‘Unacceptable’ Intimidation Of EAM Jaishankar: UK Condemns Pro-Khalistan Security Breach

London: The United Kingdom (UK) has condemned the security breach of India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in London by pro-Khalistan supporters. The incident occurred when EAM Jaishankar was leaving the venue after participating in the London Chatham House think tank and sitting in a car on Wednesday. The incident raised sharp security concerns, following which the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson responded by strongly condemning the act. Before the incident, the External Affairs Minister participated in a discussion on India-UK relations at the Chatham House think tank. 

The shocking incident, when a Khalistani extremist attempted to breach the security perimeter surrounding EAM Jaishankar's convoy, has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of Indian dignitaries visiting the United Kingdom. The extremist, who was part of a small group of protesters chanting pro-Khalistani slogans and waving separatist flags, attempted to rush towards Jaishankar's stationary car, waving a flag. He was, however, intercepted by officers of the Metropolitan Police after the man reached in front of the Indian minister's car. As per reports, the protester was taken aside, but no arrests were made.

The incident has been widely condemned by the Indian government, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressing its deep concern and disappointment over the breach of security. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswar stated that the government expects the host country to ensure the safety and security of Indian dignitaries visiting the UK. The incident has also been condemned by community organisations, such as INSIGHT UK, which described the attack as "shameful".

After a massive backlash, the UK condemned the act saying, “We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside the Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Minister’s visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police 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."

However, it is pertinent to mention that the latest incident is not the first time that Khalistani extremists have attempted to disrupt Indian events in the UK. In recent years, there have been several instances of such incidents, including protests and demonstrations outside Indian diplomatic missions. The Indian government has repeatedly expressed its concerns to the UK authorities, but it appears that little action has been taken to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the incident has stressed on the need for the UK authorities to take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of Indian dignitaries visiting the country. The experts believed that the UK administration should ensure the safety and security of the Indian dignitaries, including providing adequate security arrangements, cracking down on extremist elements, and taking firm action against those who attempt to disrupt Indian events.