Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Rehman Chishti Excerpts
Wednesday 15th June 2011

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rehman Chishti Portrait Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)
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On a recent visit to India, my constituent Baljinder Singh’s mother, Surjit Kaur, a British national, was kidnapped and then beheaded in a horrendous murder. May I ask the British Government to urge the Indian authorities to carry out a full, transparent and thorough investigation and bring to account those responsible for that horrendous murder so that my constituent and his family can get some justice for their mother?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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I understand why my hon. Friend wants to raise this case, and on behalf of the whole House let me send our condolences to Mrs Kaur’s family. I fully understand and support their wish for justice to be brought to bear on the perpetrators. The Foreign Office has been providing the family with consular support, as my hon. Friend knows, and they will arrange to meet him and the family to see what further assistance we can give. However, responsibility for investigating crime committed overseas must rest with the police and judicial authorities in that country. We cannot interfere in the processes, but I take his point to heart.