The incident occurred on March 19, when protesters with ‘Khalistan‘ banners staged a demonstration at the High Commission and took down an Indian flag from the building’s first floor balcony to denounce recent police action in Punjab.
“Indians don’t want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK,” a Whitehall source told The Times.
The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned on March 19 after the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom was vandalised. The diplomat in New Delhi was summoned to convey India’s strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day.
An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.
“India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK,” the MEA press release said.
India registered a strong protest with the UK government and the issue was also raised in the House of Commons. It followed UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s statement to condemn the “unacceptable“ acts of violence and assurance to conduct a security review at the Indian mission in London.“We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this,” said Cleverly.
In recent months there has been a rise in anti-India activities in Canada, Australia and the UK by Khalistan supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples in these countries.
FTA plans
Asked if the issue is likely to impact the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, a Downing Street spokesperson had said late March that the two issues are unconnected and the trade talks with India continue. Both sides want to see an enhanced relationship between our two countries, the spox added.
A British parliamentary delegation made up of the India (Trade & Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was due to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday for a four-city tour to explore two-way trade and research and development collaborations.
The discussions come against the backdrop of the eighth round of negotiations between officials on both sides towards a free trade agreement (FTA).
India over the past year has been pursuing bilateral trade deals with a range of countries, including Australia, the UK and Canada, shifting from the usual go-slow approach on such agreements.
According to official UK government statistics, the India-UK bilateral trading relationship was worth GBP 34 billion in 2022 – growing by GBP 10 billion in one year. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the country’s leading industry body, estimates an India-UK FTA could boost trade with India by GBP 28 billion a year by 2035 and increase wages across the UK by GBP 3 billion.