UK's shielding of fugitives and extremists raises eyebrows in India

The United Kingdom government, first under Boris Johnson and now under the present Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has failed to stand up to establishments within the country that have prevailed upon 10 Downing Street and stopped it from addressing India's genuine interest.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The chief among them, official sources in New Delhi said, was the extradition of economic fugitives who had fled to the UK in the past and the protection that Khalistani radical elements were getting in London, under the garb of free speech and expression, which resulted in the attack on the Indian High Commission in London on 18 March.

Sunak and his Cabinet, which commands one of the world's most advanced security apparatuses, have not taken any action against those who attacked the Indian High Commission. More than 28 days have passed of the incident taking place in which the separatists and extremists broke the high commission's window panes and hoisted the Khalistani flag on the premises.

So far, apart from lip service, the Sunak government has not taken any action on these individuals, which, Indian officials believe, will encourage more such attacks in the near future.

The Indian establishment, sources said, was "dismayed" over this approach and that was one reason behind Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling up Rishi Sunak on Thursday and asking him to take strong action against the anti-India elements.

Similarly, what has also irked the government machinery is that despite fugitive Vijay Mallya exhausting all possible legal remedies that he could use, first the Johnson government and then the Sunak government, have refused to extradite him to India.