British Indians were shocked to see five Member of Parliaments (MPs) of the ruling Conservatives Party in United Kingdom (UK) forming a fringe group by the name Conservative Friends of Kashmir. These five MPs are James Daly from Bury North, Paul Bristow from Peterborough, Steve Baker from Wycombe, Chris Wakeford from Bury South and Sara Britcliffe from Hyndburn, the formation of this group has been done purely due to vote bank compulsions of the MPs as they represent constituencies with a high concentration of Pakistani Muslim voters.
British Indians believe that creation of this unsolicited group seems to be directly influenced by the Pakistani political lobby in the UK. This is evident from the Twitter exchanges between Mr Masood Khan — the current so-called President of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, address as Azad Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan and the Twitter handle of Conservatives Friends of Kashmir (@CFoKashmir). The group’s objective is to directly meddle in the sovereign affairs of India. It is pertinent to note that UK’s position concerning Jammu and Kashmir has always been clear and consistent and that it is a bilateral issue to be peacefully resolved between India and Pakistan.
British Indian community has opposed Labour Party and supported Conservatives Party in December 2019 UK General Elections due to Labour Party’s anti-India and pro-Pakistan stand. Then, in September 2019, Labour Party had passed a resolution against Indian Parliament abrogating Article 370. On 6th December 2019, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had categorically assured British Indians that there is no place for anti-India sentiments in the UK. With this fringe group of five Conservatives Party MPs forming a pro-Pakistan anti-India group undermining integrity and sovereignty of India, British Indians have expressed their disappointment and protested against this move by Conservative Party MPs. British Indians have asserted that this group of Conservatives Party MPs and their Pakistani friends are spreading lies about Kashmir and fuelling anti-India sentiments in the UK.
On 24th September 2020, British Indians Diaspora, comprising of 83 British Indian organisations, wrote a strongly worded letter to the Chairman (Benjamin Eliot and Amanda Milling) strongly urging to immediately disband ‘Conservative Friends of Kashmir’ and take the necessary action to ensure such mischievous attempts will not be made in future.
The British Indians have received support from Conservative Friends of India and UK MP Bob Blackman on this matter.
