On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked about the agitation of farmers in India in the House of Commons, and apparently incorrectly viewing the issue as one between India and Pakistan, he told the House of Commons that it is a issue that the two governments must resolve. .
Johnson was asked by Labor MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi during Prime Minister’s Question Time if he could convey anxiety in the UK over footage of police action against farmers protesting in and around New Delhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. .
Dhesi said: “Many constituents, especially those from the Punjab and other parts of India, and I are horrified to see images of water cannons, tear gas and brute force being used against peacefully protesting farmers.”
“However, it was comforting to see those same farmers feeding the forces that had been ordered to beat them up or suppress them … what an indomitable spirit … it takes a special kind of people to do that.”
“Then the prime minister will convey to the Indian prime minister our heartfelt anxieties, our hopes for a speedy resolution to the current deadlock, and he agrees that everyone has a fundamental right to peaceful protest,” he asked.
Johnson replied: “Of course, Mr. President, and our views as the honorable gentleman well knows, of course, we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan, but these are pre-eminent issues to be resolved by those two governments and myself. I know he appreciates that point. “
The exchange came days after the Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the farmers’ unrest, when its spokesperson said: “Police handling of the protests is a matter for the Government of India.”
Dhesi later tweeted: “The world is watching, the problem is huge with hundreds of thousands of people protesting around the world (including in London, as reported by the BBC) and Boris Johnson’s usual deception and bravado creates further shame on our nation. Absolutely clueless! Very disappointed in your answer … But it might help if our PM really knew what he was talking about! “
Dhesi last week coordinated a letter signed by 36 multi-party MPs to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, asking him to raise the farmers’ issue with the Indian government. A protest rally was held in front of the Indian high commission in Aldwych on Sunday.
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