India has protested against the burning of the national flag by a group of pro-Khalistan activists on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in London. In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that outrage over the incident was expressed at the highest level of the host country and India expects the UK will take legal action against the perpetrators of the act.

“We are deeply anguished with the incident involving our national flag and assault on an Indian journalist at Parliament Square in London. The moment the incident came to our notice, it was promptly and strongly taken up by us with the UK side,” the Official Spokesperson of the MEA said.

The incident took place at Parliament Square in where pro-Khalistan and pro-freedom Kashmiri groups were protesting, even as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting got under way. The protesters took down the Indian flag and replaced it with flags from their movements.

“The moment the incident came to our notice, it was promptly and strongly taken up by us with the UK side. The UK side has regretted the incident, including at the highest level. The flag was immediately replaced. We expect action, including legal, against the persons involved in the incident and their instigators,” said the Official Spokesperson.

The incident shocked many as it took place in front of a large presence of police in the UK capital.