NEW DELHI: India on Monday conveyed its serious concerns to the UK over Pakistani elements ‘lobbying’ with British lawmakers to raise the Kashmir issue in their Parliament and sought cooperation in the extradition of fugitives like Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, officials said, Zee News has reported.
These issues were strongly raised by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju with British Minister of State for Immigration Brandon Lewis at a delegation-level meeting here.
The Indian side expressed deep concerns over Pakistanis” continuing to engage in anti-India propaganda in the United Kingdom, a home ministry official said.
Rijiju also brought to the notice of Lewis the “lobbying” by Pakistani elements with some current and former UK MPs and Lords, like David Nuttall, Nusrat Ghani, Robert Flello, Fiona Mactaggart, who debated and approved a motion on the Kashmir issue in the British Parliament in the past.
The Indian side also conveyed its resentment over shadow foreign minister Emily Thornberry of Labour Party saying that that Britain would incorporate its concern on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir in any post-Brexit deal her country would struck with India, the official said.
Rijiju made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an inalienable and integral part of India and Britain must not allow its territory to be used for anti-India propaganda, he said.
The UK side said the British society is liberal and it advocates free speech and ideas, another official said.
The issue of anti-India activities by some Khalistani separatists were also brought to the notice of the British delegation, and they were asked not to give platforms to the supporters of terrorism and radical views.
Rijiju said such developments would only invigorate Khalistani and Kashmiri separatists groups.
Rijiju pressed for cooperation from Britain in extradition of 13 individuals, including liquor barron Vijay Mallya, former IPL honcho Lalit Modi and cricket bookie Sanjiv Chawla, the official said.
The British side conveyed that the extradition hearings for Mallya will start on December 4 and he will remain on conditional bail.
India also sought legal assistance in prosecution of 16 other alleged criminals.