Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of (1) internet blockades, (2) use of force, (3) intimidation by state policy, and (4) human rights abuses, against farmer protestors in India.

The right to gather lawfully and demonstrate a point of view is common to all democracies. Governments also have the power to enforce law and order if a protest crosses the line into illegality. We look to India to uphold the freedoms and rights guaranteed in its strong constitution and the international instruments to which India is a party. We were aware that some restrictions on internet connectivity were imposed at protest sites and welcome their removal. During his visit to India in December 2020, the Foreign Secretary discussed the protests with his Indian counterpart, whilst making clear that agricultural reform is an internal matter for the Indian authorities.