On March 6, 2025, British Opposition MP Bob Blackman voiced his concern over the security breach involving India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, during his visit to London. Blackman described the incident as an “attack” by “Khalistani thugs” and called it an affront to democracy.
Incident Details
The security breach occurred on the evening of March 5, 2025, outside Chatham House in Central London. As Jaishankar was leaving the venue after a public event, a pro-Khalistan protester attempted to breach the security perimeter and block his car. The protester was swiftly restrained by the Metropolitan Police, who moved him out of the way. No arrests were made during the incident.
Reactions and Condemnations
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) strongly condemned the incident. A spokesperson for the FCDO stated that any attempts to “intimidate, threaten, or disrupt” public events are “completely unacceptable”. The Metropolitan Police also confirmed that they acted swiftly to address the situation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong condemnation of the security breach. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said, “We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. 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”.
Call for Action
MP Bob Blackman urged the UK Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to make an official statement to Parliament regarding the safety of Indian officials and visitors in the UK. He emphasized that the UK government must ensure the security of its foreign visitors.
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