Former UK Adviser Slams Pro-Khalistan Extremists, Calls for Stronger Action
London — Former British government adviser Colin Bloom on Friday slammed pro-Khalistan extremists, urging stricter action after protests against Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in London.
In a tweet, Bloom stated: “Another shameful example of India being disrespected on UK streets by Pro #Khalistan Extremists (#PKEs). The British Government must do more to crack down on these thugs who try and intimidate and threaten foreign dignitaries like Foreign Minister #Jaishankar.”
He further emphasized the importance of legitimate and peaceful protests but criticized those who engage in aggressive tactics, adding, “Legitimate and peaceful protest is perfectly acceptable – but yet again these thugs cross the line and give decent #Sikhs everywhere a bad name.”
Colin Bloom is a political strategist and former UK Conservative Party outreach director. He served as the British Government’s Faith Adviser, leading the 2023 Bloom Review on faith engagement and extremism. In 2024, he became interim CEO of Barnabas Aid, advocating for religious tolerance and policy engagement.
Security Breach During Jaishankar’s Visit
India condemned on Thursday a security breach during its foreign minister’s visit to London when a protester broke through a police cordon, stood in front of the minister’s car, and tore the Indian flag before being taken away.
India’s foreign ministry said it expects Britain to live up to its diplomatic obligations and called the protesters a “small group of separatists and extremists.” Britain, in turn, “strongly condemned” the incident.
A small group of protesters shouting slogans and waving Khalistan flags had gathered outside think tank Chatham House in London on Wednesday, where Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was speaking. Videos posted on social media showed one protester breaking through the police cordon as Jaishankar was leaving but was swiftly taken away by officers.
Jaishankar is currently on a six-day trip to Britain and Ireland. India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “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.”
Britain acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but deemed any attempts to intimidate, threaten, or disrupt public events as “completely unacceptable.” A spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign Office stated, “We remain fully committed to ensuring the security of all our diplomatic visitors, in line with our international obligations.” London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that no arrests had been made, adding, “The protester was quickly intercepted by officers and moved out of the way. He did not get close to the minister, who was able to leave the area without further incident.”
Growing Concerns Over Khalistan Extremism
The protest against Minister Jaishankar is part of a broader pattern of pro-Khalistan demonstrations in the UK. In recent years, Indian diplomatic missions have faced attacks and disruptions from separatist groups advocating for an independent Sikh state. The Indian government has repeatedly urged the UK to take decisive action against such elements operating within its borders.
Bloom’s remarks align with concerns raised by other UK officials regarding public safety and foreign relations. The British government has yet to issue a formal response to his statement, but his comments add to the ongoing debate over how the UK should handle radical elements within political and religious movements.
Bloom’s call for a crackdown on extremist elements is likely to fuel further discussions on the balance between free speech and public security in the UK.
