PM Modi discusses Khalistani extremism issue with Starmer, calls for legal action against radicalism

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) speaking with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi upon his arrival at the Raj Bhavan ahead of their bilateral meeting in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of Khalistani extremism during his meeting with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer in Mumbai earlier today.

During a press briefing on Starmer's India visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that PM Modi emphasised the need to confront radicalism and violent extremism, noting that such ideologies have no place in democratic societies. He added that extremists should not exploit the freedoms guaranteed by democratic nations and highlighted the importance of taking action within the legal frameworks available in both countries.

"Khalistani extremist issue was discussed during meeting held today between PM Modi and PM Starmer. PM emphasised that radicalism & violent extremism had no space in democratic societies & should not be allowed to use or abuse the freedoms provided by societies, and there was a need to move against them in the legal framework available on both sides," Misri said.

The government is pressing for Khalistani extremism to be addressed in talks with the UK following several recent incidents in Britain. During External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to London in March, protesters disrupted an event at Chatham House, raising serious security concerns.

"We have seen the footage of a breach of security during the visit of EAM to the UK. We condemn the provocative activities of this small group of separatists and extremists. 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," the Ministry of External Affairs had said at the time.

India has also highlighted other incidents, including street demonstrations outside the Indian High Commission in January and efforts to disrupt cultural events, such as activists trying to stop the screening of the film Emergency in Harrow.

The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Rishi Starmer, attended by a UK business delegation of over a hundred executives, comes after a free-trade agreement signed in July and amid rapidly growing defence and technology ties between the two countries.