BRADFORD MP RAISES KASHMIRI CONCERNS IN HIS MAIDEN SPEECH

BRADFORD, 26 November, 1997

Newly elected Bradford (west) MP Marsha Singh has supported the Kashmiri people's struggle for self-determination and has paid tribute to his predecessor, Max Madden, for his principled stand on the issue, in his maiden speech in the house of Commons yesterday.

Refering to a considerable percentage of Kashmiri constituents he said he "shared their concern, distress and anger at the continued human rights abuses in Indian-held Kashmir".

"The dispute is the historical legacy of partition and British rule and I hope that the House shares my sense of responsibility for the present situation. The dispute continues to de-stabilise the region and frequently threatens to cause the outbreak of a disastrous war. A continuing military build-up and an arms race between India and Pakistan are not in the interests of either the Indian or the Pakistani people, and certainly not in the interests of the Kashmiri people", he said.

Supporting the movement for self-determination in Kashmir he said, "repression cannot be a substitute for dialogue and conflict resolution. Self-determination is not a privilege: it is a right, and I will continue to support the aspirations of my Kashmiri constituents for self-determination in Kashmir".

Bradford based secretary general of a leading Kashmiri independence organisation JKLF has welcomed Mr Singh's support in the Houses of Parliament and said that he will continue to enjoy popular support as long as he was able to take up the issue that concerned his constituents. Mr Khan also praised his efforts to support the campaign for the release of two Kashmiri prisoners Riaz and Qayyum who have been unduly held behind bars in Britain for political reasons. End