Keir Starmer envisages a close alliance between the UK and India
In yet another attempt to create distance between himself and the previous Labour party leadership, Keir Starmer has abruptly changed the partys stance on Kashmir.
Starmer, who became Labour leader early last month, told a Labour Friends of India (LFIN) meeting on April 30 that Kashmir is a "bilateral" issue for India and Pakistan to resolve at an inter-state level.
Starmer also stated that such "divisive" foreign issues should "not be allowed" to divide communities in the UK.
Starmers statement is a clear - indeed dramatic - shift away from Labours longstanding policy of criticizing Indias occupation of Kashmir and the widespread human rights abuses associated with that occupation.
This abrupt change in policy has drawn a sharp rebuke from existing and former Labour party members and supporters who are concerned about their partys inexorable shift to the right under Starmers leadership.
A well-known author tried to raise awareness of the fact that the change in the partys position has come in the wake of Indias abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution which guaranteed Jammu and Kashmirs special status.
An influential young labour activist has interpreted Starmers statement as giving succor to Indias hard-right Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, human rights activists worry that the shift towards India indicates that the Labour party has effectively abandoned its traditional robust defense of human rights values.
More broadly, Labour party supporters past and present will be concerned about the determined outreach to India and what that will entail for the partys positioning in British politics.
These fears are exacerbated by Starmers long-term vision of a strategic UK pivot towards India.
"A Labour government under my leadership will be determined to build even stronger business links with India and to cooperate on the global stage on issues such as climate change", Starmer said in his statement after the meeting with the LFIN in London.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/16802
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