UK House of Lords debates clampdown on NGOs and universities in India
Exactly one week after the House of Commons held a controversial debate on the safety of farmer protesters and press freedoms in India, the House of Lords decided to debate the stifling clampdown on universities, NGOs and civil society in India.
Eight peers took part in the debate in the main chamber on Monday regarding restrictions imposed on NGOs and academics. It included discussing the detention of Dalit activists, imprisonment of journalists, forced closure of Amnesty International, persecution of non-Hindus and the “damaging effect of the FCRA” on mainstream aid agencies.
“Does the UK government agree that it is not possible for India to claim to be the world’s largest democracy if they continue to restrict freedom of expression and freedom to organise?” asked Labour peer Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale….
