India has strongly condemned the actions of Khalistani extremists who attempted to heckle External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar as he was leaving an event at Chatham House, a prominent think tank in London. The Indian government denounced the “provocative activities” and criticized the “misuse of democratic freedoms” by separatist groups.
A protest organized by pro-Khalistan supporters took place outside the venue where Jaishankar was attending a discussion. A widely shared video shows a protester approaching the minister’s vehicle and tearing the Indian national flag in front of London police officers, who appeared to take no action against the act.
Jaishankar is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland from March 4 to 9, aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has expanded across key sectors such as defence, trade, healthcare, education, and cultural exchanges.
Addressing the incident, an MEA spokesperson stated, “We have seen footage of a security breach during EAM’s visit to the UK. We strongly condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. Such misuse of democratic freedoms is deplorable. We expect the host government to fully adhere to its diplomatic obligations in such cases.”
Sources have indicated that under UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership, the British government allocated £95,000 to counter pro-Khalistani extremism. The UK’s Security Minister had announced the funding to bolster enforcement capabilities. Additionally, sources highlighted the existence of a Joint Extremism Task Force between India and the UK. British authorities have reiterated that ensuring the security of the Indian High Commission in London and its personnel remains a top priority for the UK government.