Demonstrations again
st Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK on April 18 took a violent turn and an Indian flag was torn down from one of the official flagpoles set up for the 53-nation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
PM Modi was in London for bilateral talks and to attend the CHOGM.
Anti-Indian protestors, including Pro-Khalistan protestors from the Sikh Federation UK and members of the so-called “Minorities Against Modi” group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Nazir Ahmed, were among hundreds of protesters who gathered outside Downing Street where PM Modi met his British counterpart Theresa May.
According to agency reports, nearly 500 protesters were gathered upon Parliament Square holding placards that read “Modi go home” while others condemned the incidents of rape.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that they expect “legal action” to be taken against those protestors who brought down the Indian flag, which was officially hoisted along with the flags of all 53 Commonwealth countries.
Indian official associated with the PM’s visit told a news agency, “We have expressed our concerns with the British authorities and they have apologized for the incident. We have been warning against some of these elements out to make trouble and they have assured us of action. The Indian flag has now been replaced.”
The UK Government has tendered an apology after Indian authorities complained that the Indian flag in Parliament Square was pulled down, torn and stamped on by individuals protesting against India.
