UK ignores India’s demarche on pro-Khalistan meet

The British High Commission has announced that people have the right to express and demonstrate their views in the UK, as long as they were within the law. The announcement came one day after India issued a demarche to the island nation over the upcoming pro-Khalistan meet in London.

"In the UK, people have the right to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law. However, we will not tolerate any groups who spread hate or deliberately raise community fears and tensions by bringing disorder and violence to our towns and cities," a spokesperson for the British High Commission said.

The conflict has come in the wake of a separatist Sikh organisation called Sikhs for Justice planning a campaign in August on Declaration on Referendum 2020′, seeking a separate Khalistan over it.

"As far as such small groups are concerned, I believe these are fringe elements and their job is to spread hatred and communal disharmony. We have issued a demarche over it. We have told that this is an event to spread hatred and they should not allow such events that impact on the bilateral ties between India and the UK," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a press conference on Thursday.

Announcing the demarche, Kumar further added that most of the Sikh community abroad had "good relations" with India.

(Featured Image – The Statesman)