Farmers’ protest is now global and the world is concerned about human rights violations by the authoritarian regime of Modi. There has been much discussion and commentary about this on social media, international media outlets, and celebrities. Today, it reached the next level when British Parliament held an official debate on the topic of “freedom of press and safety concerns of protestors”
The UK proudly calls itself champion of freedom of the press, and their MPs in today’s debate were eager to make sure that the world knows how deeply concerned they are about the situation in India.
India is proud of its democracy but just having an electoral voting system is not a qualification to be called democracy. Layla Moran, UK MP of Oxford West did not shy away from making a point that “Democracy just does not happen at the ballot box, you must have freedom of press and protest for the democracy”. India is ranked at 142nd position in world for freedom of press, which is even lower than war-hit Afghanistan.
UK parliamentarians urged India to uphold democratic values in strong words. Martin Day, MP of Linlithgow and East Falkirk stated that “Press freedom and right to protest is central to any democracy. Images of the past few months emerging from India are deeply worrying”
He highlighted how seriously press freedom has been affected “Some 67 journalists were arrested and detained last year alone. The escalation and violence and press crackdown including social media accounts can not simply be ignored, especially when the UK govt is keen to strengthen ties with India” He also called on PM Johnson to raise these concerns on his visit to India
Jeremy Corbyn, who was the leader of Labour Party until last year has been vocal against these farm bills, and fully supported farmers on this issue. These laws he says will “force globalization of poor farmers” and even said “they are on the right side of history” in fighting against these international corporations.
In today’s debate, he highlighted the poor response of the Modi regime “The nature in which protestors are attacked in unprecedented. The reaction of the Indian govt has also been unprecedented, The way internet access was closed down, Media access has been prevented, mobile phone access has been limited. National Union of journalist told us that how concerned they were in which Indian journalists have been prevented from reporting”
He restated a statement from Sabina Indigent, General secretory of Indian Journalist Union “Democracy in India is in Danger. Over the past five years, India’s free press is systematically and ruthlessly attacked like never before”
John Mcdonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington and is also secretary of International Union Journalists stressed about the situation of freedom of the press in India “Eight journalists are killed in last twelve months, We’ve seen false arrests, legal actions to intimidate journalists. We’ve even seen tax authorities in India used against journalists. Now it seems that simply reporting actions of police violently attacking protesters is a somehow illegal act”
He then suggested that “PM Boris should call out the actions of Modi administration and ask PM to meet Indian Union of Journalists to find exact truth of what happened there”. He also asked “PM Johnson to demand that intimidation ends and freedom of the press is firmly guaranteed for the future”
UK parliamentarians were also concerned about how India is controlling and censoring social media. Paul Bristow, MP of Peterborough showed his concerns “India govt has blocked the use of the internet, arrested journalists and now we read reports of legislation to force social media platform to censor posts and break into encrypted messages. India is proud democracy and thus should conduct like a democracy. Democratic values should not be suspended”
Apart from freedom of the press, UK parliamentarians were also worried about human rights abuses in India. Sam Tarry, MP of Ilford highlighted human rights abuses in India “We are horrified to see how Sikh farmers have been treated by Indian govt by having water cannons hitting them, tear gas and brute force used against them repeatedly.” He urged the foreign secretary to “properly engage with Indian counterparts”.
Paul Bristow has raised safety concerns of his constituents’ family members in India “The fears of my constituents are evident as one regard as an attack on minorities in India and particularly the Sikhs. My constituents are right to be worried. Holding the law should never be allowed to slide into authoritarian oppression” He urged PM Johnson to raise these issues when he meets Modi later this year.
Tanmanjeet Dhesi, Shadow Rail Minister highlighted human rights is everyone’s issue and is not an internal matter of any country “Human Rights are universal” before adding that “Imagine our pain when we see tear gas, water cannon, the brute force being used against them. When we see people herded into protest sites like animals with metal barricades, barbed wires, and deadly steel spikes installed on road.” He said, “activists were being detained and there are reports of them being sexually assaulted.”
Steven Kinnock, MP of Aberavon in response to a question asked how Right Wing Hindu Nationalists are targeting places of worship and spreading hate in the community stated that “Mr. Modi does need to recognize that world is watching”. A Labour MP Tahir Ali even asked for sanctions against Modi due to human rights abuses.
This is not just an internal matter of India anymore. It has reached next level, World is carefully watching this protest and every move of Modi will be challenged by the global audience.
Vichar Sanjh 