UK House of Lords debates India’s rising human rights issues

Taking part in a debate at the House of Lords, eight peers debated the restrictions imposed on NGOs and academics in India, which also included the detention of Dalit activists, political prisoners and journalists, forced closure of Amnesty International and discrimination against non-Hindus. The debate also addressed the damaging effect of the FCRA on mainstream aid agencies. “Until recently India has broadly upheld the democratic principles and traditions she inherited from the UK. It is now observable that the Indian government has restructured some hitherto democratic freedoms,” Conservative peer Lord Flight said as he also mentioned that even if it is the task of the Queen to intervene and raise these issues with Indian government, the response will be it is none of UK’s business.