Your coverage of tearing of India’s national flag was good. You have spread awareness about events and repercussions on Indian Community. All Indians, irrespective of passport and signatories to petition have full right to feel anguish at such sacrilege.
You mentioned urgent replacement of the flag, and apology by U.K. at highest level. It was also noteworthy that many Indian organisations have also demanded relevant action, being supported by 12000 signatures.
I do not understand why our Indian Lords were passive/apathetic when active aggressive Lord Nazir Ahmed successfully organised anti Modi demonstration. If British government permitted Lord Nazir to organise demonstration to insult India’s Prime Minister, Indian Lords must have initiated counter demonstration or at least voiced strong opposition to Lord Nazir’s patent malafide intentions. Everyone in Parliament campus knew in advance about Lord Nazir organising a demonstration, but Indian Lords did not raise a finger.
Rapid action by various Indian organisations denotes shift of younger generation from meek observers to result oriented aggression. British government and police/ law and order personnel must also note total absence of any sort of violence by Indians, on the spot or later. Compare this with violence by culprits, who were supposed to win sympathy of British government and public. Their violence have proved harmful to their cause.
But that does not mean any punitive action will be taken by British government or police. There is no indication that police will scan the video, identify the culprits, and prosecute them. There is also no indication that Indian’s High Commissioner or government of India will ask for punitive action by British authority. To me file will remain open with no one booked for punishment.
Older generation of Indians are easily placated by lip sympathy, but I hope youthful top brass Indians will press the matter till satisfactory result is achieved, even if Indians in House of Lords have to be pulled in this endeavor.
Ramesh Jhalla
By email
