India tells UK: Tell your MPs not to interfere in internal politics

Conveying its strong opposition over discussions on farm reforms in the British Parliament, India on Tuesday summoned the country's High Commission Alexander Ellis and asked the British MPs to refrain from interfering in its political spectrum. 

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla summoned the British High Commissioner and termed the discussion as 'unwarranted and tendentious'. 

"The Foreign Secretary made clear that this represented a gross interference in the politics of another democratic country," the External Affairs Ministry said. 

He also advised that British Members of Parliament should refrain from practising vote bank politics by misrepresenting events, especially in relation to another fellow democracy.

On an e-petition, some British lawmakers debated the right of peaceful protests and freedom of the press in India. 

During the discussion, Britain's Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams had come in strong support of New Delhi and said, "India's agriculture reforms are India's internal matter."

The close UK-India relationship did not hinder the UK in any way from raising difficult issues with India, he said.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at multiple Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28.

The farmers are demanding revocation of three farm laws which was passed by the Parliament during the last session.

• Alexander Ellis
• British MPs
• Farmers protests
• High Commission
• Indian High Commissioner
• farmers protest debate
• UK parliament