To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of freedom of religion or belief in India following the election of Prime Minister Modi.
Answered on
23 February 2015
UK Ministers and officials from our High Commission in New Delhi discuss religious and minority issues with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and other relevant State-level authorities. Most recently, the Minister of State at the Home Office with responsibility for Crime Prevention, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), met the Indian Minister for Minorities in January. Our High Commission also maintains regular contact with senior faith leaders and along with EU partners met with the Archbishop of Delhi on 13 February. During their visit to India last week, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association also discussed the recent attacks on churches in New Delhi with the Indian Minister for Minorities. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the new Indian government about religious and minority rights issues.