Oldham Council to ask PM for help with Kashmir human rights issue

Date published: 12 September 2019


Oldham Council has resolved to get Boris Johnson to write about the plight of the Kashmiri people to the Indian Government - and ensure the region is no longer bereft of basic freedoms and essential medicines.

Thanks to a motion brought by Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Dr Zahid Chauhan (pictured), Oldham council has promised to ask its Chief Executive to contact the Prime Minister. 

They want to express the council's concern at the action of the Indian Government and urge the UK Government to press for a resolution of the crisis.

They're going to thank the borough's three MPs for the action that they have already taken and ask them to use all parliamentary measures at their disposal to support the principles outlined in the motion.

Primarily, that motion spells out how Oldham would like to see an end to the current dispute in line with the United Nations resolution, the restoration of Kashmir's special rights under to its own constitution and the removal of a lock-down imposed by Delhi. 

And as an authority with a reputation for tolerance and diversity and over 15,000 residents of Kashmiri descent, Dr Chauhan believes it is only natural that Oldham should challenge the current situation where torture is prevalent and vital rights and supplies are prohibited.

Dr Chauhan said: “As a medic myself I am utterly appalled that people are potentially dying because of the intransigence of the Indian Government.

As a firm believer in democracy, freedom of speech and human rights, I can only look in horror at what is happening in Kashmir.

"It is horribly reminiscent of Nazi Germany and we cannot simply stand idly by and appease it. Britain has a long-standing respectful relationship with India and should use its influence to change and save lives in Kashmir.”  

Situated between India and Pakistan, Kashmir has been a disputed territory since the partition of the subcontinent by the British in 1947.

In 1954, the Indian Government introduced Article 370 granting special status for the region. But following a series of General Election pledges, Prime Minster Narendra Modi revoked that status in August, deploying troops on the streets, forbidding outside communication and prompting the fear of a bloody conflict in the region.

Speaking ahead of the Motion, Dr Chauhan said: “Kashmir is also the unfinished business of the colonial era and we in the United kingdom are responsible for this dispute in the first place.

"It's also our human responsibility to stop any act of terror against human beings whether they are state sponsored or sponsored by individual or groups. We want to live in a world where the rights of individuals, including the right of free speech, right of existence, right of equality and right of economic freedom are respected.”

Seconding the resolution, Cllr Ateeque Ur-Rehman added:  “This sends a clear message that we stand with the plight of Kashmiri people who have been under curfew and a complete blackout since August 5.

"There is a shortage of food and medicine and people are suffering as a result. It’s about time the United Nations and the rest of the world stood with the Kashmiris and ensure they are given the right of self determination as promised by the UN over 70 years ago.”

 


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