A Conservative MP has tabled a motion in the House of Commons urging the British government to step up its condemnation of the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir, as well as investigate if there are any direct or indirect links to organisations or people in Britain involved in cross-border terrorism in India.
The Early Day Motion — a formal means for an MP to bring attention to issues outside the formal debating chamber — launched by Bob Blackman, the MP for the London constituency of Harrow East, calls on MPs to recognise the “gruesome attack on innocent pilgrims by Lashkar-e-Taiba”, and urged the government to “condemn strongly the attack and stand with India in the fight against terrorism”. The EDM, which was co-sponsored by Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma and three others, has been signed by eight MPs since it was tabled a week ago, but Mr. Blackman’s office has launched a campaign urging the Indian diaspora to lobby their parliamentarians on the issue.
‘Brainwashed’
“In the U.K., as also in Kashmir, I see a number of people being brainwashed to think that the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir is an indigenous freedom movement…. This movement is not indigenous but sponsored by Pakistan to spread terror and disruption to normalcy in Kashmir and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir state in India,” said Mr. Blackman in an email interview with this paper. “U.K. and India have shared a special relationship of friendship and in this fight against terror, we must stand shoulder to shoulder and support India in condemning as well as taking stern action to nip the very cause of terrorism in its roots. The U.K. Parliament in its fight against terrorism, has a moral responsibility to support India.”
The EDM comes amid renewed focus on terror and counter-terrorism cooperation between the two nations. Last month, India’s High Commissioner to the U.K. was candid in his criticism of Britain’s past approach to India’s concerns about the source of terrorism on its borders.
“I fully agree to the remarks made by the Indian High Commisioner, Y.K. Sinha,” said Mr. Blackman. “It is not a surprise that the international terrorist groups operating in Kashmir are also trying to make inroads into the U.K. I have been raising my concerns over the funding we make to Pakistan and asking these to be devoted to the safety and security of minorities there. In addition, any organisations or individuals found glorifying terrorists backed by internationally recognised terrorist organisations must be stopped.
Britain’s High Commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith recently said relations on this front were “rock solid”.
India has welcomed some recent moves, including the decision by Birmingham City Council to withdraw permission for a rally planned for the death anniversary of Burhan Wani on July 8. “I know the government is cracking down seriously on any attempts to glorify terrorism in the U.K.,” said Mr. Blackman.
However, reservations within Indian circles remain, particularly around the prominence accorded to India’s concerns by Britain, in comparison with which the seriousness with which India has treated the issue with respect to Britain. For example, while condemnation of recent terror attacks in Britain were made directly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter, giving it an immediate prominence on a global platform, the Anantnag attack on pilgrims was condemned at a less high profile level. “Condemn terrorist attacks in #Anantnag. My thoughts are with the victims. UK and India stand together in fight against terrorism,” tweeted Mark Field, Minister for Asia Pacific.
“I am sure my colleagues will support me in urging our government to take strong measures to ensuring a safe environment for not only the people of U.K. but also exposing the real perpetrators of terrorism just like the U.S. have done recently,” said Mr. Blackman.
