The Metropolitan Police moved quickly to deal with the situation, UK Foreign Office sources said, and they strongly condemned the act. Britain stated that the police moved quickly after a breach of security by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar occurred in London, and warned that “any attempt to intimidate and threaten” is not acceptable.
One of the pro-Khalistani protesters tried to breach barricades as others chanted anti-India slogans when Mr Jaishankar emerged from Chatham House after an interactive session at the institute housing the Royal Institute of International Affairs on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police moved quickly to clamp down on the situation, sources in the UK Foreign Office told IANS, and they strongly condemn the episode.
India has stated that it would expect the host government to strictly live up to their diplomatic duties in such a situation and condemned the “abuse of democratic freedoms” by those groups, Khalistanis. We have witnessed the video of a security breach during the external affairs minister’s visit to the UK,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “We condemn the provocative actions of this small separatist and extremist group.”
“We condemn the abuse of democratic freedoms on the part of such elements. We expect the host government in such instances to live up to their diplomatic commitments fully,” added Mr Jaiswal. Social media videos captured a small crowd of Khalistani protesters carrying yellow flags and raising slogans against India and Mr Jaishankar. The foreign minister was on the opposite side of the road.
As Mr Jaishankar was getting ready to leave, one tall individual was spotted trying to break the police barricade and rush towards Mr Jaishankar’s motorcade. The man placed himself in front of the motorcade and attempted to halt it.
It was not the initial breach of security by Khalistani forces. Khalistani forces knocked down the Indian national flag from the Indian High Commission in London in March 2023, which had met with sharp reactions from India.
