On the eve of assembly elections in India, the UK parliament on Wednesday will be discussing the Gujarat riots at 8.30 pm IST (4 pm in the UK). Labour party MP Kim Leadbeater moved the motion for a debate at Westminster Hall on the ’20th anniversary of the 2002 Gujarat riots’. Interestingly, it comes on the eve of Assembly elections 2022 in India.
Many in the UK itself are questioning the timing of this debate. While the debate is slotted for only half an hour, many believe that this “anti-India” debate has been organised to “vilify” Indian democracy. This deliberate half-hour debate means there would be little opportunity for a fair and balanced debate on this sensitive issue, with hardly any time left for Leadbeater and one more to speak before responses expected from the shadow minister for Asia and the minister for Asia.
“This is an attempt by Labour MPs to exploit the UK Parliament to spread Pakistani propaganda under the guise of parliamentary debate,” said a UK politician, on condition of anonymity.
The politician added, “Many in Westminster with an interest in India and Pakistan are saying that ever since the abrogation of Article 370, the depth of Pakistan-sponsored activism has fallen away with only a handful of protesters turning up outside the High Commission of India on Republic Day, a big fall from previous such protests.” However, a move to discuss the Gujarat riots might not go down well with the Indian administration.
