News
British parliament demands right to self-determination for Kashmiris
MP Ward says Britain has an obligation to take an interest in Kashmir; calls offering help far from interferingLONDON – A resolution to the Kashmir issue is crucial for world peace, a group of cross-party British lawmakers stressed during a debate in the UK Parliament complex.
Around 13 cross-party MPs, including Labour's shadow finance secretary Shabana Mahmood and Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma, addressed both sides of the debate calling Jammu Kashmir issue a threat to regional and global peace and to give the people right to self-determination.
Liberal Democrat MP David Ward secured the debate on the political and humanitarian situation in Kashmir as part of the regular Backbench Business Committee process in the House of Commons. The Bradford MP opened the debate with reference to the devastating floods which have caused despair to thousands.
“We simply cannot escape the British legacy; we have an obligation to take an interest in Kashmir, as offering help is far from interfering,” he said. Former British minister MP Gregory Barker countered on behalf of the UK government's view.
“There is a democratic process in place and around 61 per cent of the population participated in state elections in the region, which sits as part of the world's largest democracy,” he said. “Any British insertion will be very unhelpful,” he added.
His views were echoed by Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who likened the discussion to the ongoing debate around Scotland's independence from the United Kingdom. “This is almost akin to the Lok Sabha debating the merits and de-merits of Scottish independence,” he said.
The British lawmakers addressed both sides of the debate calling Jammu Kashmir issue a threat to regional and global peace and to give the people right to self-determination. Ward, who represents a largely Kashmiri-origin population in his constituency of Bradford, had secured the debate based on a petition by the Jammu Kashmir Self-Determination Movement which gained thousands of signatures.
It had raised concerns among some groups regarding the timing coinciding with the September 11 US attacks anniversary as well as the focus of the debate. “A number of British Indian organisations have contacted us expressing concerns on this Kashmir debate development in the House of Commons at this time because they fear that it could be used as an India/Indian bashing opportunity,” said the British Hindu Voice in an appeal to MPs.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk