Following the tragic demise of a farmer at the protest encampment situated along the Khanauri Border, Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, of Indian heritage, addressed the issue of the ongoing agricultural demonstrations and the aforementioned fatality within the British Parliament on Friday.
Renowned as the UK's inaugural turbaned Sikh MP, Dhesi articulated "grave concerns" and inquired whether the British Government had broached the topic with Indian authorities.
Dhesi, recognized for his vocal stance on global Sikh affairs, had previously lent support to the farmers' agitation of 2020-2021, probing into India's human rights track record.
"In recent days, numerous constituents from Slough, including individuals from the Sikh community and local gurdwaras, have contacted me to express their profound apprehensions regarding the safety of the protesting farmers endeavoring to march toward the Indian capital, New Delhi," voiced the Labour MP within the precincts of the British Parliament, subsequently sharing a recorded rendition of his parliamentary discourse.
The unfortunate demise of Shubhkaran Singh, a farmer hailing from Punjab's Bhatinda region, occurred as a consequence of the protesting farmers' attempt to breach police barricades at the Khanauri border, situated at the intersection of Punjab and Haryana, on February 21.
"Yesterday, a demonstrator lost his life amidst a purported confrontation with law enforcement, succumbing to a fatal gunshot wound to the head," Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi articulated.
While Dhesi attributed Subhkaran Singh's demise to a bullet injury, official confirmation regarding the circumstances surrounding his passing remains pending.
The Shadow Minister for Exports in the UK, Dhesi, also highlighted alleged instances where individuals, including X, were purportedly coerced by the Indian Government to dismantle social media profiles associated with farm protest activism, citing insights from a BBC report to bolster his claims.
Furthermore, he underscored his apprehensions regarding the "preservation of freedom of expression and the well-being of protesters and their human rights."
"Hence, does the Leader of the House concur with my assertion that the protection of freedom of expression and the welfare of demonstrators and their human rights are imperative? Additionally, what diplomatic overtures has the government undertaken vis-Ã -vis its Indian counterparts to uphold these principles?" Minister Dhesi inquired, concluding his parliamentary address.
This instance marks yet another occasion wherein British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has attracted attention for his stance on matters concerning India.
