Waseem Kazmi
London, during the debate in the House of Lords on the free trade agreement between the UK and India, Lord Qurban Hussain expressed concern over the absence of a specific clause on human rights in the agreement, while pointing out that the agreement includes provisions on animal welfare.
Speaking during the debate, Lord Qurban Hussain raised the question of whether the agreement includes any clause on the protection of human rights. He also inquired whether the British government considers human rights issues in India to be less important than animal protection.
Lord Qurban Hussain said “I understand that our free trade agreement with India includes a specific animal welfare clause, which is certainly a good thing. But does it also include a human rights clause? If not, does the British government really believe that human rights in India are less important than animal rights?”
Responding on behalf of the government, Lord Leung reiterated the UK’s commitment to human rights and said that human rights are important everywhere, be it in India or elsewhere, and the British government will continue to uphold its obligations under international human rights treaties.
Lord Qurban Hussain’s observation reflects long-standing concerns expressed by MPs, human rights organisations and international observers about the human rights situation in India. These concerns include the rights of religious minorities, freedom of expression, civil liberties and the situation in the Indian-occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
His remarks during the debate highlight the importance of ensuring that economic and trade partnerships are aligned with India’s commitment to fundamental human rights and international legal obligations.
It should be recalled that the UK and India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July 2025. However, the agreement has not yet entered into force.
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