‘DON’T TARGET TRAVELLING INDIANS’

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday urged China to ensure that Indian nationals travelling to or transiting through Chinese airports are not “selectively targeted, arbitrarily detained or harassed.”

- Ashwin Ahmad

He said India expected Beijing to respect regulations governing international air travel. “MEA would advise Indian nationals to exercise due discretion while travelling to China or transiting through the country,” he added.

Responding to questions on India-China relations, Jaiswal said talks were continuing, and the relationship was “gradually moving in a positive direction,’ adding that India wished to maintain that momentum.

On terrorism, Jaiswal said India had taken note of and welcomed recent steps by the UK government to crack down on Khalistani separatists. The UK Treasury last week froze the assets of British Sikh businessman Gurpreet Singh Rehal, linked to the Panjab Warriors sports investment firm, after suspecting him of involvement with organisations engaged in terrorism in India. The Treasury also announced an asset freeze against the Babbar Akali Lehar for promoting and supporting the Babbar Khalsa.