The Indian community in the UK is demanding justice from the UK government, after protesters at the Parliament Square during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, brought down the Indian flag from its mast, ripped it into halves, and then stamped on it, before walking away. More than 12,000 people have now signed a petition calling for action by UK Prime Minister Theresa May against the perpetrators as well as the instigators behind this whole incident.
What has angered them further is the presence of Met Police at the square, who allegedly witnessed the incident, but did not do anything to stop the offenders or intervene from them vandalising a state property.
The perpetrators also attacked Loveena Tandon, an Indian broadcast journalist, who protested against the flag incident. She lodged a formal police complaint for being initimidated, pushed and abused with the Police later. She said, “It is well known to all that this demonstration could have turned dangerous. How could the organisers allow a group to bring down the flag of a country without permission from anyone or without dignity and defile it, is a wonder ! I have covered events all over the world and I would never have believed that this could happen in London.”
The Indian Journalists' Association in a statement said, “Reports of intimidation against and manhandling of a few of our members by political protesters in central London on 18 April have been brought to our notice.
“Indian Journalists’ Association’s constitution obliges the organisation to defend the right of our members to freely discharge their professional duties.
“Therefore, IJA strongly condemns the threats and violence faced by concerned members from anti-India demonstrators. We also call upon the British police to bring to book wrongdoers upon receiving any complaint on the matter from our members.”
Petitions and signatures
Thousands have now signed the petition that was started by Friends of India Society International-UK demanding, “action against the culprits who tore down the Indian flag under the eyes of British police.” [https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-demand-action-against-culprits-who-tore-down-indian-flag-under-the-eyes-of-british-police]
The Hindu Forum of Britain, which represents over 300 Hindu groups across the country, has written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd demanding that Lord Nazir Ahmed, who had organised the protest “Minorities against Modi” on Parliament Square on Wednesday, be stripped of his Lordship and an enquiry should be set up to hold him to account for the violent protests he instigated and organised against Mr. Modi.
Truptiben Patel, the President of HFB, in her formal letter to Home Secretary Amber Rudd said, “Lord Nazir Ahmed let the anti-India protest turn violent and the ripping and burning of the Indian National flag was indeed a senseless act of aggression and insult to all true democracies.
“Being a Lord, he has taken an oath is to be fair to all and work without prejudice for the British society and political organisation, it seems like Lord Nazir Ahmed has violated all rules of the position he is holding in the House of Lords and proved that he has no respect for British Values and other British Citizens. Lord Nazir Ahmed also organised protest outside The High Commission of India on the 70th Republic day of India on the 27th January 2018 calling for Kashmir Independence, again marred by violent protests...
“We therefore seek urgent action from our Government to strip Lord Ahmed of his Lordship and an enquiry be set up for him to account for the violent protests he instigated and organised on the 18th April 2018 against Prime Minister Modi. The whole incident is the Hate Crime against peaceful people of Indian origin and all culprits must be charged accordingly.”
Overseas Friends of BJP in a statement said, “Restore India's pride torn up in London.”
Elaborating it requested all its recipients, to write to their local MPs and demand justice. “It is time to stand up and speak,” it said. “As you are aware that on Wednesday 18 April 2018 London hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. To mark this important international event, flags of the 53 member countries were in the Parliament Square. In a pre-meditated move, some anti-social elements who were protesting in the Parliament Square removed and denigrated India’s National flag. This heinous act was carried out in the presence of Metropolitan Police who watched the whole act silently. These groups had a sinister motive to incite thousands of peaceful supporters of India’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Kindly use the following link https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/ and write to your local MP, requesting they immediately take up the matter in the Parliament and other appropriate forums.”
India's warnings to UK
An MEA spokesperson told Asian Voice that India has expressed its concerns over the flag incident, which Britain has regretted to the highest levels. There were warnings of potential disruption or even violence from India ahead of the event, yet not enough care was taken to stop the incident from happening.
The flag flew alongside those from the other 52 members of the Commonwealth to mark the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London from 16-20 April. A replacement flag was swiftly put up in its place.
Britain's Foreign Office expressed its disappointment with the action taken by this small minority and said it contacted the Indian High Commisioner. No arrests have been made by the Police as yet.
Though Mrs May did not appear to have any information about the incident when it was raised at a press conference by a PTI journalist, Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, described the incident as “shocking”. She also said that she would take it up with Home Secretary Amber Rudd when it is raised in Parliament by Conservative MP Bob Blackman. Mr. Blackman reportedly said that he would be writing to the Home Secretary calling for an investigation by police.
Protests in Parliament Square
Hundreds of noisy protesters greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in London on Wednesday, demonstrating over several issues. This included supporters of Jagtar Singh Johal, pro Khalistani and Azad Kashmir supporters as well as people from the CasteWatch UK. Many Indians also protested against the brutal rapes in India, especially asking for justice for Asifa, the 8 year old victim of the Kathua rape case, including by South Asia Solidarity Group, Southall Black Sisters and by a Silent Protest Group. Some even climbed over the Gandhi statue in the Parliament Square and wrapped it with Khalistani flag.
Holding placards reading “Modi go home” and “we stand against Modi’s agenda of hate and greed,” they gathered outside Downing Street and parliament as Modi arrived for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May.
Modi later at the Bharat Ki Baat event responded in front of thousands of Indians, saying the rape cases were “a matter of great concern”, had brought “a shame” on the country and called for the perpetrators to be outed.
National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK sent a letter demanding action over the rape cases in India, especially demanding justice for Asifa. A representative said the group had come under fire thereafter. It was signed by Indian and Asian student groups from more than 20 British universities. She told Asian Voice, many of the university groups had also received calls from 'UK based individuals' allegedly pressuring them to remove their signatures from the letter. They later rejoiced their efforts and support on a facebook post, after changes to law were made in India, allowing death penalty in child rape cases. It said, “NISAU is happy that our call for 'extraordinary' measures for female safety in India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been considered by the Indian Government.”
Womann Ki Baat with Indian Ladies in UK
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with members of Indian Ladies in UK (ILUK), Britain’s largest Indian women’s group on Friday 20th April. The women, led by ILUK founder Poonam Joshi, presented Mr Modi with a special chest containing messages collected from Indian women across the UK and outlining their hopes and aspirations for the future of India and appealing to Mr Modi to continue his work to safeguard, empower and educate women across India.
The box is appropriately called #WomanKiBaat – an allusion to Mr Modi’s weekly address to the nation “Mann Ki Baat”.
The meeting came on the final day of Mr Modi’s visit to London as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018.
The group informed Mr Modi about ILUK’s new initiative ‘Beta Padhao, Beti Bachao’ - an extension of the Modi government’s widely promoted, multi-million dollar ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, which aims to improve the education, welfare and well-being of girls in India.
