Politicians laud India’s religious diversity during minority rights debate
THE UK government last Tuesday (12) praised India’s religious diversity as British MPs highlighted work being done to promote a UK-India interfaith dialogue on tackling shared global challenges.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister Nigel Adams sought to reassure MPs that “difficult issues” around human rights were raised in a free and open manner with India, as he reiterated the country’s secular constitution guaranteed equal rights to all citizens.
“Those of us who have had the pleasure of visiting India know that it is a magnificent country. It is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world,” the minister said.
His remarks came during a debate entitled ‘India: Persecution of Minority Groups’.
“During the foreign secretary’s [Dominic Raab] visit to India in
December, he raised a number of these human rights issues with his Indian counterpart, including the situation in Kashmir and our concern around many consular cases,” Adams, the minister for Asia, said.
“We look to the government of India to address these concerns and protect the rights of people of all religions. That is in keeping with India’s constitution and a proud and inclusive tradition.”
The debate, which took place at Westminster Hall within the Houses of Parliament complex in London, was called by backbench MPs. It was led by Jim Shannon, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP from Northern Ireland, who noted the “worrying and disturbing scale and trajectory” of the persecution being experienced in India by non-Hindus.
Tory MP Theresa Villiers and Labour MP Barry Gardiner spoke in favour of India, while others quoted from reports to point to an increase in the persecution of Muslims and Christians in India over the past few years.
“I argue that India’s record on minority faiths stands up to scrutiny. I do not accept that there is evidence of systemic or statesponsored persecution of religious minorities,” said Villiers, a former cabinet minister.
Gardiner cited letters he received from his constituents in Brent North in London, which has a large Indian diaspora population. They expressed surprise over British MPs debating subjects “attacking the government of India”, rather than focusing on domestic priorities such as the severe impact of the pandemic.
He pointed to India’s prime minister Narendra Modi speaking out strongly against so-called “cow vigilantes” and condemning the attacks as “criminal, and unacceptable”.
The Indian High Commission in London issued a statement in relation to the backbench debate to stress India’s “centuries-old tradition of religious tolerance and harmonious co-existence of people of all faiths”.
“The people of India have due respect for parliaments of the world, just as they regard their own as a most sacred institution of India’s democracy. However, we believe that debates and discussions serve useful purposes if they are based on facts, authentic information and a thorough and accurate perception of issues,” the High Commission said.
India House was “ready to engage with parliamentarians in the UK to present authentic facts about India and dispel any misinformation being pedalled by vested interests”, the statement added.
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