'Bharat Will Never Bow': Kiren Rijiju Slams Congress Over London Protest
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticizes Congress after party flags were seen alongside Pakistan and PoK flags during a London protest.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of associating with anti-India elements during a series of protests in London. The controversy erupted after reports emerged that Congress party flags were displayed alongside those of Pakistan and so-called 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' (PoK) during a demonstration in the UK capital.
The Controversy at Parliament Square
The events unfolded over two days in London. On October 16, 2026, a demonstration took place outside the Indian High Commission. This was followed by a larger gathering on October 17, 2026, at Parliament Square. This second event was co-organized by the Indian Overseas Congress Youth wing and several Indian student groups based in the UK.
The primary objective of the protest was to target Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with organizers raising allegations regarding irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Allegations of 'Anti-India' Alliances
The situation took a political turn when images and reports from the scene indicated the presence of Pakistani nationals, including a correspondent from the Pakistani news network ARY News. Most controversially, flags representing Pakistan and PoK were seen flying in the same vicinity as the Congress party flags.
Taking to the social media platform X, Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed his outrage, asserting that such "Anti-India gangs" are attempting to intimidate patriotic Indian citizens. In a strong statement, Rijiju declared that "anti-India forces can never break India" and emphasized that "Bharat will never bow."
Clashes and Police Intervention
The atmosphere at Parliament Square remained tense as the protest faced a counter-demonstration. Members of the Indian diaspora gathered in the area to show their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to a standoff between the two opposing groups.
To prevent the situation from escalating into violence, officers from the UK Metropolitan Police were deployed to the site. The police worked to create a physical separation between the Congress-led protesters and the pro-Modi demonstrators to maintain public order.