David Cameron, who was once the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and is now the British Foreign Secretary, spoke in the House of Lords regarding religious conflict in Manipur, India.
In response to a query from the Lord Bishop of Winchester regarding the state of religious freedom in India, Cameron acknowledged the religious aspect of the conflict.
When asked about religious freedom in India and the situation in Manipur, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron recognized the importance of acknowledging the religious dimension in some instances of strife. He stated, “We should not overlook the religious elements in some of these conflicts. While some are communal, tribal, or ethnic, many have a distinct religious aspect to them… There have been instances where we have discussed this with the Indian government, and we should continue to do so.”
He mentioned a report by David Campanale that highlighted the destruction of churches among both valley dwellers and hill tribes in Manipur.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon expressed concerns about religious intolerance in India, citing incidents like the Ayodhya riots and the persecution of Christians and Sikhs. He advocated for prioritizing religious freedom in the Commonwealth Charter. Cameron agreed with Singh’s emphasis on religious tolerance and freedom in India.
Later, Lord Purvis of Tweed inquired about the terms of the UK-India trade deal concerning media, data, and telecoms, emphasizing the necessity of mutual transparency in addressing human rights issues.
