Peers in Britain’s House of Lords held a debate on the issue of “freedoms of non-governmental organisations, academics and other groups in India” and called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to take up the issues directly with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during his visit to New Delhi next month.
The “India: Restrictions on Freedom” debate in the Upper House of the Parliament was called by crossbench peer Lord Richard Harries on Monday and, as is customary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister Lord Zac Goldsmith responded on behalf of the Government to highlight the close ties between the UK and India which allow Britain to raise all issues as part of an ongoing dialogue.
He pointed to a “very deep and broad relationship” with the world’s largest democracy, with which the UK’s trade and investment partnership is “thriving” and collaboration on defence and security mean the two countries a “force for good in the world”.
“Our approach has always been to raise any concerns directly with the Indian government. We will continue to engage India on the full range of human rights matters and raise our concerns where we have them — as we do — including at ministerial level,” said Lord Goldsmith.
“The Prime Minister will visit India shortly. That will be an opportunity to discuss a very wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues directly with the Indian Government. Of course, where we have specific concerns, the Prime Minister will raise them directly with the Government of India, as you would expect of a close friend and partner,” he said.
The Lords debate comes a week after a debate in a House of Commons on the issue of farmers’ protests in India.