- Saturday, March 01, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (13) raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments Britain in a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India elements, a statement said.
Modi also tweeted about the conversation later.
The talk between the two leaders on the matter took place nearly a month after an act of vandalism at the Indian high commission in London caused an outrage in India, UK and other places. Pro-Khalistan activists pulled down the Indian national flag at the mission during a protest on March 19, a day after a massive manhunt was launched against Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh by the police in the northern state of Punjab.
Pleased to speak with UK PM @RishiSunak. Extended Baisakhi greetings to him, and new year greetings to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including FTA.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023
We also agreed on the need to take strong action against anti-India elements and to ensure security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. We also discussed the issue of economic offenders.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023
Similar protests were also seen in the US, Canada and Australia.
The statement added that Modi also sought progress on the return of economic offenders wanted in India.
New Delhi is pursuing the extradition of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi from the UK.
The former, who fled to the UK in 2016, is wanted in India over a default of Rs 9,000 crore that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines by several banks. Nirav Modi is facing charges in the estimated $2 billion Punjab National Bank loan scam case.
About the vandalism at the Indian high commission, Sunak conveyed to Modi that the UK considers the attack “totally unacceptable” and assured the security of the Indian mission and its personnel, the statement said.
The two leaders also reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, particularly in trade and economic sectors.
They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors and agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the statement said.
During the talks, Sunak reiterated the UK’s full support for India’s ongoing G20 presidency. Modi also conveyed his greetings to Sunak, who is of Indian origin, and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of ‘Baisakhi’.
Modi also invited Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. The British leader appreciated the progress made under India’s presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UK’s full support to India’s initiatives and their success, the release said.
(With PTI inputs)
