Will cost you dearly, Rijiju warns protesters who desecrated Tricolour in US

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday condemned protesters for desecrating the Indian flag outside an event addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New York, warning them against insulting the nation. Sharing a video of the protest on X, Rijiju said people were free to criticise the RSS, BJP or government, but not the country.

In his post, Rijiju said, "We always said, you have freedom to criticise RSS, BJP or government. But don't abuse our nation." He also said, "Listen carefully... Do not insult our flag and my country. It will cost you dearly."

In the video posted by Rijiju, one of the protesters is seen desecrating the Indian flag outside Madison Square Garden in New York, while others raised pro-Khalistan slogans. The protest took place outside the venue where Bhagwat addressed members of the Indian-American community and interfaith leaders.

At the event on Saturday, Bhagwat addressed over 6,000 members of the Indian-American community and interfaith leaders at the Infosys Theatre in Madison Square Garden. He called on people to embrace diversity and support communities, and said unity in diversity is in Bharat's DNA and must be celebrated, respected and accepted.

Before Bhagwat's keynote address, interfaith leaders spoke about oneness, unity and diversity, kindness, compassion and the need to help one another. The speakers included Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, chief executive officer of the Rabbinical Assembly; Reverend Adriene Thorne, the eighth senior minister of Riverside Church in New York City and its first African American woman senior minister; and Talib M Shareef, president and Imam of Masjid Muhammad, also known as 'the Nation's Mosque', in Washington, DC.

The development centred on the protest outside the New York event venue and Bhagwat's address inside, where he spoke about diversity and unity before a large gathering of the Indian-American community and interfaith leaders.