Solo Indian Flag at Capitol Hill Rally Sparks Political Spat in India

Tamy Ingvaldson prays for peace outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. The protests saw other nations' flags, including an Indian flag, which inspired sharp reactions within India. John Moore/Getty Images

NEW DELHI—A lone Indian national flag seen amid the many American flags on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6 sparked an online spat between two Indian politicians, while netizens reacted and took sides in the discussion.

An Indian American named Vincent Xavier Palathingal, a Republican Party member who attended the rally because he believes the U.S. presidential election was fraudulent, was seen carrying the flag, the Indian news website The Quint reported.