VOIWORLDNew Delhi / London | Business Today Desk
Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has warned that Britain’s Indian diaspora may face unintended consequences from the rising wave of anti-immigration protests in London.
“The danger of this backlash is that even the law-abiding, modern-minded Indian-origin community—which does not seek to impose retrogressive religious norms, is not prone to violence, and is not a burden on the welfare state—will get amalgamated with those that the demonstrators are actually protesting against. The Indian community will pay for the sins of others if this backlash gains momentum,” Sibal cautioned on Sunday.
His remarks came a day after the “Unite the Kingdom” march, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, attracted more than 110,000 participants, far exceeding police expectations. The rally, marked by nationalist slogans and anti-migrant rhetoric, soon turned violent.
Police Injuries and Arrests
The Metropolitan Police reported that 26 officers were injured in clashes, suffering broken teeth, a suspected broken nose, and a spinal injury. At least 25 individuals were arrested for violent disorder, assault, and property damage.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist acknowledged that while some came to lawfully protest, many others were “intent on violence.” Robinson’s supporters also attempted to break through police barricades separating them from a counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism, which drew around 5,000 people under the banner “March Against Fascism.”
Far-Right Rhetoric
Addressing his supporters, Robinson alleged that migrants had “more rights in court than the British public, the people that built this nation.” The rally also featured French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, who warned of what he called the “great replacement” of Europeans by migrants from former colonies.
The demonstration stretched nearly a kilometre from Big Ben across the River Thames, with crowds waving Union Jacks and chanting slogans such as “Stop the boats” and “We want our country back.”
Rising Tensions
The unrest comes amid increasing hostility toward asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel. For months, protests have been staged outside hotels accommodating migrants. Observers fear these mass gatherings are hardening public sentiment against immigrants broadly, including long-settled and well-integrated communities such as Indians.
