In the first high-level strong reaction by India to the attack on its High Commission in London by alleged Khalistan supporters, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said it is the responsibility of that country to provide security and “these obligations were not met”.
A day after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned vandalism AT the Indian High Commission in London, the issue was raised in UK Parliament with MPs demanding action against “Khalistani hooligans”. They also called for safety of India’s diplomatic staff.
Taking exception to the attack on the Indian High Commission, Jaishankar when asked about the security of Indian Missions following vandalism in the UK said, “It is the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for a diplomat to do their work, to ensure embassy or High Commissions’s premises are respected. These obligations were not met. We have had conversations with the British Government on this.”
Jaishankar also said, “Many countries have a different view of their own security and a different view of other people’s security. We will not accept this differential status.” He made these observations at an event in Bengaluru.
Echoing similar views, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here on Friday, “We hope host Governments provide full and adequate protection to our Missions and to the personnel working there...We are not interested in just assurances, I think we would like to see action.”
He also said “at least in London and San Francisco, we have strongly taken up the matter of vandalisation. You would have also seen the statements that we have put out in this regard. We expect that host Governments will take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and also take necessary actions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”
As regards the ongoing action to nab Amritpal Singh, Bagchi said “authorities in Punjab are undertaking operations to nab a fugitive. Information regarding that operation is being shared by authorities concerned in Punjab on a regular basis. We would urge people abroad not to be taken in by inaccurate and motivated narratives that are being circulated by some elements on social media.”
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in London has been working to counter disinformation being spread on social media alleging that the objects hurled during Wednesday’s planned pro-Khalistan demonstration came from India House.
“Fact check: the truth is, a small minority of protesters threw water bottles, ink balloons, eggs and flares at the High Commission in London, some of which hit other protestors and the police.
“Nothing was thrown by mission staff at our own brethren. We have proof,” the High Commission tweeted. “Do not believe disinformation aimed to disrupt harmony. Indians will always respect the religious beliefs of all,” it said, alongside videos showing water bottles and coloured flares being hurled by Khalistan flag-bearing protesters towards India House.
In the House of Commons, while Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman late Thursday called for a debate in Parliament to discuss steps to ban groups behind the violence, Opposition Labour Party MP Gareth Thomas asked the Leader of the House of Commons about the steps being taken to ensure there is “no repeat of such behaviour”.
The Cabinet Minister addressing the Business of the House, Penny Mordaunt, responded by reiterating Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier statement announcing a review of the protection measures around the Indian mission here.
“We strongly condemn the vandalism and violent acts that took place outside the Indian High Commission in London. It was a completely unacceptable action against the High Commission and its staff,” Mordaunt told MPs.
“There is ongoing work with the Metropolitan Police to review the protection measures around the High Commission, and any changes will be made to ensure the safety and security of its staff so that they can go about their business, serving both this country and India,” she said.
Blackman pointed out that the attack on Sunday was the sixth time in as many years that the Indian High Commission has been attacked in a similar way. “The hooliganism of Khalistani hooligans outside the Indian High Commission on Sunday is a disgrace to this country,” he said.
“Khalistani militants are operating across the world; Canada, the US and Australia saw similar attacks over the weekend. We are harbouring Khalistani terrorists in this country right now. Can we have a debate in Government time on what action we can take to ensure that these terrorists are held to account and banned in this country,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Blackman - as chair of the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) - raised the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the Commons and sought an update from the Business and Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston, who confirmed that the eighth round of FTA negotiations are currently underway.
“Both nations have committed to and are working together for a mutually ambitious deal. We are working through substantive issues such as goods, market access, services and investment,” said Huddleston.
Asked if the FTA is likely to be concluded by Diwali this year, having missed the Diwali 2022 deadline, the Minister stressed that “it is about the deal, not the date”. “We will not tie our hands by setting an arbitrary deadline,” he said.
The UK Government has condemned the attacks as “unacceptable” and committed to “robustly respond” to such incidents of violence.
