One of Britain's most outspoken MPs on the Kashmir issue Bob Blackman has called on Pakistan to leave Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, asserting that India has a sovereign right over the entire region.
Addressing a UK-based Kashmiri Pandit gatheringorganized in London, the Conservative Party MP countered the Pakistanigovernment's plan to move a United Nations resolution in the wake of India'sAugust 5 decision to scrap provisions of Article 370 and end the special statusof Jammu and Kashmir.
"The entirety of the state of Jammu andKashmir is part of sovereign India, and people that ask for UN resolution to beimplemented ignore the first resolution, which is that Pakistani militaryforces should leave Kashmir to re-unite the state," Mr Blackman said atthe "Balidan Divas" or Day of Sacrifice event held in London.
Organized by the Kashmiri Pandits CulturalSociety and All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), the event involved a theatreproduction titled "We Remember: The Journey of Kashmiri Pandits". It was puttogether by children and friends of Britain's Kashmiri Pandit community tocapture the sentiment behind the lost homes of many Kashmiris.
"A powerful performance by all thechildren in the play and the Bharatanatyam dance. Appreciate your commitmentand support Bob Blackman," Indian High Commissioner to the UK RuchiGhanashyam said in a tweet.
Mr Blackman has been speaking out in favor ofIndia since the decision to scrap the provisions of Article 370 found echoesamong Britain's MPs.
The north London MP, who is also chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Hindus, has been a long-time supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had also written to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accusing Opposition Labour Party MPs of making provocative claims against India.
"I strongly support the revocation of Article 370. Narendra Modi has again shown proper and strong leadership in honoring the manifesto of the BJP – now is the time to properly integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Constitution," he said. Tension between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi ended Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5 and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. Asserting that the scrapping of the provisions of Article 370 was its "internal matter", India has asked Pakistan to accept reality.
