Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made as to whether elections have inflamed tensions and violence between religious and ethnic groups in India; and what steps they are taking to promote freedom of religion or belief in that country following the intercommunal violence in West Bengal.

We recognise that the state assembly elections in West Bengal were divisive, and we look to the Indian and West Bengal authorities to address this through inclusive social and economic policies in the recovery from the pandemic. Human rights form a regular part of our dialogue with India and of our frontline line outreach and project work. Most recently, I discussed the situation for Christians with India's Minister of State for Home Affairs on 15 March. Our Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi also discussed UK Parliamentary interest in India's minorities with officials from India's Ministry of External Affairs on 5 January. The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions across India also regularly meet religious representatives and have run projects promoting minority rights.