Modi, Johnson agree to rein in anti-India fringe groups

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Boris Johnson on Monday evening agreed to ask their National Security Advisers (NSAs) to meet in London to sort out irritants related to Khalistani activists and the long-pending extradition of Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

“PM Johnson, I think agrees fully that some of these groups need to be reined in and that steps have to be taken to see how such activity, which under no means is democratic or constitutional, should be addressed,” said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla while briefing the media about the first day of COP26 in Glasgow. He was asked to elaborate on the discussion between the two PMs on counter-terrorism after a spurt in activity from Khalistani groups that included a recent so-called referendum.

The police was deployed outside the Indian High Commission in London late last year after near-violent demonstrations took place in its vicinity and then UK High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanshyam had met British Home Secretary Priti Patel to convey India’s security and safety concerns in this regard.

Shringla said while many of these groups did not gain any traction, yet by speaking on issues they had no legitimate right to speak on, they caused a “certain level of disequilibrium and concern in both our countries”.

On the pending extradition of Modi and Mallya, the National Security Advisers will examine in detail “all of these issues that are important to the consular and security and other aspects of our relationship” said the Foreign Secretary.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Boris Johnson jointly launched the ‘Initiative for the Resilient Island States’ (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations at the Glasgow summit. The launch gives new hope, confidence, Modi said, adding that the initiative gives the satisfaction of doing something for the most vulnerable countries.