Boris Johnson understood India question: BJP neta adamant despite UK govt saying otherwise

BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh on Friday weighed in with his views regarding remarks by UK Prime Minister on farmers' protest in India. Taking to Twitter, BJP leer said asserted that Boris Johnson "did t misunderstand question" but he showed "how irrelevant question was." BL Santhosh said that by t commenting on protests', British Prime Minister showed what his country's "priorities are."

'Sorry fellows, he understood it.'

"Many anarchists are giving to British PM Boris Johnson answer to an MPs question on Indian farm unrest as misunderstood question. Sorry fellows. He understood it. Replied it. Showed what ir countries priorities are... Showed how irrelevant question was," BJP leer said.

BJP leer was referring to incident which occurred during weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in House of Commons on Wednesday when Johnson reiterated that any dispute between India and Pakistan was for two countries to settle bilaterally in response to a question by Opposition Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi about conveying British Sikh anxieties over ongoing protests against agricultural reforms in India.

However, a UK government spokesperson has said, " Prime Minister clearly misheard question in Parliament. Foreign Office is following issue of protests in India closely." 

British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who has been vocal about farmers' agitation, repeated one of his previous Twitter statements on issue and asked, "So, will Prime Minister (Johnson) convey to Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) our heartfelt anxieties, our hopes for a speedy resolution to current delock and does he agree that everyone has a fundamental right to peaceful protest?"

'So disappointed with Johnson's response': British MP

"Our view is that of course, we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan but se are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I kw that he appreciates that point," said Johnson responding to Dhesi. 

A perplexed Dhesi took to social media immediately to brand Johnson as "absolutely clueless" and was joined by scores of fellow Labour politicians and ors in expressing shock at gaffe. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has refused to be drawn into British politicians' representations seeking UK government intervention in matter, stating that police handling of protests is a matter for government of India.

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Thousands of farmers are currently staying put at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Presh in protest against Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

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(With ncy inputs)