'Attempts To Intimidate, Threaten Unacceptable': UK Condemns Jaishankar's Security Breach During London Visit

UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that the attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable.

File photo of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Source : PTI

The United Kingdom has condemned the incident of breach of security for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in London after a pro-Khalistani protester attempted to break barricades while others shouted anti-India slogans. 

UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that the attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable.

"We strongly condemn the incident that took place outside Chatham House yesterday during the External Affairs Minister’s visit to the UK. While the UK upholds the right to peaceful protest, any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events are completely unacceptable," FCDO Spokesperson said.

"The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation, and we remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations," the spokesperson added.

The statement comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on the UK to live up to their diplomatic obligations after a man from among protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans and waving separatist flags attempted to breach the security perimeter as Jaishankar left the Chatham House think tank in London on Wednesday evening.

The protester was swiftly taken aside by officers of the Metropolitan Police, while no arrests were made regarding the incident. The incident occurred as Jaishankar was in London as in the first leg of his six-day visit to the UK and Ireland from Tuesday that is aimed at exploring ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.

The MEA condemned the breach of security and said it expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such cases and deplored the misuse of democratic freedoms by those elements.

"We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the external affairs minister to the UK," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists, he said.We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations," Jaiswal added.