As UK Goes to Polls, Kashmir Becomes an Election Issue in Southall

With two Labour Party leaders in Southall sparring over the issue, Kashmir may influence poll results in the seat. (Photo: Lijumol Joseph/The Quint)

While the rhetoric over Kashmir impacts the India-Pakistan relationship in a big way, it’s new for the issue to influence the political narrative in Ealing Southall, which is going to the polls on 8 June with the rest of Britain.

The ongoing cacophony around Kashmir is believed to be a result of comments made by the Labour MP from Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma, while participating in a House of Commons debate on Kashmir on 19 January 2017.

This is the first time that undercurrents of differences between Pakistani and Indian Britons have surfaced at the level of public representatives, with a Labour Party councillor taking on Sharma over his comments. Normally, these fissures show during sports matches between India and Pakistan, the Independence Day celebrations of the two countries and some religious festivals.

The current controversy over the Kashmir debate is expected to divide Indian and Pakistani-origin voters and may even affect the victory margin of the sitting MP from a ‘safe’ Labour seat.

Also Read: British PM Theresa May to Seek Early Election on 8 June

Labour Party MP from Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma (third from left). (Photo Courtesy: virendrasharma.com)

Debate on Kashmir Sparks a Row

The January debate – now causing concern for the sitting MP – was brought up in the House of Commons by Conservative MP David Nuttal.

The premise of the debate included “the escalation in violence and breaches of international human rights on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kashmir; calling on the government to raise the matter at the United Nations; and further calling on the government to encourage Pakistan and India to commence peace negotiations to establish a long-term solution on the future governance of Kashmir based on the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future in accordance with the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions”.

While many participants focused on the Indian Army’s alleged actions in Kashmir, Sharma, contradicted this stand saying, “… I feel strongly about the way we are debating the Kashmir issue today: the questions that are raised are untrue and not relevant to the situation.”

War of Words

He further pointed out, “Having been unsuccessful in full-scale military manoeuvres to take control of more of Kashmir, subversive elements within the Pakistani government have, since the millennium, turned towards terrorism to further their ends.”

In 2004, Pakistan made a public commitment to prevent terrorist groups from using its territory to plan, prepare or launch attacks against India… That behaviour is regularly seen across Kashmir. Although the Line of Control is demarked, fighters from Pakistan launch attacks across the state. Those terrorist atrocities are perpetrated only to destabilise the region. They do not help the people of Kashmir or make anyone stronger. All they do is further the misery of millions.

Virendra Sharma, MP, Labour Party

Screenshot of a change.org petition posted by Nisar Malik.

Ironically, Sharma’s comments were seen as anti-Pakistan but didn’t cause much ripples until the snap general elections were announced in April.

Councillor Nisar Malik from London Borough of Hounslow – also a Labour member – is leading the charge against Sharma, calling his statement in Parliament “divisive and racist”. In a petition started by him on change.org, Malik said, “Sharma justified Indian Government action and blamed Pakistan, he said the most hurtful things to the whole Pakistani and Kashmiri community (sic).”

The petition further said:

The fair-minded people from other communities [are] condemning his choice of words and they all are asking how can you accuse one country of sponsoring terror when half of the world is suffering from this evil, Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of it 73,000 civilian and soldiers combined lost their lives, 130 young innocent children were tortured and killed in school, over 100 killed in Marriot Hotel in Islamabad and many more. Virendra Sharma calling the whole nation as terrorist is an insult to everyone living in Kashmir and Pakistan, he must withdraw his hurtful remarks (sic).

Damage Control

As the issue seemed to pick up steam with Pakistani British voters in the area, Sharma wrote a letter to Malik, clarifying his stand on the issue.

The letter, a copy of which has been accessed by The Quint, reads, “I am sorry that you were aggrieved by my speech, believe that I was speaking against Pakistan and that I spoke without due evidence.”

I feel I was justified in my comments and it was certainly not the intent to offend… I have never and will never question the contribution of Pakistanis to the UK… Any criticism of Pakistan was aimed at the Government of Pakistan and particularly Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence ISI…I still believe that this is not good for politics or our communities to carry these conflicts to such distant shores…About thirty MPs spoke in the debate and only two of us raised the actions of Pakistani actors as concerning. I believe I was right to raise the issues ignored by other MPs.

Letter written by Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma

However, this did not deter Malik from holding a public meeting on the matter in April. This meeting was widely covered by the Pakistani and Kashmiri media in the UK and many speakers on the day sought Sharma’s removal from the Labour Party, alleging that his statement didn’t behove a public representative.

Malik also requested all Pakistanis and Kashmiris to sign his petition on change.org so that “it can reach the Labour head office and let it know that their feelings have been hurt and that Mr Sharma be asked to retreat from his statement”.

Kashmir An Electoral Issue

When contacted by The Quint, Sharma said, “I think it is irresponsible when politicians and community leaders divide a community, sow discord and create distrust to secure their own position… I wholeheartedly apologise if my words caused offence or disappointed some, the effect was totally unintentional. I hope you will meet me to clear this unfortunate misunderstanding…”

Interestingly, local Kashmiri and Pakistani voters seem to be divided over the issue.

A local Kashmiri voter, originally from Mirpur in PoK, who didn’t wish to be identified for “community reasons,” said:

We have travelled thousands of miles to find a safe haven in the UK. Human rights violation in Kashmir, on both sides of the border, have been an issue. But to rake it up here for selfish political ends doesn’t make sense. Politicians in the UK should use their resources in helping the victims.

A voter of Pakistani descent, Rabia Khan, condemned Sharma’s remarks. “To blame Pakistan for whatever goes wrong in Kashmir is India’s tactic to defame our country. It is very upsetting for us as a nation.”

When asked who she will vote for, she replied that while she normally votes Labour, but may abstain from voting this time if Sharma “doesn’t apologise publicly”.

A local Muslim councillor, who didn’t want to be named, said, “Sharma is likely to retain his seat. His majority may take a small hit. But it would not change much for him, so why waste breath over an issue which was long settled in Parliament, with the result in favour of the motion intended.”

While Sharma is optimistic about his return to Parliament, only time will tell if, and how, the Kashmir issue plays out when Indian and Pakistani Britons cast their vote on 8 June.

Also Read: UK Sikhs Upset Over Captain’s ‘Khalistani’ Remark Against Sajjan

(Kamalpreet Kaur is a freelance journalist based in London, working with TV, radio, print and digital platforms. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)