India Summons British Envoy, Slams U.K. Parliament Over Debate on Farmers’ Issue
Indian Foreign Secretary Harsha Shringla has summoned the British High Commissioner besides conveying strong opposition to the unwarranted and tendentious discussion on the agricultural reforms in India in the British Parliament. (IANS photo)
NEW DELHI – The government on March 9 took a strong stand against the U.K. Parliament over its unwarranted discussion on India’s farm reforms.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the government said that Foreign Secretary Harsha Shringla has summoned the British High Commissioner besides conveying strong opposition to the unwarranted and tendentious discussion on the agricultural reforms in India in the British Parliament.
The foreign secretary made it clear that this represented a gross interference in the politics of another democratic country. He advised that British MPs should refrain from practicing vote bank politics by misrepresenting events, especially in relation to a fellow democracy.
Over 100 U.K. parliamentarians in January this year had written a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, expressing their concern over the agitation of farmers in India. Since then, they have been demanding a debate on the issue.
A substantial number of anti-India Khalistani Sikhs and Pakistanis live in the U.K., making them a significant vote bank in British politics. As a result, they try to wield their influence over India’s domestic affairs by building up international pressure through legislative mechanisms.