The UK's Opposition Labour Party on Wednesday passed an emergency motion on Kashmir, calling for party leader Jeremy Corbyn to seek international observers to "enter" the region and demand the right of self-determination for its people.
"The conference urges the Labour Party to ask Jeremy Corbyn or ensure someone is represented to attend the UNHRC to demand the restoration of basic human rights including the freedom of speech and communication, the lifting of curfews, and to allow the humanitarian aid organisation and international observers to enter the region," reads the resolution.
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The resolution was tabled on Tuesday by the Leyton and Wanstead and Nottingham East Constituency Labour Party wings and passed on Wednesday. The resolution also calls for Corbyn to meet the high commissioners of both India and Pakistan to ensure there is "mediation" and restoration of peace and normality to prevent a potential nuclear conflict.
India maintained that the Kashmir issue was a bilateral one and no third party has any role in it.
India on Wednesday slammed the resolution. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar described the Labour Party's move as an attempt at "pandering to vote-bank interests". There is no question of engaging with the Labour Party or its representatives on this issue, he said.
"Government has noted certain developments at the Labour Party Conference on September 25 pertaining to the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. We regret the uninformed and unfounded positions taken at this event," Kumar said.
"Clearly, this is an attempt at pandering to vote-bank interests. There is no question of engaging with the Labour Party or its representatives on this issue," he added.
The resolution states: "Accept that Kashmir is a disputed territory and the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions."
"The Labour Party to stand with the Kashmiri people....this is vital as we stand for social justice and ethical foreign policy."
It notes that while the party conference is taking place in the UK, India and Pakistan are discussing the issue of Kashmir at the United Nations amid a major humanitarian crisis and several exchanges of fire across the Line of Control.
In an apparent reference to the revocation of Article 370, it condemns the house arrest and imprisonment of mainstream politicians and activists and restrictions on journalistic freedom, claiming that ongoing communications blackout continues to cause disruption for families.
This is not the first time the Labour Party has spoken out on Kashmir issue. UK's leader of opposition Jeremy Corbyn had tweeted on August 11, “The situation in Kashmir is deeply disturbing. Human rights abuses taking place are unacceptable. The rights of the Kashmiri people must be respected and UN resolutions implemented.”
-Inputs from PTI
