§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have raised with the Indian Government the question of the killing of Muslims in Gujarat since February by the Hindu fundamentalist groups, VHP and Shiv Sinna; and [HL4362]
Whether they will call for an impartial and international inquiry into ethnic cleansing of minority communities from Indian Gujarat; and [HL4365]
Whether they have raised with the Indian Government the question of the murder of Christian priests and the destruction of churches in Gujarat. [HL4366]
149WA
§ Baroness AmosWe have been very concerned by the recent communal violence and deaths in Gujarat, including attacks against Muslims, Hindus and Christians. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has been in close and regular contact with the Government of India, as has our High Commission in Delhi. The Government of India have given us their assurances, which we welcome, that they will take action to investigate the violence and to bring to justice perpetrators of the killings, including those who have murdered British citizens.
We are aware of attacks against Christians in Gujarat, both prior to and during the recent communal violence since February. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Europe have previously raised our concerns for Christian welfare with the Government of India.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will suspend international aid to India until the Indian Government can prove that action has been taken against Hindu fundamentalists and that they have banned VHP and Shiv Sinna. [HL4364]
§ Baroness AmosOur development assistance in India is firmly focused on reducing poverty. In India and elsewhere it would be wrong to reduce assistance to the poor in order to try to achieve other political objectives.