Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made recent representations to the Indian Government on the safety and security of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.

We are aware of recent reports about the situation in Uttar Pradesh and we condemn any instances of discrimination because of religion or belief, regardless of the country or faith involved. The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all and promoting respect and tolerance between different religious and non-religious communities. We engage with India on a range of human rights matters and where we have concerns, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at Ministerial level.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions will continue to follow reports of violence and discrimination closely, while recognising that these are matters for India. It is for the Indian Government to address the concerns of all Indian citizens, regardless of faith.