Khalistani supporters tears down Tricolor in London: Anger strikes people back home

Strong action sought by Indians from the UK government

Pro-Khalistan protesters tearing down the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London has infuriated people at home. This has prompted calls for harsh punishment for the perpetrators. On Sunday, supporters of Khalistan waved separatist flags and chanted pro-Khalistani slogans as they grabbed India's national flag flying atop the mission in London, resulting in an arrest related to the violent disorder.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the incident and demanded that the UK government take the harshest possible action against the perpetrators. 

"This is utterly repugnant and must be strongly condemned. "UK Police and its Government must take strict action against those who are disrespectful to our tricolour and trespassing," she tweeted.

"Highly condemnable incident," said Congress MP Rajeev Shukla on Twitter. British police must apprehend the perpetrators."  According to mission officials, the "attempted but failed" attack was foiled, and the tricolour was now flying "grander," according to PTI. Scotland Yard said it was called to reports of disorder on Sunday afternoon and that a man was arrested while investigations are ongoing.

"There was no report of any injury, but windows at the High Commission building were broken," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. “Officers responded to the scene. Prior to the arrival of police, the vast majority of those present had dispersed. An investigation was launched, and shortly afterwards, one male was arrested nearby on suspicion of violent disorder. "Enquiries are ongoing," the statement said.

Meanwhile, New Delhi's external affairs ministry summoned the senior-most British diplomat to lodge a protest after several videos on social media showed a Sikh man tearing down the flag outside the Indian mission in London. The British deputy high commissioner, Christina Scott, was "reminded in this regard of the UK Government's basic obligations under the Vienna Convention," according to an external affairs ministry statement.