Discussion of farm laws. India issues summons to British High Commissioner, attention to protests

The discussion on farm laws by the British Parliament is a “gross interference” in India’s domestic affairs, Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla told British High Commissioner Alex Ellis on Tuesday. The Foreign Ministry (MEA) said the envoy was summoned and a diplomatic note of protest was handed over to him.

“The Foreign Secretary clarified that this represents a widespread intervention in the politics of another democratic country. He advised that British MPs should refrain from doing vote bank politics by misrepresenting events, especially in relation to another fellow democracy, ”the Foreign Ministry said.

The demarcation came a day after the UK Parliament discussed the laws. The High Commission in Britain said in a statement that the purpose of the discussion was to ‘confuse’ the British Indian community about the laws and status of minority communities in India.

Following the debate, many British MPs took to social media and expressed support for protests by farmers for a long time. “The voice of Indian expatriates and Indian farmers was heard in Parliament today – the UK government must take action now,” said Claudia Webbe, a former Leudestar MP.

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The Foreign Ministry said that the Foreign Secretary “expressed strong opposition in the British Parliament to an inconsistent and gentle discussion on agrarian reform in India”.

Mr Ellis took charge last month in a move that was set for a possible visit by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April. Both sides have been in discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues in recent months as the visit is being planned. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Foreign Secretary Dominic Rab on 3 March. In addition to cooperation in other areas, the two nations are working together at the United Nations, where in February the UK served as non-President with India as President on the Security Council. -Major member