UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent confusing comments about Indian Farmers’ protest revealed the leader’s lack of knowledge on the issue.
Many were horrified to see water cannon, tear gas and brute force being used against farmers peacefully protesting in India about #FarmersBill2020.
Everyone has the fundamental right to protest peacefully.
But it might help if our PM actually knew what he was talking about! pic.twitter.com/EvqGHMhW0Y
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) December 9, 2020
He said, “Our view is that of course, we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan.
He continued, “But these are pre-eminently matters between those two governments to settle, and I know he appreciates this point.”
Johnson was responding to Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who highlighted the “massive” problem in India.
Singh asked the British Prime Minister, “will the prime minister convey to the Indian prime minister our heartfelt anxieties and our hopes for a speedy resolution to the current deadlock, and does he agree that everyone has a fundamental right to peaceful protest?”
Johnson appeared “absolutely clueless” over Delhi’s protest and mistook the matter with the continuing conflict between India and Pakistan.
After his comments, Johnson met with mocking remarks on social media on Wednesday. Afzal Khan, a British member of Parliament, tweeted, “The PM responded with a rehearsed & unrelated answer about India & Pakistan”.
He added, “The issue has nothing to do with India and Pakistan. Incredible,”
A new low even for @BorisJohnson
My friend @tandhesi asked an important question at #PMQs about the peaceful protests by farmers in Delhi
The PM responded with a rehearsed & unrelated answer about India & Pakistan
The issue has nothing to do with Pakistan. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/yUFPOakY0h
— Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) December 9, 2020
Zahra Sultana, another Member Parliament, remarked in her tweet, “Is it too much to ask for a PM who knows the difference between Kashmir and Punjab?”
At today's #PMQs:@TanDhesi: Will the PM speak up for protesting farmers in Punjab facing repression?@BorisJohnson: I have concerns about what is happening between India & Pakistan.
Is it too much to ask for a PM who knows the difference between Kashmir & Punjab? 🤦🏽♀️
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) December 9, 2020
The protests are taking place in India since Modi’s government passed three Farm Laws that will advantage large organizations and undermine thousands of farmers’ livelihoods.
