India: Persecution of Minority Groups

Mr. Barry Gardiner expressed his reservations about holding a debate on the persecution of minority groups in India, suggesting that such debates might not be welcomed by Indians due to Britain's colonial past and its influence in pitting religious or ethnic groups against each other. He highlighted concerns raised by some of his constituents regarding the timing and relevance of the debate amidst the UK's own pressing issues like the coronavirus pandemic. In an intervention, Barry Gardiner emphasised the need for humility and appropriateness when discussing foreign affairs, particularly considering Britain's history as a colonial power in India. He reminded that during this period, communities were often pitted against each other.

David Linden highlighted the knee-jerk reactions to the debate, emphasizing that foreign affairs is a reserved matter for Parliament. He cited reports from Open Doors UK and Christian Solidarity Worldwide on escalating human rights violations against religious minorities in India, including violence, social ostracism, property destruction, hate speech, and disruption of peaceful non-Hindu religious activities. He also mentioned the spitting, oppressive, and minority politics highlighted by the South Asia state of minorities report. Mr Linden intervened to ask the Minister if he would raise this issue personally with Prime Minister Modi when they meet.

Mr Edward Leigh emphasized the importance of standing up for human rights in India, noting that although Hindus make up the majority of the population, their proportion has been declining. He highlighted instances of violence against religious minorities and quoted statistics on anti-conversion laws and violent incidents. He expressed concern over Hindu nationalism and its impact on other religions, particularly Christianity and Islam.

He congratulated colleagues for campaigning on issues related to minority persecution in India and suggested that influencing figures in the Indian sub-continent could help address these issues by lobbying the Indian Government.

Shah highlighted the rise of nationalist politics and its impact on minority rights in India under Narendra Modi's BJP Government, citing instances of violence against Muslims and discriminatory policies like the controversial citizenship law. He also mentioned forced singing of the national anthem by Muslim men, mob attacks, and the use of brute force against Indian farmers mainly from Sikh communities. Ms Shah asked for an intervention from the Minister but did not provide further details in her brief statement.

Mr Kinnock highlighted the Labour party's commitment to defending religious freedoms and human rights. He noted that recent authoritarian regimes are growing, which makes it crucial for democracies like India to uphold these values. Mr Kinnock cited examples of persecution against minorities in India, such as Muslims being harassed by Hindu majority groups during communal violence in 2020.

Stephen Timms highlighted the growing violence against religious minorities in India, citing reports that place India among the top countries for persecution of Christians and Muslims. He mentioned a surge of militant Hindu pressure on religious minorities since 2014 when the current government was elected, resulting in an increase from number 32 to being one of the worst 10 countries by 2019. Timms pointed out that mob lynching against Muslims, Christians, and Dalits is increasing due to state negligence or complicity.

India is a vibrant, pluralist democracy where freedom of religion is protected by law. The size of minority populations has been growing, with Muslims and Christians representing significant portions of the population. Despite some incidents of hate speech and violence, Theresa Villiers argues that there is no evidence of systemic or state-sponsored persecution. She highlights India's democratic success in tackling difficult issues while ensuring human rights protections and encourages consideration of serious matters raised.