For almost three months, farmers have opposed the new farm laws (Archive)
London:
A group of 36 multi-party MPs have written to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab asking him to make arrangements with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, about the impact on British Punjabis affected by farmers’ demonstrations against the new reforms. agricultural in India.
The letter, issued on Friday, was drafted by British Sikh Labor MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and signed by other Indian-origin MPs, including Virendra Sharma, Seema Malhotra and Valerie Vaz, as well as former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.
India has called the statements by foreign leaders and politicians about the farmers’ protests “misinformed” and “unjustified” as the matter concerned the internal affairs of a democratic country.
The MPs’ letter urges the minister to arrange an urgent meeting with them to discuss the “deteriorating situation in Punjab” and seeks an update on any communication the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has had with him. Indian government on the problem.
“This is a joint letter asking that you represent yourself to your Indian counterpart on the impact on British Sikhs and Punjabis, with long-standing ties to land and agriculture in India,” the letter reads.
“This is an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the UK and those linked to Punjab, although it also has a strong impact on other Indian states. Many British Sikhs and Punjabis have raised this issue with their MPs as they see each other directly affected by their family members and ancestral lands in Punjab, “it read.
The FCDO has not yet responded to the letter or with an official statement on the matter.
In response to comments from foreign leaders, Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said on Tuesday: “We have seen some misinformed comments relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unjustified, especially when they refer to the internal affairs of a democratic country.. “
In a concise message, the ministry added that “it is also better that diplomatic talks are not misrepresented for political purposes.”
The latest intervention by British MPs follows Dhesi and other politicians who turn to social media to express their support for farmers. Lord Indarjit Singh, a fellow member of the House of Lords, also raised the issue in the Upper House of Parliament earlier this week.
The UK Cabinet Office Minister responding in the House, Lord Nicholas True, declined to address a “broad complaint” from any nation, adding: “Our values are democratic; they are widely shared and practiced throughout. the world. We wish to keep that one. “
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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