Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his British counterpart Keir Starmer during a joint press statement after a meeting at Chequers Estate, in UK.
Credit: PMO
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday subtly conveyed to his counterpart, Keir Starmer, his concerns over the activities of the Khalistani Sikh extremists in the United Kingdom and their secessionist campaign against India.
Modi nudged Starmer to act against the Khalistani Sikh extremists in the UK.
“Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account,” the prime minister said during a joint press statement with the UK counterpart.
A group of pro-Khalistani British Sikhs had on March 19, 2023, taken down India’s national flag, which had been flying at the High Commission of India in London. New Delhi had strongly reacted, and the then British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott had been summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), where senior officials had demanded an explanation for the absence of security personnel to guard the High Commission of India in London.
The Khalistani Sikh extremists had earlier also staged violent demonstrations in front of the High Commission of India in London.
Irked over the breach of security by the Khalistani Sikh activists during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to London in March, New Delhi had asked the British Government to act against the culprits to buttress its claim of being committed to ensuring the security of the diplomatic visitors to the UK.
Modi and Starmer on Thursday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed to work together to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in counter-radicalisation and violent extremism; combat financing of terrorism and the cross-border movement of terrorists; prevent exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes; tackle terrorist recruitment; strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in these spheres, including in information sharing, judicial cooperation, and capacity building. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation to take decisive and concerted actions against globally proscribed terrorists, terror entities and their sponsors.
“We thank Prime Minister Starmer and his government for their strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We are united in our view that there can be no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism,” Modi said, adding: “We also agree that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms.”