On 21st November, Lord Qurban Hussain from the Liberal Democrat party raised a question in the Parliamentary debate in the House of Lords regarding Kashmir. He asked Her Majesty's Government, “What is their assessment of the human rights situation in Indian-held Kashmir?” Many Lords have shown their concern on the matter raised and stated that “any human rights abuses must be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently”. Agreed that investigation of human rights violation must take place, however, is it fair to covertly, if not overtly, lament India as a land filled with human rights violation?
Lord Hussain went on to stress and discuss the situation in Kashmir in the Parliamentary debate. He said, “For decades, the Indian army has been reported for illegal detentions, torture, rape and murder in Kashmir. Last year, it started to use pellet guns on civilians in the region, often blinding them… What will Her Majesty’s Government do to get those human rights abuses investigated independently and impartially?”
With the accusation of human rights violation, as well as questioning India’s position in the UN, one could also raise questions on the current scenario in Pakistan and on the issue of home-grown terrorists who inflict harm on innocent civilians. If questioning one nation on accusation of human rights violation and ignoring the grandness in threat that has been evoked from one nation, then the argument and debate lacks credibility and is not an impartial analysis.
India has proved itself, and continues to prove itself as a strong, evolving nation, competing shoulder-to-shoulder with 1st world nations. But focussing on the negatives of the nation could covertly imply to the supremacy in trying to disregard and undermine India’s position and achievements. Amid this debate in the House of Lords, only one noble Lord took it up upon himself to defend India’s name by questioning Lord Hussain on the atrocity occurring in Pakistan. Lord Jitesh Gadhia (not affiliated to any party) stated, “My Lords, does the Minster agree that we should be cautious in lecturing the world’s largest democracy on human rights, which are enshrined in its constitution, protected by a well-established legal system and accountable to an independent judiciary- not to mention a large and vibrant investigative media and an active civil society? In the meantime, we should support our ally, India, to combat cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan and Pakistani infiltrators, who are the real threat to peace, stability and human rights in that region.”
It is quite concerning that there are many Lords of Indian origin who did not comment on this matter. Additionally, there are many pressing issues that need to be addressed in Parliament, rather than utilising this opportunity to outrightly lament a particular nation.
