The UK Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, has stated that no attempts by “foreign countries” to intimidate or harass British citizens would be accepted. The remarks came after a number of Sikhs living in the UK alleged that they were being “targeted by or on behalf of the Indian government”. Similar allegations have been made by Sikh organisations in Canada and the US, which are known to either be Khalistani outfits, or support the secessionist cause. Such claims have been junked by the Indian government in the past.
Jarvis wrote to the Sikh Federation, an organisation with Khalistani affiliations, and assured them of protection. This is in response to complaints from Sikhs about being questioned at UK airports by officials linked to the Indian government, according to a report by The Guardian.
“We do not tolerate intimidation or threats to life, and through our intelligence agencies and police forces will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to keep people safe. Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated,” read the letter from Jarvis. The letter was dated December 10, and was reported on by The Guardian only on December 19.
These Sikhs have reportedly been questioned about their views on India. Jarvis further stated that such threats and intimidation would not be tolerated, according to the report.
It shouldn’t be unusual for a country to question those travelling to it on the views they hold on the country.
Sikhs, numbering at 535,000, are 0.8% of the British population.
India’s former foreign secretary and career diplomat Kanwal Sibal called out Jarvis, and said it was in line with the UK’s usual practice of harbouring Khalistani terrorists.
“UK authorities have in fact long encouraged Khalistani extremists as well as ISI operatives in the UK to threaten India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security,” said Sibal.
JARVIS ASKS INDIA TO COOPERATE WITH CANADA ON NIJJAR PROBE
The Guardian report also stated that Jarvis urged India to cooperate with the Canadian government regarding the investigation of the death of Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Canada’s accusation of the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar. India has strongly rejected Canada’s assertion and said it didn’t share a shred of credible evidence related to the Nijjar case. India has called the allegations “preposterous”, accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community for vote-bank politics.
The UK and Canada are part of the Five Eyes, a powerful, close-knit intelligence-sharing grouping.
“We take the findings from the Canadian investigations very seriously and the UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system. All countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, and we encourage all involved parties, including the government of India, to cooperate with the legal process,” Jarvis added in the December 10 letter.
These allegations, however, lack any credible evidence.
UK HAS BEEN HARBOURING ANTI-INDIA ELEMENTS: EX-DIPLOMAT
In the latest repudiation of the Canadian government’s allegations, India’s junior minister for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, told The Lok Sabha that Canada had provided “no evidence whatsoever” to back the “serious allegations” it made against India. He was responding to a query from Congress MP Manish Tewari.
Career diplomat Kanwal Sibal attacked the UK’s Jarvis over his letter to the Sikh Federation.
“British Security Minister Jarvis is out of line in implying that the government of India is targeting Sikhs in the UK and in offering them security, besides batting for Trudeau,” he said.
He said the UK had a long-standing practice of harbouring anti-India elements.
“The opposite is true. UK authorities have, in fact, long encouraged Khalistani extremists as well as ISI operatives in the UK to threaten India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security,” said Sibal, referring to the notorious Pakistani spy agency ISI.
“UK politicians openly interfere in India’s internal affairs. Jarvis and others need to be firmly called out by us,” he added.
A Sikh website, the Khalsa Vox, also refuted the claims by pro-Khalistanis in the UK and stated how these allegations have not been substantiated by any credible evidence.
“Notably, many Sikh voices have publicly distanced themselves from the Sikh Federation, criticising its divisive rhetoric and lack of alignment with the majority of the Sikh diaspora’s values. This paradox in Jarvis’s approach risks legitimising fringe elements while alienating the peace-loving Sikh majority,” according to an opinion piece in Khalsa Vox.
It said the UK authorities hadn’t “corroborated these claims” and the lack of evidence “speaks volumes”.
