LONDON: Thousands of people of Indian origin in the UK are furious about their national flag being torn down during protests last week and have started a petition which they will hand to UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

Launched by the Friends of India Society International UK, the petition, addressed to May and to leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn, calls for “action against the culprits who brought down the Indian flag and tore it under the watchful eyes of British police”.

At the time of going to press on Monday approximately 8,000 people had signed it, as allegations surfaced some of the protesters were paid to protest against India.

The metropolitan police confirmed to TOI on Monday that no arrests had been made. With 60 murder investigations launched in the capital this year, one can only speculate how much attention they will give it.

A metropolitan police spokesman said: “The damage to a flag would be either a criminal damage or public order offence, depending on the circumstances.”

When probed as to their reaction to the petition criticising the police, the spokesman said: “Any petition related to this would not be a police matter.”

“Most countries across the world prohibit the desecration of or insult to a country’s national symbols. This includes intentionally destroying, damaging, or mutilating a national flag in public. It’s a shame that neither the law of England and Wales nor the law of Scotland contains punishment for desecrating a national flag,” said Hindu Council UK director secretary-general Sanjay Jagatia.

“It was the UK government who put the flag up in Parliament Square and, therefore, it remains for the UK government, mayor of London and the metropolitan police to ensure that the person(s) responsible for this are brought to justice for deliberately provoking and inciting hatred and hurting the sentiments of law-abiding Indians in the UK,” he added. “Disrespecting the Indian flag is disrespecting our nation’s ideals, principles and, above all, disrespecting those people who died fighting for our country, both soldiers and freedom fighters.”

One NRI, who was present at the protests, told TOI: “A sardar near the protest site jumped out and called out my name! I was shocked to see him there in his Khalistani avatar and he works in the local garage! I asked him how come he is here, and he said in Hindi that he was promised £15 per hour and was given free train tickets to travel. So he came over just to earn money and shout against India. He went to his gurdwara in the Midlands on Sunday and that was where they were recruited. I don’t get the impression he even knows what he was protesting about. At these Vaisakhi melas in the UK they often have a special area set up with photos and seminars to show alleged atrocities against Sikhs by the Indian armed forces and that is why they say Khalistan, an independent country for Sikhs, is important. It is at this place you may be able to meet these individuals.”

Hundreds of Indian-origin people vented their fury at the incident in a Facebook group for Indians living in London. One wrote: “Where do these people want Khalistan? And will they move out of UK to live there?” Another wrote: “It felt like the cops were scared and are too weak to take strong action against some ethnic minorities.”

Indian TV journalist Loveena Tandon , who says she was abused, intimidated and harassed by some of the protesters, confirmed to TOI that police came to her house on Saturday and took her statement. It is not clear what charges the police will framed.

The Sikh Federation UK, Sikhs for Justice and Dal Khalsa UK boasted about the flag being torn down on social media. Dal Khalsa UK tweeted: “Indians are moaning about the flag yet turn a blind eye to genocide and rapes across India” and praised PM May for not answering a question by PTI on the matter at a televised event last week.

Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation UK, said: “Does removal of the Indian flag in London matter more than the lives of millions of innocent men, women and children belonging to minorities or lower castes in India who are being killed, attacked and raped on a daily basis?”

