Economic fugitives, terror to figure in Modi-Starmer talks

The extradition of high-profile Indian economic offenders, concerns related to Khalistani elements and India’s campaign against cross-border terror are expected to figure during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK this week.

- Rezaul H Laskar

India has been engaged in discussions with British interlocutors on all these matters, foreign secretary Vikram Misri told a media briefing on Tuesday. The presence of Khalistani extremists in the UK should be a matter of concern to the British side as they impact “social cohesion and social order” in that country, he said.

New Delhi has continued to make the case with London for the economic offenders “to be rendered to India”, Misri said. “Obviously, there is a legal process that such requests and such issues go through in the [UK] and we continue to follow up very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters,” he said while responding to a question on India’s pending requests for the extradition of several economic offenders.