Misuse of democratic freedom: India on EAM's UK event breach

India on Thursday condemned a breach in the security for external affairs minister S Jaishankar in the UK after a pro-Khalistan protester broke past a police barrier and got close to the minister's motorcade in London, saying it expected the British government to deliver on its diplomatic obligations to protect visiting dignitaries.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

The incident occurred on the second day of Jaishankar's nearly week-long visit to the UK and Ireland and after he had completed an engagement at Chatham House, home to the Royal Institute of International Affairs, on Wednesday evening. People familiar with the matter said the incident was being taken seriously, in view of its security implications and India's long-standing concerns about activities of pro-Khalistan elements in the UK. The British chargé d'affaires was called in to the external affairs ministry to register a protest, they said.

Hours after India's condemnation, the British foreign ministry too condemned the incident and said attempts to threaten or disrupt public events were unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police had acted to address the situation and the UK is committed to ensuring the security of all diplomatic visitors, it said.

Videos posted on social media showed a small group of pro-Khalistan protesters gathered on the opposite side of the road from Chatham House and protested with yellow flags behind metal barriers while Jaishankar was speaking within the building. The protesters shouted slogans such as "Khalistan Zindabad" and against India and Jaishankar.

As Jaishankar, flanked by other Indian officials, emerged from the building at the conclusion of his event and was about to enter a vehicle that was part of a motorcade, a man with an Indian flag emerged from behind the barriers, got past police personnel and sprinted towards the car.

The tall and bearded man stood in front of the vehicle and jostled with police personnel before tearing the Indian flag. Shortly thereafter, police bundled the man away and took him behind the metal barriers on the other side of the road.