Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday took critical offence to a video allegedly displaying the Indian flag being desecrated exterior the New York venue the place RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed an occasion.
Sharing the purported video on X, Rijiju mentioned that one is free to criticise the RSS, BJP or the federal government, however warned towards disrespecting the Indian nationwide flag.
“We at all times mentioned, you’ve freedom to criticise RSS, BJP or Govt. however do not abuse our nation,” he wrote on X.
“Hear fastidiously… Don’t insult our flag and my nation. It is going to price you dearly,” the Union minister added.
What does the video present
The unverified video, now doing rounds on social media, reveals a person desecrating the Indian flag exterior Madison Sq. Backyard in New York whereas others raised pro-Khalistan slogans.
The unidentified particular person within the clip may be seen standing on a staircase whereas a tricolour may be seen wrapped round his toes.
HT couldn’t independently confirm the authenticity of the video.
It seems as if the person has wrapped a part of the nationwide flag to his footwear, whereas constantly flaring and kicking the remainder. He was additionally seen dancing within the video as others round him cheered and clicked pictures.
Mohan Bhagwat in New York
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday addressed the gang at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place he emphasised that unity and diversity are in the DNA of Indians. He added that when one thinks of America, the phrase “pluralism” typically involves thoughts.
“Everytime you consider America, one phrase is commonly mentioned — pluralism. After we say Bharat, one other phrase is mentioned — unity in range. For Bharat, each unity and variety are in its DNA,” he mentioned.
Talking on the ‘Common Oneness Celebration’ in New York Metropolis, Bhagwat elaborated on the idea of “oneness”, saying that regardless of variations in the best way individuals reside and of their materials wants, an “innate oneness” binds all everybody collectively.
He also said that a Hindu who believes India shouldn’t have any Muslims isn’t really a Hindu.
“In case you name your self a Hindu, you need to imagine that every one paths result in the identical vacation spot. Each human being has inherent dignity, there isn’t a basic distinction between us,” Bhagwat mentioned.
“Those that really know view everybody equally, whether or not a realized scholar or a canine. These exterior variations merely adorn nature. Whereas we should navigate by means of them in each day life, the underlying actuality stays, we’re one. The illusions of division exist and will thrive for a time, however ultimately they are going to fade, just for new illusions to take their place,” he added.
The occasion had sparked controversy amid opposition from some US-based Hindu organisations and following remarks by New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who described it as “extremely troubling” to see the rise of a motion in India based mostly on what he known as an “exclusionary imaginative and prescient”.
