India expects action, not just assurances, against separatists from US-UK - External Affairs Ministry warns

Bengaluru – India has taken serious cognisance of the attacks on Indian embassies in San Francisco and London. The US and the UK tried to reassure India about the security of the embassies after the attack. But the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that India expects action against those who carried out these attacks and not just assurance. Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar, has criticised the United States and the United Kingdom for failing to prevent the anti-India activities of Khalistani separatists. He further reprimanded that some countries have a double-standard approach towards their security and that of others.

Khalistani separatists have been protesting in front of the Indian High Commission in London. Moreover, these separatists went to the extent of removing the Indian national flag from the High Commission. But the British police force, which was responsible for the security of the Indian High Commission, did not perform its duty. Citing this, India appealed to the UK diplomatically against this. But the UK ignored it and assumed a mild reaction from India. However, the UK’s eyes seemed to have opened after India reduced the security provided to the British High Commission in New Delhi and the British High Commissioner.

Following India’s firm decision, the UK claimed it would not tolerate violence against India. However, it was quite clear that the UK, especially the London police force, was not yet keen to take action against Khalistani separatists. Besides, it had surfaced that the UK might have been attempting to evade its responsibility by informing an arrest of one individual in connection with the case. There was a strong resentment against this in India. In addition, a mild response by London’s police force has fueled the enthusiasm of Khalistani separatists, who have been protesting in front of the Indian High Commission. Indians here have also been protesting in response to this.

The US has not taken action against these Khalistanis, though it has made statements against the Khalistani separatists, who stormed and vandalised the Indian Embassy in San Francisco. Furthermore, some analysts claim that this has been part of the anti-India tactics of the US and the UK. At the same time, these analysts have criticised both countries for taking India for granted.

Against this backdrop, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, has warned the US and the UK, who only gave promises to India. Bagchi cautioned that we do not expect assurances from these countries but action against anti-India forces. While speaking at an event in Bengaluru, EAM S Jaishankar pointed out the US and the UK duplicity. Jaishankar pointed out that some countries have a two-faced policy regarding their own security and that of others. Saying that the responsibility of providing security to the Indian Embassy in the US and the High Commission in London had not been fulfilled, Jaishankar held the US and the UK responsible.

India has made the UK aware of the consequences by lowering the security of the UK’s High Commission in New Delhi. Additionally, India has given a message that, even after this, if the UK changes its policy and shows sympathy for Khalistani separatists, it will affect bilateral relations. At the same time, India has made the US and the UK distinctly aware that the move to pressure India by raising the issue of Khalistan will not be successful.

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