British MP impressed by well-behaved protesters

British MP Keith Vaz on Thursday was all praise for the manner in which young Indians are expressing dissent, although he said the current anti-corruption upsurge was an internal issue he hoped to be soon resolved. Vaz is the first Indian-descent politician to sit in the House of Commons since 1922.

British MP Keith Vaz on Thursday was all praise for the manner in which young Indians are expressing dissent, although he said the current anti-corruption upsurge was an internal issue he hoped to be soon resolved. Vaz is the first Indian-descent politician to sit in the House of Commons since 1922.

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As head of the influential home affairs standing committee, Vaz is currently leading the committee’s inquiry into the recent riots in London and the midland cities.

“I absolutely have respect for the way Indian youth address their issues. We would always want more Indian students in UK. India’s best export is its people,” Vaz said, when asked if he — as a British politician with a keen India focus – had something to say on the ongoing protests in India.

Vaz suggested it would be “inappropriate” for him to dwell on the Anna Hazare-led protests, but said it was “political issue” whereas Britain’s riots were plainly “criminal”. He said often political issues in Britain have been violent, as in the past G-20 protests. The MP said he did note that all this stood in contrast to the orderly fashion in which Indians have taken to the streets.