UK Apologises Over Indian Flag Being Torn During Modi’s Visit

“We expect legal action against the people who were involved in this,” the MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Protesters rip up India’s flag after tearing it off a flagpole in Parliament Square, London, on 18 April. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The UK government tendered an apology on Thursday, 19 April, over the Indian flag in Parliament Square in London being pulled down, torn and stamped on by individuals protesting against India and the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported Hindustan Times.

The flag was replaced soon after the Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep anguish over the incident. The Indian flag was torn down from one of the official flagpoles set up for all 53 Commonwealth countries at London’s Parliament Square.

While people have the right to hold peaceful protests, we are disappointed with the action taken by a small minority in Parliament Square and contacted High Commissioner Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha as soon as we were made aware. The visit to the UK by Prime Minister Modi has strengthened our relationship with India and we look forward to working even more closely together on a number of important areas.

UK Foreign Office statement

The incident comes during PM Modi’s visit to UK for bilateral talks as well as the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said:

We’re deeply anguished over the incident involving our national flag. The matter was taken up strongly with the UK side. They have regretted the incident. The flag was immediately replaced. We expect legal action against the people who were involved in this.

Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson

Some groups protesting at the Parliament Square against atrocities in India had turned violent on Wednesday, 18 April, as the Indian tricolour was torn down from the flagpole.

In a statement issued earlier, the Metropolitan Police said:

Police are investigating after an Indian flag in Parliament Square was pulled down at 15:00 (UK time) on Wednesday, 18 April. The flag has been replaced. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.

Metropolitan Police

Meanwhile, a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesperson said that they had contacted High Commissioner Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha as soon as they were made aware of the incident.

"While people have the right to hold peaceful protests, we are disappointed with the action taken by a small minority in Parliament Square…” the spokesperson said.

Pro-Khalistani demonstrators from Sikh Federation UK and demonstrators from the ‘Minorities Against Modi’ group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Lord Ahmed, were among nearly 500 protesters who had descended upon Parliament Square, reported PTI.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times, PTI and ANI)

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