India Rejects UK Parliamentary Report Over Claims of Transnational Repression

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India has strongly refuted allegations made in a recent report by the United Kingdom Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), which accused the Indian government of engaging in transnational repression activities within the UK. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly denied the claims, criticising the report’s credibility and the reliability of its sources.

The JCHR report, titled Transnational Repression in the UK, identifies several foreign governments, including China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and India, as being involved in actions aimed at intimidating, surveilling or silencing individuals and diaspora communities on British soil. It categorises these acts under the broader definition of transnational repression, which refers to efforts by states to exert control beyond their borders through coercive or unlawful means.

Responding to media queries on the matter, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a clear rejection of the claims concerning India. We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these allegations. These claims stem from unverified sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a documented history of anti-India hostility,” he stated.

The MEA went further, questioning the integrity of the report itself. “The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report,” the ministry noted. Indian officials emphasised that the inclusion of such material not only undermines the factual basis of the document but also contributes to a skewed narrative against India without substantial evidence.

The report by the JCHR, a cross-party committee tasked with examining matters related to human rights in the UK, was presented as part of broader concerns about the influence of foreign states over residents and citizens living in Britain. It outlines testimonies and submissions from individuals and organisations that allege surveillance, intimidation, and harassment by agents or affiliates of foreign governments.

While the report does not provide case studies specific to India, it groups the country with others accused of utilising digital and physical methods to suppress dissent abroad. In India’s case, the MEA maintains that the accusations are politically motivated and lack independent corroboration.

This exchange comes at a time when diplomatic relations between the UK and India are under increased scrutiny, particularly in light of ongoing trade negotiations and diaspora dynamics. India’s response underscores its concern over narratives that, in its view, are influenced by hostile elements with a history of undermining the country’s international standing.

As discussions around transnational repression continue in Western democracies, the debate over what constitutes credible evidence and responsible reporting remains critical. India has reiterated its expectation that any international assessment of its actions be grounded in verifiable facts and not in what it deems as politically influenced testimonies.