Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Indian counterpart on the effect on human rights of internet shut downs in regions of that country.

The Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Africa met India’s Minister of State for External Affairs on 19 December 2019 and discussed, among other things, the human rights situation across India. The Minister of State raised the situation in Kashmir and when restrictions would be lifted. I will continue to monitor developments closely and raise concerns with the Government of India where appropriate.