“No freedom of expression”: Space minister to Khalistani elements abroad

New Delhi:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized the space being given to extremist Khalistani elements in foreign countries and said that this is not freedom of expression but its misuse.

He said it is not good for any country to send such a message to its reputation and expressed hope that action would be taken against those attacking Indian missions.

The minister was speaking at the program ‘The Rise of the Global South’ at TV9 Bharatvarsh Conclave on Monday.

Speaking about the situation in Canada, Mr Jaishankar said, “We had to suspend the visa issue in Canada because our diplomats were not safe to go to work, they were repeatedly threatened, intimidated and at that time Canadians They got very little relief from the system.” Times…which have since improved.”

He said, “We have reached a stage where, as a minister, I could not risk exposing my diplomats to the violence prevalent there. That part of it has been rectified, so today we “Visa operations are largely normal.”

The minister put forward the ‘freedom of expression’ argument, saying that throwing smoke bombs at missions and advocating violence was an “abuse” of freedom of expression.

“With regard to the space being given to extremists, they keep telling us, ‘There is freedom of expression, there is democracy. Freedom of expression does not extend to intimidating diplomats, throwing smoke bombs at embassies and consulates, advocating violence and separatism. may increase.” A friendly state. To me, this is not freedom of expression. This is an abuse of freedom of expression,” Mr Jaishankar said.

Recalling the incident of vandalism at the Indian High Commission in Britain, he said that the mission did not get the security that New Delhi had expected.

“To the extent that someone climbs our High Court and takes down our Indian flag. I said to my colleagues ‘Let’s put us in each other’s shoes.’ How would you react if a mob attacked your premises anywhere in the world? You wouldn’t say freedom of speech and expression, you would be jumping up and down. But, things have improved in Britain,” the minister said. .

In a stern message, Mr Jaishankar said if a country is not taking action against someone attacking foreign missions, “there is a message in it.”

“We have had a very strong response in Australia and the US. We had an arson attack in the US, but it is under investigation. If the recipient state does not take action against anyone attacking the embassy or consulate, There is a message in this. Now, I don’t think it is good for any country to send such a message for its reputation. So we want action to be taken against those who attack our missions,” Mr Jaishankar said. Said.

It is noteworthy that Khalistani extremism has increased in many countries like Canada, Australia, America and Britain.

Following the killing of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June, Khalistani militants targeted Indian diplomats in several countries and issued threats against them.

Especially in Canada, several incidents of Khalistan militancy were reported recently. In June this year, a tableau parade was organized in Canada to commemorate the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, which was strongly criticized by New Delhi. Several temples were also vandalized with anti-India graffiti by pro-Khalistan protesters in Canada.

Amid strained relations, India stopped issuing visas to Canada amid concerns over the security of Indian ambassadors in Canada. Later, e-Visa service was restarted and physical visas were also introduced in many categories.

A group of extremist elements in Britain attacked the Indian High Commission in London last March.

Similarly, in the US, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco was attacked by a group of attackers on March 19. After this, at midnight on 2 July, some people tried to set fire to the Consulate building. The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)