Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and several senior party leaders were detained on Thursday while protesting outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi over the Pahalgam terror attack that left 27 people dead.

Organized by the Anti-Terror Action Forum, the protest condemned the April 22 attack in which 26 Indian tourists and one local Kashmiri lost their lives. The protest began with a moment of silence before demonstrators raised slogans like “Down with Pakistan” and “Won’t bow before terrorism.”

Among those participating were former BJP state presidents Harsh Vardhan and Satish Upadhyay, as well as State General Secretary Vishnu Mittal and several BJP MLAs and party workers.

Protesters held placards denouncing Pakistan’s alleged role in supporting terrorism. Tensions escalated when BJP members broke through police barricades, prompting Delhi Police to detain Sachdeva and hundreds of workers. They were taken to Chanakyapuri Police Station and later released.

Speaking to the media, Sachdeva declared that India would respond forcefully to the Pahalgam attack, referencing previous retaliatory actions in Uri and Pulwama.

“This is not the old India. This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India, which gives fitting replies. Our response to Pahalgam will be no different,” he said.

He also warned against internal threats, claiming that “secularism-preaching traitors” should realize such attacks could target anyone, anywhere, if India doesn’t remain united.

“Our protest is also against those officials in the Pakistan High Commission who enjoy Indian hospitality while allegedly supporting terrorism,” he added.

Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan reiterated the call for declaring Pakistan a terrorist state, citing earlier international appeals, including suggestions from the United Nations.

This protest follows a wave of national outrage after the Pahalgam incident, which has been widely condemned as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years.