'One-Sided, False Assertions': India Slams UK Lawmakers' Debate On Farmers' Protest

On Monday, the British Parliament held a 90 minute debate in response to an e-petition on press freedom and safety of farmer protesters in India.

Farmers' Protest (Image - PTI)

The High Commission of India in London has condemned UK lawmakers for their remarks during a debate held in the House of Commons on press freedom and safety of farmer protesters in India amid the ongoing farmers’ stir against three agricultural laws.

The commission slammed the debate held on Monday evening in a Westminster Committee Room saying 'it was one-sided and packed with false assertions.'

In a statement issued immediately after the debate, the Indian mission based in London said " High Commission of India has been, over a period of time, taking care to inform all concerned about the issues raised in the petition. We deeply regret that rather than a balanced debate, false assertions - without substantiation or facts - were made, casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions."

The spokesman further noted that comments were made to mislead the British Indian community, raising doubts about treatment of minorities in India, alleged human rights violations in ‘Kashmir’ etc.

On Monday, the British Parliament held a 90 minute debate in response to an e-petition which had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold, required for it to be approved by the House of Commons Petitions Committee. During the discussion, MPs condemned India for its treatment of farmer protesters and alleged crackdown on the press, as well as Internet shutdowns and arrest of activists.

India rejected all these claims saying: foreign media, including the British media, are present in India and have witnessed the events under discussion first-hand. The question of lack of freedom of the media in India does not arise.