HVK Archives: BJP cries foul
BJP cries foul - The Free Press Journal
Posted By Ashok V Chowgule (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
10 April 1997
Title : BJP cries foul
Author :
Publication : The Free Press Journal
Date : April 10, 1997
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has protested against the creation of a
new post by the British High Commission in New Delhi to deal with
Kashmir affairs separately "thus delinking the state of Jammu and
Kashmir from the Union of India," reports UNI
In a statement at a press conference here on Wednesday, party
vice-president K L Sharma, MP, said it was for the first time that the
British government has initiated such a step.
"It is an exceptional move and unnecessary step," he said.
Sharma demanded that the External Affairs Ministry should seek an
explanation from the British mission and the foreign office and said the
high commission's move was "a breach of propriety."
Replying to questions, Sharma said the BJP MPs and leaders will boycott
the invitation extended by the counsellor (political affairs) of the
British High Commission to meet Sarah Tiffin, first secretary (Foreign
Policy and Kashmir) here on April 12.
Sharma said Tiffin's implied that the British High Commission has
decided to deal with Kashmir as a "separate entity and not as a part of
the Union of India."
"This is a gross violation of India's territorial integrity and an
unacceptable diplomatic offensive by a foreign mission based in this
country," such a step was "tantamount to insulting the host nation and
interfering in India's internal affairs," he said.
Sharma wanted the External Affairs Ministry to make it clear that the
British cannot have separate diplomat posted in India to deal with
Kashmir affairs as distinctly separate from India affairs.
"The Ministry of External Affairs owes an explanation as to whether it
is aware of the new post created by the British High Commission and if
yes, why it has not taken up the matter so far," he added.
The British High Commissioner here on Wednesday denied that a new post
had been created to deal with Kashmir affairs separately in the high
commission. In a response to the BJP's statement, Davidgore-Booth said,
"This appears to be a storm in a tea cup. There has been no change in
British policy towards Kashmir, nor has a new post been created at the
British High Commission."
He, said "Sarah Tiffin's designation is First Secretary (Chancery). She
specialises in India's foreign policy and co-ordinates high commission
efforts to establish the fate of two British citizens taken hostage in
Kashmir almost two years ago."
The High Commissioner said invitations to a reception in her honour this
weekend carried a brief summary of her duties so that guests would know
a little about her portfolio before they met her.
"There is no more to it than that," Gore-Booth added.
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