightly cares about the international rule of law, the UN charter and respect for territorial integrity,” Sunak said.
The UK prime minister also made it clear that he will continue highlighting the “devastating impact that Russia’s illegal invasion (in Ukraine) is having on millions of people around the world, particularly on food prices”.
“Russia has recently pulled out of a grain deal that was shipping grain from Ukraine to many poor countries around the world,” he said.
On 17 July, Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative — a pact allowed Ukraine to safely export grain, oil and fertilisers through its port on the Black Sea.
‘Keen on comprehensive and ambitious trade deal’
Sunak also commented on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to ANI. He said, “Both Modi ji and I are keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries. Both of us think that there is a good deal to be done. But trade deals always take time and need to work for both countries,” he said.
The trade deal has been in the works since 2021.
Sunak made it clear that the G20 is not the forum to discuss the FTA, but Indian and British teams will continue working together on the deal. He also highlighted that the “bilateral relationship” between the UK and India is in “good health.”
“Prime Minister Modi and I are keen to deepen and broaden our relationship. The FTA is an obvious way for us to do that, which is why it remains our priority and I said, hard work to go, but I hope we can conclude a successful FTA.”
Apart from FTA, Sunak also hopes to strengthen India-UK security ties. “Something I am particularly excited about is increasing the collaboration between our incredible researchers, our scientific communities, and our universities. The UK and India are two of the leading science and technology superpowers of the world,” he added.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
Also Read: As Delhi locks down for G20, food delivery executives left in lurch. ‘Have to work every day to eat’