Differential status unacceptable: Jaishankar on embassy attack

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that India has spoken to the British Government over the recent attack on the Indian Embassy by the Khalistani government.

"Many countries have a different view of their own security and a different view of other people's security. We'll not accept this differential status," S Jaishankar said at BJYM Yuva Samvada event in Bengaluru.

He then said that it was the obligation of the receiving country to provide security for "a diplomat to do their work" and to ensure embassy or "high commissions' premises are respected." "We have had conversations with the British govt on this," he added.

The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on Sunday evening. It came after Indian authorities launched a manhunt for fugitive preacher Amritpal Singh.

India then summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi after some pro-Khalistani elements attempted to pull down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London.

"The senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening today to convey India's strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London earlier in the day," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Also, Barricades outside the UK High Commission in Delhi were removed by the police which was seen as a tit-for-tat move by India. "The security arrangements outside the British High Commission here are intact. However, barricades placed on the pathway towards the Commission that created hurdles for commutation have been removed," a senior police officer told news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs, in its weekly briefing, said India hopes that foreign governments will act against the Khalistani elements.

"On the issues of security, whenever we feel there is an issue relating to the security of our missions abroad high commissions and embassies, this issue is taken up. Whenever we have concerns where we feel that there will be some activities that may harm our interests, we do take it up," ANI quoted Arindam Bagchi as saying.

"You would have seen specifically in London and at least in San Francisco, we've strongly taken up the matter of vandalism and attacks on our missions there. You would have also seen our statements in this regard," he added.