MILLION MARCH iN LONDON: A massive rally, calling for the independence of Kashmir is being planned on British soil, media reports said. A Million March is to take place on October 26 which expects to see thousands of people rally through central London in protest against Indias supposed human rights violations in Kashmir. The rally will begin in Londons Trafalgar Square and end at Prime Minister David Camerons office at 10 Downing Street where a petition would be submitted asking Britain to push India into resolving the Kashmir impasse with Pakistan. A similar anti-India protest rally has also been planned at Brussels following day on October 27. New Delhi has voiced serious concern against the planned march with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj asking British foreign secretary Philip Hammond to stem the anti-India march. Swaraj who met Hammond for their first bilateral meeting said UK cant allow anti-India sentiment to thrive in UK. UK however made it clear to India that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan for the two countries to solve together. A foreign office official said, UK will not mediate over Kashmir. India did raise serious concern over the rally but Britain cant stop it from happening provided the protesters dont break the boundary of law. People in UK have the right of expression and right to protest. The protest has seriously irked the Indian high commission in London that had earlier asked the British foreign office not to allow such anti-India rallies to take place on British soil. Indias foreign office also wants UK to take strong measures against those instigating and organising anti-India rallies in London and other parts of UK. The rally meanwhile is being organized by former prime minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry. Barrister Chaudhry says the purpose to hold the Million March is to exert pressure on the Indian government to resolve Kashmir issue and stop severe human right violations in occupied Kashmir. He also wants British Parliamentarians to raise the issue of an independent Kashmir in the House of Lords and House of Commons. Interestingly a British MP David Ward recently managed to have the House of Commons debate Kashmir but failed to garner much support. The debate saw the British government reiterate its position that, It is not for the UK to prescribe a solution or to mediate in finding one. It was the second debate on Jammu & Kashmir in the House of Commons in three years.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:02:18 +0000
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