UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has issued a sharp warning against Khalistani extremists targeting the Indian High Commission and its staff in the country and assured the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, of appropriate safety measures.
Minister Cleverly said: “Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable,” said Cleverly.
“We have made clear to Vikram Doraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount.”
His statement follows days of threats and even arson attempts targeted at Indian diplomatic missions in the US, Australia and Canada. Some threatening posters with images of Indian diplomats based in the UK have also surfaced in recent days, with Khalistani extremists trying to disseminate so-called “Kill India” posters.
Earlier this week, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told reporters in India that “radical, extremist Khalistani ideology” is not good for India or its partner countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
“We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations,” he said, when asked about the threatening posters emerging in these countries and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco being targeted for arson.
Meanwhile, in London, Metropolitan Police security presence remains in place at India House since the High Commission building was targeted by Khalistani extremists, who tried to pull down the Indian Tricolour and smashed windows back in March. There was cross-party condemnation of the vandalism in the UK Parliament, with members calling for tough action against the “Khalistani hooligans” behind the attack.
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Indian diaspora groups based in the UK gathered outside India House days later to hold a solidarity gathering with patriotic songs and dance as a fightback message against such extremist activities.