India slams UK Lawmakers' debate on farmers' protest: ‘One-sided, false assertions’
India has slammed the UK House of Commons debating on press freedom and safety of farmer protesters in India.
FollowLondon/ New Delhi: A debate held in British Parliament on Monday on "safety of farmers" and "press freedom" in India has evoked a sharp response from the Indian High Commission in London.
The Indian government slammed a debate held in the House of Commons on press freedom and safety of farmer protesters in India, saying it was one-sided and packed with false assertions.
"We deeply regret that rather than a balanced debate, false assertions - without substantiation or facts - were made, casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions," the High Commission said in a statement.
"Foreign media, including the British media, are present in India and have witnessed the events under discussion first-hand. The question of lack of freedom of the media in India does not arise," it further read.
The debate was held in response to an e-petition which had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold, required for it to be approved by the House of Commons Petitions Committee. The Indian High Commission made its displeasure known despite the British government earlier reiterating that the three New Delhi laws on agricultural reform were a “domestic matter”.
During the debate MPs – from both Labour and the ruling Conservatives – condemned India for its treatment of farmer protesters and alleged crackdown on the press, as well as Internet shutdowns and arrest of activists.
The British government also underlined India’s importance, saying “India and the UK together work as a force for good in the UN Security Council and bilateral cooperation between the two countries helps fix many global problems”.
Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Minister Nigel Adams said, “however, whilst this is an exciting time for the UK-India partnership, it does not hinder us from raising difficult issues,” adding that, “candid discussions” on a range of issues will form part of Boris Johnson’s planned visit to India in the coming months.
While the minister acknowledged the “alarm and uncertainty” the farmers’ protests and their coverage in India had caused among British communities with family ties in India, he expressed hope that the ongoing dialogue between the Indian government and farmers’ unions will have positive results. Virendra Sharma, the Opposition Labour MP for Ealing Southall in west London with a large Punjabi diaspora, sought to counsel both the Indian government and agitating farmers to reach an agreement over the issue. “Both sides need to step back and recognise the need to come to an agreement… I hope the (British) government will commit to helping that cause and offer British skills in negotiation and compromise to help both sides to bring this issue to a close,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
