NEW DELHI, June 11: India today conveyed to the United Kingdom its disappointment over the “unabated” anti-India activities by some Kashmiri and Sikh groups in that country and desecration of national flag during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London in April, officials said here.
During an hour long meeting here, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told UK Minister of State for Counter Extremism Baroness Williams that terrorism cannot be seen with a prismatic view and urged him to check anti-India activities on its soil, according to a Home Ministry statement.
An official privy to the meeting said the Indian side expressed its disappointment with the “unabated anti-India activities by some Kashmiri and Sikh groups in the UK and the increasing instances of collusion between Kashmiri and Sikh separatists”.
The UK delegation has been told that it should take cognisance of such anti-India activities on British soil and take steps to curb them as continuance of anti-India activities does not bode well for both the countries, the official said
The Indian delegation also conveyed its deep disappointment and shock at the desecration of Indian flag at Parliament Square in London by miscreants in the presence of Metropolitan Police during Modi’s visit to the UK in April, another official said.
The India side stressed on taking strong action against the culprits, who were caught on video, as UK police has failed to nab them
Despite photographic evidence and witness statements, there have been no arrests or progress in the investigation which was quite disappointing, the British delegation has been told.
Earlier, the issue of desecration of Indian flag was strongly taken up by the Indian High Commission in London with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The UK had conveyed its regret at the highest level and immediately replaced the desecrated Indian flag with a new one.
The Indian Mission has also submitted video and photographic evidences of culprits to Metropolitan Police and is following up with them.
In its statement, the Home Ministry said the bilateral discussions covered variety of important issues ranging from cooperation in matters of migration, tackling extremism, extradition, sharing of criminal records etc.
Underlining the need for cooperation in fighting international terrorism, Rijiju called for implementation of the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to check money laundering and terrorist financing, the statement said.
In response to the UK Minister’s request for facilitating repatriation of illegal migrants, Rijiju said while the issue of time-frames is important, the Government would like to reassure itself about the completion of verification before repatriation process begins.
Rijiju also lauded the cooperation of the UK Government on various international forums, it said. (PTI)
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