The Hindu : U.K. MPs' concern over 'atrocities' against Dalits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 15, 2004

International

International - India & World

U.K. MPs' concern over 'atrocities' against Dalits

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN. 14. Several Labour MPs have jointly tabled a motion in the Commons voicing concern over what they have called "organised" atrocities against Dalits in India, and other parts of South Asia.

The motion, the second of its kind in recent months, also calls upon the British Home Office to monitor the activities of U.K.-based "extremist" Hindutva organisations which have been accused of supporting divisive campaigns in India.

The MPs urge the British Government to "re-evaluate" its foreign aid agreements and development programmes on the basis of their effect on Dalit communities.

The "early day motion," signed among others by the left-wing MP, Jeremy Corbyn, who has extensive contacts with human rights groups in India, follows allegations of misuse of charitable donations by some U.K.-based right-wing Hindutva groups.

Britain's charities commission is investigating accusations that they have been funding anti-minorities' campaigns in India.

The allegations have been strongly denied by these groups.

The motion says: "This deplores continues and organised atrocities against Dalits in South Asia, especially in India; calls upon the Home Office to monitor the activities of extremist Hindutva organisations operating in the United Kingdom to ensure that they are not supporting atrocities against Dalits in India, to monitor the activities, to monitor the activities of all groups promoting caste and descent-based discrimination and the practice of untouchability and to take measures to prohibit such practices; recommends that the Department for International Development and all U.K.-based international aid agencies re-evaluate their development policies, programmes, cooperation agreements and use of aid on the basis of their effect on Dalit communities..."

The motion, signed by 11 MPs, was criticised by a senior Indian Labour Party activist who said it amounted to interfering in India's "internal matters." "I do not deny we have problems but these are internal matters of India," said Paramjit Bahia.

But he also criticised the Vajpayee Government for not doing enough to ensure the "dignity" of minority groups.

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