Human Rights in India

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Wednesday 27th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

I know that there is to be a debate on this subject tomorrow.

The petition, to which there are more than 2,000 signatures, states:

The Petition of residents of Coventry and the United Kingdom,

Declares that the Petitioners believe that the UK Government should encourage the Indian Union to take immediate action to stop human rights abuses facing minorities in India and that India should sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN Charter against torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment which encompasses the death penalty and thus India should abolish the death penalty as it is a cruel, inhumane or degrading form of punishment; further declares that the UK Government should campaign to stop Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence and have him released from jail as he has served 17 years in custody and that the Indian Union should release all political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and prisoners who have been imprisoned without trial.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to appeal to India for the above actions to be taken, and request that the House holds a debate on these issues and brings them to light in the European Union and United Nations.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P001157]