Pictured: Nigel Adams, Minister of State for Asia
In the backdrop of the ongoing farmers’ protests in India, the British government has said that agricultural reform is the Indian government’s domestic policy issue. Responding to a question in the British Parliament on Friday, Minister of State for Asia in the Foreign Office, Nigel Adams, said, “We are aware of concerns in India and here in the UK about how these reforms might affect farming communities”, stressing that, “Agricultural reform is a domestic policy issue for the Indian authorities to address.”
When asked about the UK government’s assessment of the riots by agitating farmers on 26 January, the British minister stated, “The right to gather lawfully and demonstrate a point of view is common to all democracies. Governments also have the power to enforce law and order if a protest crosses the line into illegality… handling of protests is an internal matter for the Indian authorities.”
The previous week saw several India-related questions being asked in Westminster, with the Boris Johnson-led government clearly reiterating its supportive stance towards the Indian administration.
On UK’s ties with the QUAD ― Australia, India, Japan and US ― Adams said, “No decisions have yet been made on the form UK engagement with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue could take.”
In reply to a question on Kashmir, Adams said, “The UK’s position remains that it is for India and Pakistan to identify a lasting political resolution to the situation, one that takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.” He clarified that Kashmir was “raised” by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab with his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar during the former’s India visit in December.
When a question was asked on Chinese aggression against India, Adams replied, “As neighbours, India and China have an important relationship with one another” and that London “welcome[s] discussions” while continuing to “support a peaceful resolution” between India and China on the border question.
More recently, tensions between the UK and China are on the rise, as China’s actions to assimilate Hong Kong into the Chinese political system has drawn sharp criticism from the UK. In what is seen as a violation of the “One country, two systems” principle and the erosion of Hong Kong’s political autonomy, the new national security law promulgated by China in the erstwhile British colony has forced the UK to open a special visa route for the island’s residents to become UK citizens.
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