New Delhi (NVI): In a major faux pas, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson today told the House of Commons that the farmers’ protest in India was a matter for the governments of India and Pakistan to settle when asked about his response on the issue.
The UK PM seemed to confuse two separate issues and reiterated his government’s stance that the dispute between India and Pakistan was to be settled bilaterally.
Many were horrified to see water cannon, tear gas and brute force being used against farmers peacefully protesting in India about #FarmersBill2020.
Everyone has the fundamental right to protest peacefully.
But it might help if our PM actually knew what he was talking about! pic.twitter.com/EvqGHMhW0Y
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) December 9, 2020
Boris was responding to a question by British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi who asked the UK PM if he could convey to the Indian Prime Minister (Modi) the anxieties in the United Kingdom over police action on protesting farmers. Dhesi has been leading a drive to keep the protests by the Indian farmers against the government’s agricultural reforms in the news in Britain.
“So, will the Prime Minister (Johnson) convey to the Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) our heartfelt anxieties, our hopes for a speedy resolution to the current deadlock and does he agree that everyone has a fundamental right to peaceful protest,” he asked Johnson.
However, Johnson went on to address a completely unrelated matter and confused the issue with India-Pakistan dispute.
“Our view is that of course we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan but these are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I know that he appreciates that point,” said Johnson.
After hearing the UK PM’s remarks, Dhesi looked visibly confused. He was quick to take to social media and posted the exchange on Twitter:
“The world is watching, issue is a huge one with hundreds of thousands protesting globally (including in London, reported on by BBC) and the usual Boris Johnson bluff and bluster heaps further embarrassment onto our nation. Absolutely clueless! So disappointed with his response…But it might help if our PM actually knew what he was talking about!”
-ARK
