Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday urged the British authorities to “prevent misuse of democratic freedoms” as well as “ensure security” of the Indian diplomatic mission in London.
Jaishankar held a meeting with Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, the United Nations (UN) and the Prime Minister’s (PM) Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, in New Delhi on Monday.
Ahmad is visiting India from 27 to 31 May, with a focus on strengthening science, research and innovation links, per a British High Commission statement.
The Indian foreign minister said that he also discussed issues relating to the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the UK, the situation in South Asia and Indo-Pacific and matters pertaining to India’s G-20 presidency.
Jaishankar’s remarks come amid the ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the attack on the Indian High Commission by pro-Khalistan protestors in London in March.
A team from the NIA, India’s apex counter-terror agency, team left for London last week to probe the pro-Khalistan protest at the Indian High Commission on March 19, which involved protestors trying to take down the Indian national flag and vandalize the diplomatic premises.
Just hours after the incident, India issued a demarche to the seniormost British diplomat in New Delhi and raised the issue of the “complete absence of security” at the Indian diplomatic premises.
The NIA took over the probe into the matter from Delhi Police last month after the meeting between officials from the Indian home ministry and the UK Home Office.
The agency is investigating the links between UK-based Khalistani groups and Sikh radicals in other countries such as Canada, which hosts the largest Sikh diaspora globally outside the Indian state of Punjab.
The issue of pro-Khalistan attacks against Indian interests has also been flagged by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a call with UK PM Rishi Sunak last month, Modi sought “strong action against anti-India elements” in the UK, per an Indian Foreign Ministry statement.