India, on Tuesday, hit out against a debate on the farmers' protests and press freedom, organised inside British parliamentary premises by UK lawmakers. The Indian High Commission said the debate as one casting aspersions on Indian democracy. "We deeply regret that rather than a balanced debate, false assertions, without substantiation or facts, were made, casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions," the commission said in a statement after the Monday evening debate on an e-petition.
The debate was held in response to an e-petition which had crossed the 1,00,000-signature threshold, required for it to be approved by the House of Commons Petitions Committee.
In its statement, the Indian mission also pointed out that foreign media, including British media, had been present and witnessed the events surrounding the farmers' protests in India first-hand and therefore any question of lack of freedom of the media in India does not arise.
British Parliament's Petitions Committee had earlier said they will consider a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons complex on the issue of farmers protests and press freedom in India after an online petition attracted over 1,06,000 signatures. All e-petitions on the Parliament website that cross the 10,000 signatures mark require the UK government to make an official statement and any petitions that cross 1,00,000 signatures must be considered for a debate.
India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and organisations on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi issued a statement on Wednesday to highlight that the Parliament of India had passed "reformist legislation" for the agricultural sector, which "a very small section of farmers" have some reservations about and therefore the laws have been kept on hold while talks are held.
Emphasising that the protests must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity, the MEA in its statement said some vested interest groups have tried to mobilise international support against the country.
"Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible," the MEA statement said following some high-profile celebrities tweeting over the agitation by farmers.
-Inputs from PTI
