For the first time ever, issues like racism in the UK have been raised in the Indian Parliament. India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar expressed concern, asserting that the matter will be taken up with Britain with “great candor”.
In the backdrop of the allegation of racism by Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle against the British Royal family and similar problems faced by the first Indian origin woman president of Oxford University union Rashmi Samant, the issue of racism in the UK was raised in the Indian Parliament on Monday.
Ashwini Vaishnav, a member of the ruling party from Odisha raised the matter, looking for the public authority’s reaction on the issue.
Samant had surrendered as the leader of Oxford University’s understudy association, Vaishnav called attention to. “She was cyber bullied to the point that she needed to leave and surprisingly the Hindu strict convictions of her folks were openly assaulted by an employee,” he said.
“Let me commend the honorable member for bringing up such an important issue. I note the sentiment of the house, government does,” Jaishankar said. “As the land of Mahatma Gandhi, we can never turn our eyes away from racism wherever it is, particularly so in a country where we have such a large diaspora.”
He explained, “As a friend of the UK, we also have concerns about its reputational impacts. What I do want to say sir is we have strong ties with the UK, we will take up such matter with great candor when required”.
“We will monitor such development very very closely, we will raise it when required, and will always champion the fight against racism and other forms of intolerance,” he added.
With inputs from WION.
