Deport Khalistan elements: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval tells U.K. counterpart Tim Barrow
The HinduA day after the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave assurance of safety for Indian diplomats in his country, India on July 7 urged the U.K. to act against pro-Khalistan elements who have threatened Indian officials. The discussion in this regard took place at the Hyderabad House between the two delegations led by the visiting National Security Adviser of U.K. Sir Tim Barrow and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The discussion came a day ahead of the expected pro-Khalistan rally that drew India’s attention as publicity materials for the event threatened to harm Indian diplomats in the U.K., Canada and other countries. “The Indian side raised the issue of the extremist elements in U.K. threatening individual officers of the Indian High Commission and urged the U.K. government to take strong public action against these elements such as deportation or legal prosecution,” said an informed source explaining that India and the U.K. have agreed to “work closely” on counterterrorism, terror financing and counter-radicalisation. “There can be no justification for violent extremism and radicalisation in a democracy,” said the source familiar with the discussion that came a day after Mr. Cleverly’s assurance regarding safety of Indian diplomats within the U.K. “Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable.