The United Kingdom has strongly condemned the security breach involving India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in London. The UK Foreign Office asserted that the Metropolitan Police acted promptly to address the situation and warned that any attempts to “intimidate and threaten” are unacceptable.

A pro-Khalistani protester attempted to breach security barricades and shouted anti-India slogans outside Chatham House, where Jaishankar had attended an interactive session at the Royal Institute of International Affairs. The foreign minister, who was on the other side of the road, remained unharmed.

Swift police action

In response to the incident, UK authorities emphasized their commitment to security and law enforcement. “The Metropolitan Police acted swiftly to address the situation,” sources from the UK Foreign Office stated. They further condemned the act and reassured cooperation in diplomatic security matters.

A video circulating on social media showed a man attempting to break through the police cordon and block Jaishankar’s motorcade. However, the individual was quickly apprehended by officers on duty.

India’s response

India has expressed strong disapproval of the incident, stressing that host nations must uphold their diplomatic responsibilities. “We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We deplore the misuse of democratic freedoms by such elements. We expect the host government in such cases to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations,” Jaiswal added.

This is not the first instance of Khalistani groups attempting to disrupt Indian diplomatic missions in the UK. In March 2023, protesters pulled down the national flag at the Indian High Commission in London, which led India to summon the senior-most British diplomat in Delhi, demanding an explanation for the “absence of security.”

India urges UK to take action

Following the latest security breach, India has once again urged the UK government to take action against separatist elements operating from British soil. The ongoing activities of pro-Khalistani groups in the UK remain a point of contention between the two countries, with India pressing for stricter measures to curb such incidents.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has blamed faulty detailed project reports (DPRs) and flawed road designs for the increasing number of road accidents in India. Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS), he underscored the lack of accountability in road construction and planning, calling for urgent reforms to improve road safety.

Engineering flaws behind rising accidents

Gadkari, known for his candid opinions, stated, “Most of the road accidents happen in the country due to small civil mistakes, faulty DPRs and nobody is held accountable.” He pointed out that poor-quality DPRs and defective planning have led to an alarming rise in road mishaps.

Expressing concern over India’s poor road signage and marking systems, Gadkari urged authorities to take lessons from countries such as Spain, Austria, and Switzerland, where road infrastructure is significantly better.

Call for new strategies and sustainable materials

The minister emphasized the importance of adopting newer technologies and sustainable, recyclable materials in road construction to enhance safety. He urged the road construction industry to devise better strategies for accident prevention.

Disturbing road accident statistics

India recorded a staggering 1,80,000 deaths due to road accidents in 2023, a number Gadkari deemed unacceptable. With road safety being a top priority, he reiterated the government’s commitment to reducing road accidents by 50% by 2030.

Industry voices stress on prioritizing safety

At the event, International Road Federation (IRF) president emeritus K K Kapila echoed Gadkari’s concerns, stating that safety should be integrated into every aspect of road design, construction, and management. He emphasized that initiatives like GRIS aim to move towards a future with zero road fatalities.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi has alleged threats to his life and family after being suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for the entire duration of the ongoing budget session. The suspension was imposed following his remarks on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, which sparked controversy within the House.

Taking to social media platform X, Azmi called the decision “arbitrary” and accused the government of silencing elected representatives. He stated, “My suspension is arbitrary on the part of the government. There is a threat to my life and that of my family. Two laws are in force in Maharashtra. If democracy has ended in Maharashtra, then the government can do anything to the public and elected representatives.”

Azmi expresses disappointment over the decision

Prior to this, Azmi had expressed his disappointment over the suspension and mentioned that he was willing to withdraw his remarks for the smooth functioning of the Assembly. “To ensure that the House functions, I spoke about withdrawing my statement. I did not say anything wrong. Still, there is a controversy, and the proceedings of the House are being stalled,” he said.

He also clarified that his controversial remarks were made outside the Assembly and not during the House proceedings. Despite his attempts to clarify, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker upheld the suspension.

Akhilesh Yadav comes out in support

Samajwadi Party Chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav condemned the suspension, calling it a violation of freedom of expression. “If the basis of suspension starts getting influenced by ideology, then what difference will there be between freedom of expression and subjection?” Yadav questioned.

He further added that such actions would not deter party leaders, stating, “If some people think that by ‘suspension’ one can rein them in, then this is the childishness of their negative thinking.”

Speaker justifies suspension over ‘objectionable’ remarks

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced the suspension of Abu Azmi on Wednesday, following a proposal introduced against him in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil asserted that Azmi’s remarks had hurt the dignity of the Assembly, prompting the move.

Azmi had reportedly stated that Aurangzeb was not a “cruel administrator” and that he had “built many temples.” He also claimed that the conflict between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was about state administration rather than a Hindu-Muslim issue.

The decision to suspend Azmi has triggered a political debate, with supporters questioning the fairness of the move while the ruling government defends it as necessary to uphold the decorum of the House.