ANI journalist Poonam Joshi and Shazia Ilmi of BJP make India proud with their actions

Independence Day isn’t simply enjoying a good holiday and watching the celebrations at the Red Fort, it stands to remind all of the difficulties faced by the freedom fighters to uphold the honour of the country. This Independence Day, two different women, in different cities outside India proved just how much they value and honour the integrity of the country and showcased to the world what they will do to uphold it.

The first of these women was journalist Poonam Joshi from ANI. While covering the Independence Day celebrations outside the Indian High Commission in London, she upheld honour for the Indian Flag where is was being disrespected. Outside the Indian High Commission, Pro-Pakistan and Pro-Khalistan protests were going on during which the protestors were disrespecting India. While doing so, they tore the tricolour in a show of disrespect and threw it on the ground. Thereafter, one of the culprits started desecrating the flag piece lying on the ground.

Poonam Joshi, while covering the incident could not let the incident pass and ran to save the honour of the tricolour. She picked up one piece of the tricolour from the ground and snatched the other one from the hand of the protestor in a show of what should be the ideal behavior and feelings of a true patriot.

Similarly in Seoul, Shazia Ilmi confronted the Pakistan supporters who were raising anti-Modi and anti-India slogans. The Pakistani supports were yelling “India terrorist” and “Modi terrorist”. BJP and RSS leaders, including Shazia Ilmi saw this and confronted the protestors in a peaceful manner and seemed to have tried to reason with them. However the Pakistani supports continued with their incessant yelling. Thereafter, Shazia Ilmi and her counterpart started raising pro India slogans by chanting “India zindabad” (long live India).

While chanting the slogan, she walked away from the mass of individuals suffering from herd mentality with her head held high.

These two women are the epitome of an honorable citizen. Not only did they respect the country but also upheld the honour in foreign nations, something which is so rarely visible, given the colonial mindsets people carry.

Indian citizens should also take inspiration from these incidents and imbibe from them. To be a true nationalist is a proud feeling and upholding the integrity and sovereignty of the nation, more so. In times of foreign threats and ideological differences in any form, the Indians must stick together and deal with the menace, as first and foremost before any other identity, we are Indians.