NEW DELHU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer discussed the Khalistani extremist issue during their discussions held in Mumbai on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
While addressing a special media briefing on Starmer's visit to India, Misri said that PM Modi, during the talks, emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism had no space in democratic societies and the need to act against them in the legal framework. He said that PM Modi also offered condolences over the recent attack near a synagogue in Manchester.
When asked whether Khalistani extremist issue was raised during the talks between PM Modi and Starmer, Misri responded, "Yes, it is a subject that had come up in the discussions in July. It was flagged again during the discussions held today and Prime Minister emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism had no space in democratic societies and in particular should not be allowed to use the freedoms or abuse the freedoms provided by democratic societies and there was need to move against them within the legal frameworks that are available to both sides.
"The Prime Minister also expressed his deepest sympathies once again and his condolences at the Manchester attack, the attack that took place against a synagogue a few days ago in the UK, " he stated.
India has earlier too shared its concerns over the presence of Khalistani extremists in the UK.
Earlier this year, Khalistani goons created ruckus outside the Chatham House in London where External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar was attending an event. A video from the event, showing a protester running towards the EAM's vehicle as he was leaving the venue, had gone viral on social media highlighting the security breach.
This was not the first time that anti-India, radical elements had organised demonstrations, attacks, as well as arson in London.