New Delhi: The United Kingdom has clarified that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had “misheard” the question about farmer protests raised in parliament and answered it by reiterating British position on India-Pakistan dispute.
On Wednesday, British Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi had asked Johnson whether he agreed that “everyone has a fundamental right to peacefully protest” and asked to convey concerns about force being used against protestors.
In response, Johnson inexplicably replied, “Our view is that of course we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan but these are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I know that he appreciates that point.”
When asked for a clarification, the UK high commission said that the British leader had not heard the question correctly. “The prime minister clearly misheard the question in parliament yesterday,” the UK high commission spokesperson told The Wire.
She reiterated that the UK does not have a position on the way the protests have been treated in India. “The police’s handling of protests are a matter for the Government of India”.
Last week, a group of 36 British MPs from across political parties, but mostly Labour, had written a letter to the UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab, seeking intervention of the government on the protests. “This in an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the UK and those linked to Punjab, although it also heavily impacts on other Indian states. Many Sikhs and Punjabis have taken this matter up with their MPs as they have family members and ancestral land in Punjab.”
As per the Times of India, the letter had been organised by Dhesi, who also asked the question in parliament.
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The letter had sought an update on communication between the foreign, commonwealth and development office with the Indian government on the issue, including with foreign secretary Harsh Shringla, who visited the UK on November 4.
“This is a joint letter calling for representation to be made by yourself to your Indian counterpart about the impact on British Sikhs and Punjabis, with longstanding links to land and farming in India,” read the letter.
On Sunday, thousands had taken part in a demonstration in support of the farmers’ protest outside the Indian high commission in London.
So far, Canada is the only country in the western world, whose leaders and politicians have expressed concern that the farmers’ right to peaceful protest was being violated in India. However, India had summoned the Canadian envoy to lodge a protest and stated that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks could seriously damage relations.
Separately, at least three US lawmakers have also contacted the Indian embassy to articulate their worries that the farmers’ right to protest was being suppressed.