Massive anti-US protests in India's capital to response to Soleimani's murder

Photos: RISHIKESH KUMAR/Sputnik

See the Sputnik report for video footage of the protests. 

Security forces stopped the throngs before they reached the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, but one report is that the embassy was shut as a precaution. Here's the India Today report, posted today at 16:09 IST: 

Red flag anti-US march in Delhi demands revenge for Qassem Soleimani killing

A massive anti-US march was carried out Tuesday in New Delhi in protest of the killing of top Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq.

The plan was for the protest march to end outside the US Embassy, but it was stopped halfway by the authorities for security reasons.

The protests were led by prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi, and Mehmood Pracha.

One of the protesters explained the significance of the red flag.

"In ancient times, when tribes would go to war and the leader of one of the tribes was killed then that tribe would raise a red flag declaring war against the killers of their chief. This red flag signifies our demand for revenge against America," he said.

Earlier, the American Embassy issued a demonstration alert’ for its citizens to stay away from the embassy area for their own safety.
[...]
The killing of Qassem Soleimani has evoked protests and demonstrations against the US across the globe, particularly in countries with Shia populations.

With India having a substantial number of Shia community members as its citizens, the MEA is looking at the sensitivity of the increasing tensions between the US and Iran.

This also comes at a time when Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is due to visit India for the Raisina Dialogue, where he is likely to take the stage and the opportunity to hit out at America. [The dialogue, held from January 14-16, will be attended by foreign ministers from around the world.]

He will also have a separate bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar.

IRAN-US TENSIONS | 'India must reach out to various regional players to ensure restraint'

[END REPORT]

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