London: Pro-Khalistan protesters targeted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s convoy in London on Wednesday night, attempting to breach security outside Chatham House as he departed the think tank. A man from the group ran past barricades in an attempt to block the minister’s car while pulling at an Indian flag, prompting swift intervention by Metropolitan Police officers. No arrests have been reported so far.
The protesters, chanting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving separatist flags, were closely monitored by a significant police presence. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from India, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi denouncing the "provocative activities" of what it called a "small group of separatists and extremists."
“We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the external affairs minister to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
UK-based community organisation INSIGHT UK also criticised the incident, calling it "shameful" that such an attack occurred while Jaishankar was on an official visit and had just concluded a successful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on bilateral ties.
During his session at Chatham House, Jaishankar addressed human rights concerns related to India, asserting that such criticisms were often politically motivated. “We have been, for political reasons, at the receiving end of a lot of expressions and campaigns on human rights. We listen to it. We are not perfect, nobody is perfect. There can be situations that require redressal and remedy,” he said.
However, he defended India’s record, stating, “If one looks around the world, we have a very strong human rights record. As a credible democracy, where representation has broadened in every conceivable way, where the state has been fair in the treatment of its citizens, I think any sweeping concern on human rights is misplaced. I don’t see any justification for it at all.”
With PTI inputs