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Why many UK MPs are supporting the farmers movement

Posted on 22nd Dec 2020 03:13 pm by rohit kumar

Pictures and videos of the ongoing peasant movement in India have been published worldwide for the last few weeks. Many leaders from around the world and people of Indian origin gave their reactions to them.

 

The issue was also raised in the UK Parliament, MP Tanamanjean Singh Dhesi asked the question related to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the British Prime Minister's answer was discussed a lot.

 

PM Boris, who seemed unaware of the issue, had said that 'this is an issue between India and Pakistan and said that both countries should be resolved through bilateral dialogue'.

 

Apart from this, people of Indian origin, especially from the Sikh community, organized many protests in cities like London and Birmingham in the UK.

 

Virender Sharma of the Labor Party is a British politician who is an MP from East Southall, London. There 31 percent of the population is of Indian origin and Punjabi is the most spoken language after English.

 

35 MPs raised the issue

 

35 MPs including Sharma have requested Foreign Minister Dominic Raab to raise the issue of farmers with the Government of India.

 

Dhesi, a Sikh MP from the Labor Party of Britain, wrote this letter and in addition to Indian-origin Virender Sharma, Labor MPs Seema Malhotra and Valerie Vaz also signed it.

 

Speaking to the BBC, Virender Sharma says, "We are members of the British Parliament and as a British MP, India is a foreign country for us and its administration is an internal matter. We cannot intervene nor should not interfere in its internal affairs, nor will we, as if we do not want another country to interfere in Britain's affairs. "

 

"But at the same time, I am the first generation Indian here who was born in a village in Punjab, grew up, moved to Britain, and I got involved in politics here. But most people of my parliamentary constituency are with India I have a strong relationship, just like me. "

 

Connection of people of Indian origin

 

First-generation Indian immigrants like Sharma are well aware that Indian-origin people are connected to India's issues. The families of the voters of his area still live in India and are serious about this issue.

 

He says, "We are not giving a solution to this problem, nor are we saying that whatever is happening in India is right or wrong. We all want that the Foreign Secretary in the Indian High Commission and Delhi Talk to the British High Commission and tell them how the people of our parliamentary constituency are feeling about what is happening in India? "

 

These are not the only 36 MPs to raise the issue of Indian farmers.

 

Indrajit Singh of the House of Lords also raised this issue in the upper house of Parliament. But Britain's Cabinet Office minister, Lord Nicholas True, while replying in the House, denied "widespread condemnation" of any nation.

 

He said, "Our values ​​are democratic, they are very widely shared and prevalent around the world. We want them to be upheld."

 

Also, around 25 community and charity representatives, religious and business leaders, councilors, and professionals from Indian backgrounds have sent a joint letter to Indian High Commissioner Gayatri Issar Kumar in London and UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab.

 

In his letter to Isar Kumar, he has expressed his solidarity towards Indian farmers and "condemned the administration's use of tear gas and water cannon on farmers and laborers who want to reach Delhi only to protest peacefully." "

 

What is the opinion of the people of Britain?

But do people of Indian origin living in Britain want the British MPs to raise this issue at the highest level as well? There is no consensus on this.

 

Overseas Friends of BJP UK President Kuldeep Shekhawat told the BBC, "Indian farmers are protesting in India, it is their right, and if they have an issue they can raise it with the Indian government. India One Sovereign is a democratic nation with a very vibrant democracy and UK MPs have no right to speak about Indian farmers in the UK because it is like interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. "

 

"It is inappropriate to write to Dominic Raab or to ask the UK PM a question about farmers protesting in India. PM Modi has a clear agenda to double farmers' income and put an end to this misinformation campaign soon Will go. "

 

Rashmi Mishra, a resident of London and Indian origin, has also raised similar concerns. She says, "Have British MPs and Councilors read the farmer's bill? Do they understand the past plagues of farmers? Do they know what the suicide rate of Indian farmers has been since 1947's independence? Is anyone Has tried and helped solve it? What right do they have to interfere in India's internal affairs? "

