Kashmir debate in UK House upsets India

Upset over British parliament’s plans to debate on human rights in J&K, India on Thursday said it has taken due note of the issue, asserting there were effective mechanisms within the country's democratic framework to address any “grievance or aberration.” HT reports.

Upset over British parliament’s plans to debate on human rights in J&K, India on Thursday said it has taken due note of the issue, asserting there were effective mechanisms within the country's democratic framework to address any “grievance or aberration.”

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India also said it believes that the debate, an initiative of back-bencher MPs, does not reflect “the position of the UK government.”

Taking a “due note” of the development, Vishnu Prakash, the spokesperson of the external affairs ministry said: “India is a vibrant democracy which fully respects rule of law and human rights. Civil liberties and freedoms are enshrined in the Constitution of India as fundamental rights and are exercised by each and every citizen of this country of 1.2 billion people.”

“We take due note of the proposed debate in the UK House of Commons later today, which we believe is an initiative of back-bencher MPs and does not reflect the position of the UK government. Our views in the matter are known to UK,” he further said, in response to questions on the proposed debate on ‘Human Rights in Indian sub-continent.’

The issue was listed for a discussion in the Backbench Business— (i) Motion relating to food security and famine prevention in Africa (ii) general debate on human rights in the Indian sub-continent.

Conservative MP Steve Baker, along with four other MPs, has given a notice for the debate.