The debate was a response to a petition started by Maidenhead’s Liberal Democrat leader,
London / New Delhi:
A debate in the British Parliament on Monday on “farmer safety” and “freedom of the press” in India has sparked a strong response from India’s High Commission in London.
“We deeply regret that instead of a balanced debate, false claims, without foundation or fact, have been made that slander the world’s largest functioning democracy and its institutions,” the High Commission said in a statement.
“Foreign media, including British media, are present in India and have witnessed the events under discussion first hand. The question of the lack of freedom of the media in India does not arise,” it reads.
On Monday, the British parliament set aside 90 minutes to debate “farmers’ safety” and “press freedom” in India. Several MPs from the Labor Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party expressed concern about the Indian government’s reaction to the protests.
The UK government responded by saying: “Concerns will be raised with India when both Prime Ministers meet in person.”
The debate was a response to a petition started by Maidenhead’s Liberal Democrat leader, Gurch Singh, of Indian descent. The petition received signatures from more than one lakh from UK residents within weeks.
The Scottish National Party’s Martin Day opened the debate with the following remarks: “The UK government has already stated that agricultural reforms are a matter for the Indian government’s decision. Therefore, we are not debating the reforms now. We are. debating for the safety of the protesters. The water cannons and tear gas and the repeated clashes between the police and the farmers and the interruption of the internet connection have been cause for concern. Several farmers have reportedly committed suicide. ” .
In response to several opposition MPs who raised concerns for the safety of farmers and journalists in India, UK Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams said Britain’s “close ties with India do not prevent it from the nation raises concerns. ”
Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The unprecedented protests should make one wonder why so many people are turning up. The arrests of journalists are of great concern.”
Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, however, shared support for the Indian government’s response. “We also get complaints against police here in the UK when there are mass protests. That does not mean the UK is against democracy.” she said.
In his statement, the High Commissioner of India noted: “The High Commissioner of India would normally refrain from commenting on an internal debate involving a small group of Honorable Parliamentarians with a limited quorum. However, when someone slanders against India, regardless of their claims of friendship and love for India or internal political compulsions, things need to be clarified. “
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to be in India in January to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi. This trip had to be postponed amid an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the UK, particularly those of the rapidly spreading new UK variant.
This trip is seen as a strong indication that the UK hopes to further strengthen its ties with India after Brexit. The British prime minister will debate a proposed trade deal, among other issues.
Farmers’ protests against three new farm laws began near Delhi’s borders in November. Last month, the government had given an unprecedented reaction after pop star Rihanna, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and US and British lawmakers supported the demonstrations.
“We would like to emphasize that these protests must be viewed in the context of India’s democratic politics and ethics, and the efforts of the government and concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse,” the Foreign Ministry said in the statement.
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