Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — As Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Paris on a State visit, in another French city, Strasbourg, the European Parliament (EP) called on the Indian government to act “promptly” to halt the violence in Manipur and protect religious minorities.
The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India.
According to media reports, the resolution passed by European Parliament asked the government of India “to protect all religious minorities, such as Manipur’s Christian community, and to pre-empt any further escalation”. It also calls on authorities to grant unhindered access to the area by journalists and international observers and to end Internet shutdowns.
The resolution was passed by a show of hands on Thursday after a debate on the issue on Wednesday evening.
The government of India, however, called the EU legislature action “unacceptable”.
On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said EU parliamentarians concerned are being reached out and it has been made clear to them that it is a matter “absolutely” internal to India.
Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes, especially between Kuki and Meitei communities for close to two months.
“This is a matter totally internal to India,” Kwatra said, replying to a question on the matter at a press conference in New Delhi.
The resolution entitled ‘India, the situation in Manipur’ was initiated by Pierre Larrouturou, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.
“…Parliament strongly urges the Indian authorities to put in place all necessary measures to promptly halt the ethnic and religious violence and to protect all religious minorities,” reads a press statement from the Parliament on the passed resolution.
The MEPs called on the Indian authorities to allow “independent investigations” to look into the violence and urged all conflicting sides to cease making “inflammatory statements, re-establish trust and play an impartial role to mediate the tensions”.
“Parliament reiterates its call for human rights to be integrated into all areas of the EU-India partnership, including in trade,” the press statement said.
__________
Photo: The European Parliament in session. — europarl.europa.eu
