India summons UK envoy after Sikh 'separatist' breaches Jaishankar’s security, tears national flag

India today summoned the British charge d'affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest against a breach in security for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in London as an alleged Sikh separatist protester tried to break through a police cordon and tried to stop his motorcade.

The UK charge d'affaires was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and was served a demarche, PTI reported quoting people familiar with the matter.

India condemned the incident and said it expects the host government to fully live up to their diplomatic obligations in such a case. It also deplored the "misuse of democratic freedoms" by the "small group of separatist" elements.

Video footage showed that the protester stood in front of the minister's car and tore the Indian flag before he was whisked away.

The videos posted on social media showed a handful of protesters waving flags of a Sikh separatist movement called "Khalistan" and shouting slogans outside think-tank Chatham House in London on Wednesday where Jaishankar was speaking.

Jaishankar is on a six-day trip to the UK and Ireland.

"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," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian MEA, said in a statement.