1. David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister and current British Foreign Secretary, addressed the House of Lords, highlighting the religious conflict in Manipur.
2. Cameron acknowledged the religious dimension of the strife when asked about religious freedom in India.
3. He emphasized the importance of addressing religious aspects in conflicts and indicated raising concerns with the Indian government when necessary.
Imphal, April 18: Former UK Prime Minister and current British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, recently addressed the House of Lords, focusing on the religious conflict in Manipur, India.
Responding to inquiries regarding the status of religious freedom in India, Cameron acknowledged the religious dimension of the strife.
He emphasized that while some conflicts in Manipur stem from communal, tribal, or ethnic factors, many also have a significant religious component.
Cameron highlighted instances where the UK government has raised concerns about religious intolerance with the Indian authorities and stressed the importance of continuing such discussions.
He referred to a report by David Campanale that documented the destruction of churches in Manipur, affecting both valley dwellers and hill tribes.
During the session, Lord Singh of Wimbledon expressed concerns about religious intolerance in India, citing past incidents such as the Ayodhya riots and the persecution of Christians and Sikhs.
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He advocated for prioritizing religious freedom in the Commonwealth Charter, a sentiment with which Cameron concurred.
Later in the discussion, Lord Purvis of Tweed raised questions about the terms of the UK-India trade deal, particularly regarding media, data, and telecommunications.
He underscored the importance of mutual openness in addressing human rights issues and stressed the need for transparency and accountability in any trade agreement between the two countries.
