Rival groups of demonstrators faced off outside the Indian High Commission on Aldwych on Friday, as members of the Indian diaspora staged a counter-protest in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opposing a demonstration by student groups including the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).
The counter-protest, held on Friday local time, saw diaspora members voice support for the Modi government. According to reports, those taking part said the government held a democratic mandate and accused the demonstrators of harming India’s image abroad.
The gathering they opposed had been organised by student and diaspora groups. The Students’ Federation of India in the UK (SFI-UK) said its demonstration outside the High Commission demanded electoral integrity and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to the group’s own account.
Key points
- Members of the Indian diaspora staged a counter-protest backing PM Narendra Modi outside the Indian High Commission in London on Friday.
- They opposed a demonstration by the Congress-backed NSUI and other groups; counter-protesters said the Modi government had a democratic mandate.
- SFI-UK said its protest demanded electoral integrity and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- In Delhi, police detained around 150 demonstrators in central Delhi amid protests linked to the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally.
What the counter-protesters said
The counter-demonstration was described in reports as a show of support for Mr Modi by members of the Indian community in London. Those taking part said the Modi government enjoyed a democratic mandate, and accused the opposing demonstrators of damaging India’s image abroad, according to reports.
One report described the pro-government contingent as the smaller of the two gatherings, holding its ground across from the student demonstration outside the High Commission building.
What the other demonstrators demanded
The demonstration that drew the counter-protest was organised under a student banner. SFI-UK said its members were protesting outside the High Commission of India to demand electoral integrity and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, according to the group’s own statement.
Reports described the NSUI, the student wing backed by India’s Congress party, as being behind the demonstration alongside other groups. The rival gatherings in London came amid wider protests over electoral reforms in India.
The wider context in India
The London demonstrations unfolded against the backdrop of protests in India over the Election Commission’s voter roll revisions and demands for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation. In Delhi, police detained around 150 demonstrators in central Delhi, according to reports, amid demonstrations connected with the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally.
Reports linked the unrest to a campaign around electoral reforms, with demonstrators in India raising concerns about the integrity of the voter rolls. The London protests brought those tensions to the doorstep of India’s diplomatic mission in the UK.
London has seen a series of diaspora-led demonstrations, including a major protest by the Kashmiri community in central London over reported killings. Student demonstrations have also made headlines in the capital, including the case of a King’s College London student reinstated after a suspension over pro-Palestinian protests. Campaigners have also taken to the streets over local issues, from disabled campaigners protesting over Hackney’s floating bus stops.
Explainer: the groups involved
The NSUI is described in reports as the student wing backed by India’s Congress party. SFI-UK is the UK arm of the Students’ Federation of India; it said its High Commission demonstration was about electoral integrity and its demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation. The counter-protesters were members of the Indian diaspora in London voicing support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.
Why Aldwych?
The Indian High Commission on Aldwych is India’s diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom, housed in the landmark India House building. Protests outside diplomatic missions are a long-established feature of political life in the capital, giving diaspora communities a visible stage for debates playing out back home.
What happens next
Neither gathering was reported to have resulted in disorder, and the rival demonstrations dispersed after making their respective cases. The underlying dispute over electoral reforms in India continues, with further demonstrations possible both in India and among diaspora communities in London.
