London/New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) A demand for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue through self-determination by the Kashmiris was made in the British Parliament today even as India asserted that there were effective mechanisms within its democratic framework to address any grievance. Initiating a general debate in the House of Commons on human rights in the Indian sub-continent, Steve Baker, Conservative MP, demanded that an international commission should investigate alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. Participating in the debate, prominent Labour MP Barry Gardiner noted that plebiscite for such condition did not exist any more as Pakistan failed to withdraw its forces from the territory. Gardiner, who was previously the chairman of the Labour Friends of India, said, There is far greater cause or human rights violations in India's neighbouring countries including, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where some of the worst human rights violations had happened in the recent memory. On the other hand India stood as a beacon light of democracy in the region, he said. Gardiner said that India continued to stand for tolerance and human rights inspite of repeated attacks by terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Meanwhile, India said it has taken due note of the UK Parliament discussing the issue of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir and said there were effective mechanisms within its democratic framework to address any grievance or any aberration. We take due note of the....debate in the UK House of Commons...., which we believe is an initiative of back-bencher MPs and does not reflect the position of the UK government. Our views in the matter are known to the UK. Suffice it to say at this juncture that India is a vibrant democracy which fully respects rule of law and human rights, Official Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Vishnu Prakash said in New Delhi. Civil liberties and freedoms are enshrined in the Constitution of India as fundamental rights and are exercised by each and every citizen of this country of 1.2 billion people, he said Should there be any aberration, there are enough mechanisms, effective mechanisms within our system, democratic framework to address any grievance or any aberration, government sources said here. Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP, who hailed from Mirpur district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (Pok), said All sides including India and Pakistan must pursue vigorously to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. The plight Kashmiri people needs our attention, she said. Lee Scott, Conservative MP, said We must get justice to Sri Lankan Tamils. He pressed for independent international investigation into the killings of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Several other MPs including Ian Austin, Labour MP, Jonathan Lord, Conservative lawmaker and Andrew Griffiths, Conservative MP, said that right to self determination was the only way to resolve the issue.
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