Refrain from practising vote bank politics, India advises British MPs after debate on farm laws

Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla advised that British MPs should refrain from practising vote bank politics by misrepresenting events.

Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla summoned the UK High Commissioner to India on Tuesday to lodge a strong protest over the discussion on Indian farm laws in the British Parliament. Legislators in the UK took part in a debate over the ongoing farmers' agitation and press freedoms in India on Monday. Issuing a demarché to the British High Commissioner Alex W Ellis, the Foreign Secretary conveyed strong opposition to the "unwarranted" and "tendentious" discussion on agricultural reforms in India in the British Parliament. "Foreign Secretary made clear that this represented a gross interference in the politics of another democratic country. He advised that British MPs should refrain from practising vote bank politics by misrepresenting events, especially in relation to another fellow democracy," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.