Corbyn thaws on Kashmir, says Labour understands concerns of Indian community

UK's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walked back on his rhetoric on the Kashmir issue, saying that the party understood the concerns of the Indian community in the country.  Corbyn wrote to Indian-origin Labour MPs, according to Hindustan Times, “The emergency motion on Kashmir came through as part of the democratic process of the Labour party conference However, there is a recognition that some of the language used within it could be misinterpreted as hostile to India and the Indian Diaspora. Labour understands the concerns the Indian community in Britain has about the situation in Kashmir and takes these concerns very seriously. The Labour Party is committed to ensuring the human rights of all citizens of Kashmir are respected and upheld. This remains our priority and I agree that we should not allow the politics of the sub-continent to divide communities here in Britain”.

Corbyn has been under pressure from Indian diaspora groups in Britain since the Labour Party passed a resolution against the Indian government's August 5 decision to revoke Article 370 to withdraw the special status accorded to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, perceived as anti-India with its call for international intervention in the region.

He had met with India's Congress (Overseas) leaders on Thursday, leading to a firestorm. The BJP lashed out at the opposition over its "shameful shenanigans" and demanded an explanation from it on the meeting. The Congress later disowned the overseas unit, saying it is not authorised to talk on India's internal matters with outsiders.

Corbyn's latest statement comes after efforts by the Labour Friends of India (LFIN) group within the party urging the Corbyn and Thornberry for a meeting to consider withdrawing the resolution passed at its conference last month.

"We have concerns about the procedure for the selection of the motion, the quality of the evidence that backed it up, the lack of a balanced debate on the subject, and its ultimate selection and adoption," read a letter issued last week by LFIN - a group co-chaired by London's Indian-origin Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal and Darren Jones MP.

Labour Friends of India was among the groups that felt the brunt of the resolution's aftermath as the Indian mission in London cancelled participation in a proposed annual reception and even the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a harsh rebuke over the uninformed and unfounded motion.

Other Indian-origin Labour Party MPs have also voiced their concerns over the issue, with Leicester-based MP Keith Vaz saying it had caused "unnecessary distress and division within the party and the country" as he wrote to Corbyn to recall the motion.

Fellow Indian-origin veteran Labour MP, Virendra Sharma, also described the matter as a domestic issue, which should not involve the party's intervention.

He said: Matters surrounding Kashmir and Article 370 are a matter for India internally, it is not for the Labour Party to decide. This is a domestic issue which needs resolving within Indian law and the Constitution.

"Kashmir has been an integral part of India since 1947 and it is a matter for only the population of Kashmir to decide where they live.

The Labour Party resolution tabled at its annual party conference in Brighton and passed on September 26 called on 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 has categorically told the international community that its move on Kashmir was an internal matter. India maintains Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party has any role in it.

-Inputs from PTI