Liz McInnes MP speaks at Rochdale community event about situation in Kashmir

Liz McInnes at the Pakistani & Kashmiri Community Association event addressing India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status

Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes attended an event at Castlemere Community Centre on Tuesday night (13 August), held by the Pakistani & Kashmiri Community Association to address India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and the recent rise in tensions in the region.

Ms McInnes spoke alongside the Mayor of Rochdale Billy Sheerin, Deputy Mayor of Rochdale Aasim Rashid, Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, Labour Council Leader Allen Brett, the Deputy Leader of Rochdale Council Daalat Ali and Labour National Executive Committee Member Councillor Yasmine Dar.

Speaking at the event, Ms McInnes said: “The recent provocative and undemocratic action of the Indian government to revoke Article 370 and remove Kashmir’s special status has led to an unprecedented and dangerous situation in the region.

“India took this action unilaterally in contravention of the UN Security Council Resolution 47. The action that they have taken will further exacerbate the human rights breaches that the people of Kashmir have suffered for over 70 years.

“It is clear that we are now in desperate need of international action to deal with this volatile situation and to end the cycle of violence that generations of Kashmiris have had to suffer.

“As Shadow Foreign Minister for Southern Asia it is my responsibility to hold the government to account on this issue and urge them to take action.”

Last week, Ms McInnes wrote to both the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the Minister for South Asia Heather Wheeler about the matter. She requested clarification on what representations had been made to the Indian Government and the UN and urged Mr Raab to use the full power and influence of his position to help de-escalate the situation in Kashmir.