India:Arrest over hoisting Palestinian flag at UP school sparks debate on India’s double standards
The arrest of a man in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri for hoisting a Palestinian flag at a government school has sparked widespread criticism over India’s selective crackdown on pro-Palestinian expressions while allowing pro-Israel demonstrations to go unchecked.
According to Kashmir Media Service, police claimed the accused, Saddam, replaced the Indian flag at the Upper Primary School in Lakhha village with a Palestinian flag in solidarity with Gaza. He was arrested following a complaint, while a search is underway for others allegedly involved. Superintendent of Police Sankalp Sharma termed the act a “serious crime.”
Legal experts, however, stressed that flying foreign flags is not a crime under Indian law unless the national flag is disrespected. Advocate Farhan Qureshi said the arrests send a “worrying signal to democratic freedoms.”
The move comes even as Hindutva groups openly waved Israeli flags, burnt Palestinian flags, and held pro-Israel rallies without facing action. Critics say this stark double standard exposes political bias in law enforcement.
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