Completely baseless: MEA on report of India halting commerce talks with UK

After experiences of India halting commerce talks with the UK emerged, the MEA, in a swift response, issued a clarification and said such experiences are ‘absolutely baseless’.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 10, 2023 14:26 IST

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi (Photo: File)

By Akshay Dongare: Indian authorities on Monday denied experiences of stalling commerce negotiations with the UK for commerce facilitations, calling them ‘absolutely baseless’. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a press launch shortly after UK-based The Times reported that India has ‘disengaged’ from commerce talks with Britain after the latter did not act on the Khalistani mob that attacked the Indian High Commission in London closing month.

Citing British authorities sources, the Times reported that India has ‘disengaged’ from commerce talks with Britain after accusing it of failing to condemn the Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission in London closing month.

“We have seen the report claiming India has halted its trade deal with the UK, it is completely baseless,” sources inside the MEA said. Sources added the following spherical of official negotiations is extra more likely to occur from April 24 in London.

“Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month,” a spokesperson of the UK’s Department for Business and Trade said.

“The Foreign Secretary has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission, and we are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security and make changes to ensure the safety of its staff,” the statement added.

ALSO READ | Grand Tricolour, late-night summons: India’s strong response to Khalistani protest at UK mission

INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION ATTACKED IN LONDON

On March 19, a pro-Khalistani mob staged a protest demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London against the massive crackdown on radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh. A massive search and cordon operation was launched by the Punjab police on March 18 to arrest Amritpal Singh, who has given police a slip a number of times and is still on the run.

They took down the Indian flag from the building’s first-floor balcony to denounce the police action in Punjab. In a strong rebuttal, the Indian High Commission in UK raised the giant Tricolour in response to Khalistani supporters’ vandalisation. A senior British diplomat in New Delhi was also summoned the very same day for a stern remonstration.

The foreign ministry also issued a strongly worded statement criticising the UK government for the lack of security at the Indian mission.

“Indians don’t want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK,” a Whitehall source had told The Times.

Indian authorities also demanded an explanation on the complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. The diplomat was reminded of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.

ALSO READ | Broken windows, black ink marks: What Khalistanis left at Indian High Commission in London

“India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK,” the MEA had said in a statement. India registered a strong protest with the UK government and the issue was also raised in the House of Commons.

Following this, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly issued a statement to condemn the act, calling it “unacceptable” acts of violence.

“We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this,” said Cleverly.

Delhi Police moreover registered a case in reference to a pro-Khalistani protest in entrance of the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, 2023.

ALSO READ | Delhi Police registers case over assault on Indian High Commission in London

Published On:

Apr 10, 2023