March 2025: A man from a small group of protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans outside Chatham House attempted to breach the security perimeter as External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar exited the think tank in London. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from India, calling out the “provocative activities” of what it described as a “small group of separatists and extremists.”
The demonstrators, waving separatist flags, were confined behind barricades and monitored by a significant police presence outside the venue. The situation escalated when one protester suddenly rushed past the barricades in an attempt to block the minister’s vehicle while pulling at an Indian flag attached to it. Metropolitan Police officers acted swiftly to restrain the individual, preventing further escalation. No arrests have been reported so far.
India’s Strong Condemnation
Community organization INSIGHT UK condemned the incident, stating, “It is shameful that this attack comes when Dr. S. Jaishankar is on a UK tour and had just completed a successful meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, where they discussed bilateral ties.” The organization also shared footage of the incident on social media, highlighting the breach.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi issued a strong statement condemning the security lapse and urging the UK government to uphold its diplomatic responsibilities. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to the UK. 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.”
Jaishankar’s Address at Chatham House
Earlier in the day, during his session at Chatham House, Jaishankar was questioned about human rights concerns in India. Responding to the inquiry, he remarked, “A lot of this is political. We have been, for political reasons, at the receiving end of various expressions and campaigns on human rights. We listen to it. We are not perfect, nobody is perfect. There can be situations which require redressal and remedy.”
Jaishankar further defended India’s human rights record, stating, “I would argue that, if one looks around the world, we have a very strong human rights record. As a credible democracy, where people have growing faith in our institutions and representation has broadened in every conceivable way over the last many decades, where the state has been fair in the treatment of its citizens, I think any sweeping concern on human rights is misplaced. I don’t see any justification for it at all.”
The UK authorities have yet to release an official statement on the security incident. However, given the diplomatic tensions surrounding pro-Khalistan activities, the matter is expected to remain under close scrutiny.
