'Pandering to Vote-Bank': India Slams UK's Labour Party For Kashmir Resolution

India on Wednesday slammed United Kingdom’s Labour Party after it passed a resolution seeking international intervention on the Kashmir issue.  Describing it an attempt at “pandering to vote-bank interests”, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in an official statement said, “There is no question of engaging with the Labour Party or its representatives on this issue.” 

Labour Party, which is UK’s main opposition party, on Wednesday passed an emergency motion on Kashmir calling for party leader Jeremy Corbyn to seek international observers to “enter” the region and demand the right of self-determination for its people. 

“Government has noted certain developments at the Labour Party Conference on September 25 pertaining to the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir. We regret the uninformed and unfounded positions taken at this event,” Raveesh Kumar said in an official statement. 
“There is no question of engaging with the Labour Party or its representatives on this issue,” Raveesh Kumar said.

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The resolution comes in contrast with the British government’s official stand on Kashmir which considers it a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. The resolution tabled at the Labour Party’s annual party conference calls for intervention by its leader Jeremy Corbyn to ensure party’s representation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the issue.

However, it drew criticism from the representatives of the Indian diaspora as they described it as ‘ill conceived’ and ‘misinformed’. 

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The resolution also calls for Corbyn to meet the high commissioners of both India and Pakistan to ensure there is “mediation” and restoration of peace and normality to prevent a potential nuclear conflict.

India has for long maintained that Kashmir is India’s internal matter and no third-party mediation is required. However, the Indian delegations is currently attending the fourth meeting of the Speakers of Parliaments of Eurasian nations.