The United Kingdom has “strongly condemned” a significant security breach involving Khlaistani extremists during Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar’s official visit to London.
The incident, which took place outside the Chatham House think tank, saw pro-Khalistan extremists staging a protest that escalated into an act of vandalism.
As Dr Jaishankar was leaving the venue, a protester ran towards his convoy and tore an Indian national flag in front of London police officers. The act, captured on video, showed the individual aggressively rushing towards the minister’s vehicle while chanting “Khalistan Zindabad.” Initially hesitant, the police later intervened, removing the protester and others from the scene.
In a statement, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) addressed the incident, saying, “We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House 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.”
Reacting strongly, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labelled the protest a “misuse of democratic freedoms” by a small group of separatists and extremists. The MEA called on the UK government to fulfill its diplomatic obligations in ensuring the safety of visiting dignitaries. The MEA said in a statement:
“We have seen footage of the security breach during the External Affairs Minister’s visit 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 and expect the host government to fully live up to its diplomatic obligations.”
Conservative MP Bob Blackman condemned the security breach involving Dr Jaishankar, calling it “an attack on democracy, and on our friends and allies in India.” In a post on X, he stated, “I called on the Govt to provide appropriate protection to overseas visitors.”
Despite the protests, Jaishankar continued his diplomatic engagements, meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Discussions covered a broad spectrum of bilateral ties, including trade, education, mobility, and counter-extremism efforts.
This is not the first time that Khalistani extremists have staged protests in London. In January, similar demonstrators gathered outside the Indian High Commission, while in a separate incident, they disrupted a film screening in Harrow.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s concerns over violent demonstrations and intimidation by “anti-India elements” in the UK.
“We consistently raise concerns with the UK government regarding incidents of violent protest and intimidation. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be applied selectively, and those obstructing it must be held accountable.”
Jaishankar’s visit, scheduled from March 4 to 9, aimed to strengthen India-UK ties across trade, health, education, and defence cooperation. Discussions on the progress of the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were also high on the agenda.
Despite the khalistani security breach, the visit underlined the importance of the India-UK relationship, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation. However, the growing activism of Khalistani separatists in the UK remains a diplomatic flashpoint, prompting renewed calls for stricter measures against extremist elements operating on British soil.
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