Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in January hailed those who countered a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London in support of Kashmir freedom on the country’s 69th Republic Day. The Minister also said that fringe elements can’t damage the Indian spirit.

“Salute to the Indian patriots in London. The minuscule fringe elements can’t dent the spirit of India. We are all one from Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland to Rann of Kutch, and Kanyakumari to Punjab,” Rijiju said in a tweet. “I was very impressed with our zealously patriotic Indian diaspora and enjoyed a warm interaction with them, which was organised by the High Commission of India in

London,” the Minister said.

Clashes erupted outside the Indian High Commission in Central London in January evening as British Lord Nazir Ahmed, a pro-Pakistan peer in the House of Lords, organised a black-day protest to demand freedom for Kashmir and Khalistan. The protest turned violent after Ahmed’s supporters were countered by many Indian and British groups.