Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that discussions on a Free Trade Agreement with the UK are still ongoing despite a diplomatic spat that arose after demonstrations by secessionist parties outside the Indian mission in London. Goyal stated that negotiations with the UK are “doing extremely well” and that “trade stands on its own legs.”
On a recent Sunday evening, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the senior-most British diplomat in New Delhi due to reports that several Khalistani protestors had reportedly pulled down the Indian flag at the Indian High Commission in London. India has additionally responded by putting forth or implementing a number of measures, such as lowering security at the British mission and building a nearby public restroom. In the meanwhile, when questioned about how Parliament passed significant laws without any deliberations and when the government is in charge of operating the Houses, the treasury benches protesting, Goyal retaliated by claiming that the Opposition was using the opportunity to make ludicrous and unfounded accusations against members of the government who were being influenced by forces that were harmful to India’s interests.
