British lawmaker warns diaspora |
A British lawmaker is urging members of the Indian diaspora to lobby their Members of Parliament to support a motion introduced by him in March 2017 condemning Pakistan`s announcement that Gilgit-Baltistan was its fifth frontier, warning that MPs were continually lobbied by “separatists” and the “right of self determination lobby”. Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for the London constituency of Harrow East introduced the Early Day Motion — a formal means for MPs to bring attention to issues outside the formal debating chamber — on March 23, but remains the sole signatory to it. Mr. Blackman said his office had been sending out letter templatesing to community leaders, urging them to write to their MPs, as part of a wider project launched to engage with the diaspora. While some MPs had indicated they would be willing to support him in other ways, such as debates, Mr. Blackman said many MPs were “not well versed with the actual situation on the ground in Pakistan as well as surrounding regions”. They are constantly lobbied by the separatists and the `Right of Self Determination” lobby who give them the impression that it is India causing human rights violations— far removed from the actual reality on the ground. MPs speak on behalf of their constituents and he feels that this is something where the Indian diaspora are very weak.
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