 

In the letter written to Raab, lawyer Vaishali Nagpal says, "This is a baseless act of misinformation and interference by him. He has probably not even read the bullet points of the new farm bill in India. His letter focuses on Punjab, his Accordingly, it will have the most impact because it is India's 'breadbasket'. Please google and check it because Uttar Pradesh is the most agriculturally productive state of India and the farmers of Uttar Pradesh are not participating in the protests. "

 

Andrew Thomas, who lives in Wolverhampton, is one of those not happy with the British MPs raising the issue.

 

He says, "There are other important issues in the UK such as the coronavirus epidemic and Brexit." I do not understand why our politicians are raising an issue that is related to another country. "

 

"Our MPs should work for us and try to resolve our issues and concerns. They may be doing this to keep some of their voters happy, but I don't think it affects any other country He is sitting in the UK Parliament to deal with the issues that have to be done. Helping the UK and the people here should be his priority.

 

Some people are happy with the move of MPs, some are angry

 

Indian businessman Sandeep Bisht says, "It is nice to see Indian farmers getting support from all over the world including Britain. Whatever is happening in Britain in support of farmers, it will put pressure on the Indian government in any way. Whatever party in India The government has always been ignored, and this is the first time farmers from all over India have come together and are protesting together on a common demand. "

 

"It is good to see our British MPs also supported, but I heard the comments of MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, where he was blaming the Indian government more than supporting the farmers. This is not right. They should be balanced and Good diplomacy must be maintained "

 

Balbir Singh of Leeds also feels that the UK government should take up this issue with the Indian authorities as Indians have played an important role in building the UK and its economy.

 

He said, "The British government should be concerned about the farmers because Indians like me have contributed a lot to this country and India's trade with Britain has also. In addition to this, Indians have made the steel and car industry in this country Saved "

 

West Midlands historian and curator Rajwinder Pal was born in India.

 

Speaking to the BBC, he said, "MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi himself is of Punjabi background, there are people in his area who he represents, it is right to raise these issues in Parliament. But our PM was told I do not know what Dhesi is talking about and it is a shame. "

 

How correct is it to speak British leaders in India's affairs?

 

But what are British MPs and local councilors trying to achieve by involving themselves in India's affairs and are they right to do so?

 

Dr. Mukulika Banerjee is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics. She has more than 20 years of research experience on India's agriculture, she says that the protests in India are worrisome.

 

Dr. Banerjee said, "British politicians have always raised the issues of the world, and in this case, the people of their region are directly connected through the family of farmers in India. An MP will respond to the concerns of the people of his area Forced, this is how parliamentary democracy works. Furthermore, after Brexit, Global Britain must build bilateral relations with each nation, and ties with India are important. The Indian diaspora is a major living bridge between the two countries. And for this reason, the Indian government is constantly engaged and working with its diaspora. "

 

She says that the protesters have expressed concern over how Indian farmers are being treated which cannot be called interference. Dr. Banerjee said that people of Indian origin living here supported the ruling party of India with the help of money and campaigns during the elections.

 

He said, "Financial support by foreign nationals of Indian origin to individual leaders and parties, even when they are not part of it, can be considered as foreign interference. But the citizens of Britain and Indian origin who have family and India in India Investments are there, they want to stay connected with affairs in India and will watch development closely. "

 

Since 2019, there have been many protests in the UK on Indian issues - be it on Kashmir or citizenship laws. Dr. Banerjee says, "This has not happened suddenly, and there is a reason behind this incident, a large number of students coming to Britain in recent years."

 

According to Banerjee "postgraduate students, especially those who have studied for their first degree in India, are articulate and proud to be Indians - these are knowledgeable Indians who watch the news of India closely. What happens in India He cares about it. He cannot accept injustice with the citizens of India. Students have always been at the forefront of the fight for justice around the world. "

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