Fierce debate in UK Parliament over Delhi violence, Modi government criticized
Some MPs in the UK Parliament have reacted sharply to the Delhi violence. Expressing concern over the Delhi violence, British MPs have also sought information from the Ministry of External Affairs about the talks with the Government of India on this issue.
British Sikh MPs Tanmanjit Singh and Preet Gil Kaur raised many questions to the government on the Delhi violence. Sikh MP Tammanjeet Singh said that the recent violence in Delhi is refreshing old painful memories.
British MP Tanmanjit Singh said, when I was studying in India, I became a witness to the 1984 Sikh massacre as a minority. We must learn from history, we should not fall under the pretext of those who aim to divide the society, who want to kill people under the cover of religion and want to damage religious places. I want to ask the speaker what message he has given to the Indian counterpart regarding the incidents happening against Indian Muslims?
Labor MP from Edgbaston, Preet Gil Kaur, asked, can the minister explain what steps he is taking to protect the minorities in India.
At the same time, Labor MP Khalid Mehmood also raised questions about what the UK government is doing about the riots in Delhi.
Mehmood warned that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would come after the Citizenship Amendment Act and then put them in torture camps before extraditing Muslims.
He said, Modi’s footsteps are turning his ‘India for Hindus’ slogan into hate-filled nationalist barbarism. He said in the House that Muslims are being beaten up while the police kept quiet and Modi is counting the benefits of electoral success.
In response to these questions, Minister of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Foreign Ministry) Nigel Adams said, Honorable Members speak very effectively from their personal experience. It is very important that we raise our voice against injustice.
He said, the British High Commission in New Delhi and our diplomatic channels in India are closely monitoring the incidents of violence and citizenship law in India.
Adams said, the developments in Delhi last week were very worrying and the situation is still tense. We appeal to all parties to exercise restraint and we are sure that the Government of India will address the concerns of people of all religions in India.
Not only the Labor Party but Conservative Party MP Paul Bristow and Scottish National Party MP Tommy Sheppard also asked the Ministry of External Affairs to clarify their stand on Delhi violence and citizenship law.
Earlier, on the allegations related to the Delhi violence, the Ministry of External Affairs of India had clarified that the Delhi Police immediately tried to maintain peace by overcoming the situation. Furthermore, such statements are not based on true facts.
