Extract from Lords update
on Covid-19
(Lab): I
will ask the Minister another practical question. Many students are
in this country just now. I give an example that we have had to
deal with at the International Bar Association’s Human Rights
Institute. One of our interns received a notice that
India was closing down the border, even for
Indiannationals who are abroad. They were given
until the 18th to return, so we have had to expedite her return and
assist her financially to do so—to get a different air ticket.
People will be caught. This picks up on a question asked earlier:
how will the Government deal with that, because some young people
who have not completed their educational courses are full of
anxiety about whether they will be locked out of their own
countries and then be in breach of the basis on which they can stay
in this country?
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
Department for International Development () (Con): On her
first point, as I am the Minister responsible for our bilateral
relations with India perhaps the noble Baroness
would share that information with me and I will take it up with
the Indian high commission. From talking to the
Indian authorities, my understanding is that the
restrictions apply to foreign nationals and those who hold
passports with overseas Indian status but that
Indian nationals could return if they chose to.
However, if a particular issue has arisen, particularly with a
student studying here, my understanding is that they should
continue with their study. Coming back to the point raised
earlier by my noble friend Lady Verma, providing that there is no
reason for them to be unable to travel, and if flights
continue—as they currently are—they should be able to return to
India in this case, or any other country as
would be fit because, ultimately, nationals should not be stopped
from entering their countries...
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Extract from FCO
questions (Commons)
Violence in
Delhi
(Harrow East) (Con): What discussions he has had with his
Indian counterpart on the recent violence in
Delhi and the police response.
The Minister for Asia ():
The events in Delhi in February were very concerning, and the
British high commission in New Delhi is monitoring the situation
closely. The death of one protester is one too many.
India’s strength, like that of the UK, is in its
diversity. We trust the Indian Government to
address the concerns of people of all religions. Where we have
concerns, we raise them directly with the Indian
Government. Most recently, my colleague raised concerns
about the impact of recent judicial and legislative measures on
minorities with a senior official from India’s
Ministry of External Affairs on 25 February.
:
The violent riots that took place in Delhi have resulted in 1,638
arrests, 14 damaged mosques and 10 damaged Hindu temples, and
more than 50 Hindus and Muslims have been killed. After 330
community meetings, however, places of worship are being repaired
and business is being restored. Can my hon. Friend confirm that
business is returning to normal in India with
peaceful protests allowed but not violent ones?
: I
know that my hon. Friend takes a keen interest in this issue. We
welcome the fact that there have been no new reports of rioting
since February, although we are sure that tensions remain. Now,
as ever, we support Prime Minister Modi’s call for peace and
harmony. India’s strength, like that of the UK,
is in its diversity, and we trust that the
Indian Government will address the concerns of
people of all religions.
