17.24°C Vancouver

Mar 9, 2021 10:25 AM -

India calls UK lawmakers' debate on press freedom, farmers' stir 'one-sided, false'

Share On
india-calls-uk-lawmakers-debate-on-press-freedom-farmers-stir-one-sided-false
India calls UK lawmakers' debate on press freedom, farmers' stir 'one-sided, false'

India on Tuesday called the UK Westminster discussion on press freedom and farmers' stir as "one-sided and based on false assertions".

The High Commission of India asserted that the question of lack of press freedom in India does not arise as the foreign media, including the British media, here have witnessed the events under discussion first-hand.

"The High Commission of India would normally refrain from commenting on an internal discussion involving a small group of Parliamentarians in a limited quorum. However, when aspersions are cast on India by anyone, there's a need to set record straight," India in the UK said while responding to a debate in Parliament on the issue of peaceful protests and press freedoms in India following a petition with over 10,000 signatories.

According to the British parliamentary convention, petitions that garner 10,000 signatures on the UK government and Parliament website get a response from the government and petitions that get 100,000 signatures are almost always debated.

It further said that rather than having a balanced debate, the UK Parliamentarians made false assertions "casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions".

"All issues raised are the remit of well-established independent democratic institutions in India for addressing the same. It is also a matter of concern that, once again, comments were made to mislead the British Indian community, raising doubts about the treatment of minorities in India, alleged human rights violations in 'Kashmir' etc," it added.

The United Kingdom on Monday had clarified that agricultural reform laws were a "domestic matter" of India and that security forces in a democracy have the right to enforce law and order.

"Agricultural policy is a domestic matter for the Indian government. The UK government firmly believes that freedom of speech and the right for peaceful protest are vital to any democracy but we also accept that if a protest crosses the line into illegality, security forces in a democracy have the right to enforce law and order," UK Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams said.

The Minister also said expressed hope that the ongoing dialogue between the Indian government and farmers' unions will have positive results.

Farmers have been camping at several Delhi border points for over three months now demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws.

Latest news

bc-govt-recognizes-significant-concern-regarding-the-ongoing-extortion-attempts
BCJun 13, 2025

BC govt. recognizes significant concern regarding the ongoing extortion attempts

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg has released the following statement amid community concerns about public safety while extortion threats and organized crime stories are making headlines. “We recognize the significant concern within the South Asian community regarding the ongoing extortion attempts by organized criminals. “Recently, the Delta Police Department, with assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team and the Peel Regional Police arrested two suspects in the murder case of an individual in Brampton, who was a victim of extortion. This ser
vancouver-police-seek-suspect-in-west-side-break-ins
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Vancouver Police seek suspect in West-side break-ins

Vancouver Police are sharing images of a suspect in multiple early-morning break-ins on the city’s west-side, and encourage people to lock their doors and windows to prevent additional crimes. “We are actively working to identify and arrest this suspect, who is linked to break-ins throughout Marpole, Kerrisdale, Arbutus Ridge, Oakridge and Shaunghnessey,” says Constable Tania Visintin. “Until we find him, we’re asking people to take extra precautions and to call police immediately if you encounter him.” The suspect, believed to be an Asian man in his 30s, has struck 16 times since
over-the-past-six-months-there-have-been-10-reports-of-extortion-in-surrey
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Over the past six months, there have been 10 reports of extortion in Surrey

Following a number of extortions being reported to police in Surrey, Surrey Police Service (SPS) and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) are working to advance these investigations and determine any linkages. SPS and SPOSU are also meeting regularly with other regional police agencies who have similar investigations and they are in contact with the RCMP National Coordination and Support Team (NCST), which is providing national coordination and tools to help advance extortion investigations. Numerous police agencies in Canada have reported that individuals or businesse
jagmeet-singhs-brother-says-canadians-warned-about-risk-to-their-life-deserve-protection
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Jagmeet Singh's brother says Canadians warned about risk to their life deserve protection

The brother of former federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been active in Canadian politics for many years, has demanded that Canadians who have been warned of a threat to their lives should be provided with security. Gurrattan Singh raised this issue after Sikh Organization of Canada spokesperson Balpreet Singh told a press conference yesterday that dozens of Sikh Canadians are currently on active duty to warm. This notice is given by the police to alert a person when they suspect a credible threat. Gurrattan Singh said that immediate steps should be taken to provide security to those
police-seeking-witnesses-after-uptown-assault
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Police seeking witnesses after Uptown assault

The New Westminster Police Department is seeking witnesses and encouraging victims to come forward following an incident in the Uptown neighbourhood on the evening of Saturday, June 7 at approximately 6:20pm. Officers responded to reports of a man chasing people and throwing objects at members of the public. Witnesses shared the man ripped off a tree branch and struck several people with it. The suspect was located by officers near the New Westminster Public Library and arrested. “This may have been a frightening experience for those who witnessed it or were directly impacted,” stated Serg

Related News