UK MP Preet Kaur Gill seeks explanation from Foreign Secretary over farmers' protest

As a chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs, Preet Kaur Gill -- the first female Sikh MP in the UK -- has written a letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to explain what the government was doing in ongoing farmers' protest in India and the detention on Jagtar Singh Johal. "As Chair of @AppgBritSikhs, I've written to Dominic Raab to ask him to meet with us and explain what govt is currently doing about concerning new developments with the Indian Farmers' protest and the ongoing detention of Jagtar Singh Johal," she said in a tweet. Also Read | Petrol and Diesel prices hike again; read details inside "The event touched on a number of issues which fall under you as Foreign Secretary, including concerns about the escalating crackdown on the farmers' protest in India and the ongoing detention of Jagtar Singh Johal," Preet Kaur Gill MP wrote in a letter. "In December, I wrote to you about reports and footage of the police brutality used against peaceful protestors in New Delhi, including the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds and footage of state police beating elderly protestors with batons," she wrote further. Also Read | Amid hike in petrol and diesel prices in India, vegetable prices rise "Given you travelled to India in December, I and other APPG members would welcome an update on the representations the UK government has made to the Indian government and what more it can do to defend the right to peaceful protest and encourage constructive civil engagement," the letter stated. The farmers have been protesting against contentious farm laws 2020 i.e. Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. -PTC News