JALANDHAR: The issue of National Investigation Agency(NIA) sending notices to Sikh activists and other supporters of farmers' protest echoed in the UK Parliament on Tuesday.
Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi raised the matter in the Parliament.
"More than 100 members of this House signed a cross party letter to the Prime Minister about our anxieties for the peacefully protesting farmers in India and we eagerly await his response. But does the Secretary of State agree that it’s extremely concerning to hear alarming reports of harassment and intimidation by the authorities there, who have started issuing notices to peaceful protestors, union leaders and human rights activists?” Dhesi asked.
Responding to the query Raab said that he understood Dhesi’s concerns and added, “I have discussed the protests with Foreign Minister Jaishankar when I visited India in December. "
"Of course this is a major government led reform reducing subsidies as part of the liberalization process, but he makes some important points about freedom of protest and the sensitivity. Of course India’s politics is very much our politics but we do also need to respect their democratic process.”