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New Delhi: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that any form of extremism and violence is not acceptable and his government is working with India to deal with pro-Khalistan extremism. Sunak made these comments to news agency ANI during his visit to New Delhi for the G20 summit which begins on September 9.
Sunak, on his first official visit to India after taking over as Britain’s prime minister in October last year, told ANI: “I want to say clearly that any kind of extremism or violence (Khalistani separatist protests) in Britain. “This is not acceptable and that is why we are working closely with the Government of India, especially to deal with PKE (pro-Khalistan extremism). Sunak arrived on Friday to attend the summit.
On March 19 this year, pro-Khalistan protesters had taken down the Indian flag outside the Indian High Commission in London. The protests were organized in support of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was arrested by Punjab police on April 23, almost a month after he was on the run for 35 days.
As mentioned earlier, India had lodged a strong protest with the British government regarding this incident.
Sunak also said UK Security Secretary Tom Tugendhat had spoken to “his counterpart” on the issue during his three-day visit to India last month. He was referring to Tugendhat’s visit to India for the G20 anti-corruption ministerial meeting in Kolkata.
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“We have groups working together to share intelligence and information so we can stamp out this kind of violent extremism, it’s not right and I will not tolerate it in the UK,” Sunak said.
Apart from sharing his views on Khalistan, Sunak also commented that he believes the G20 has been a “huge success” for India, adding that “India is at the right time to host this (G20). It is a country.”
“It is not for me to say what position India may take on any issue”
Responding to a question about India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, Sunak emphatically said it was not his job to “tell India what stance to take on international issues”. Sunak said: “But I know that India really cares about respect for international law, the UN Charter and territorial integrity.”
The British prime minister also made it clear that he would continue to highlight “the devastating impact that Russia’s illegal aggression (in Ukraine) is having on millions of people around the world, particularly on food prices.”
“Russia recently pulled out of a grain agreement that sent grain from Ukraine to many poor countries around the world,” he said.
On July 17, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative – an agreement that allows Ukraine to safely export grain, oil and fertilizer through its Black Sea port.
‘“Looking forward to a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement”
Sunak also commented on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He said, “Both Modi ji and I are keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement concluded between our two countries. We both feel that there is a lot left to be done.” But trade agreements always take time and require work from both countries .”
Work on the trade agreement is ongoing from 2021.
Sunak clarified that the G20 is not a forum to discuss the FTA, but the Indian and British teams will continue to work together on the deal. He also stressed that “bilateral relations” between the UK and India are in “good shape”.
“Prime Minister Modi and I are keen to deepen and broaden our relationship. The FTA is an obvious way for us to do that, and that is why it remains our priority and I said it will be hard work to do, but I am hopeful that we can build a successful free trade agreement.
Apart from the FTA, Sunak also hopes to strengthen security ties between India and the UK. He said: “What I am particularly excited about is increasing collaboration between our outstanding scientists, our research communities and our universities. “The UK and India are the world’s two leading superpowers in science and technology.”
(Editing by Shiv Pandey)
(Click here to read this news in English.)
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