By Narpal Shergill
Patiala, February 16, 2019: Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing-Southall UK speaking after news of the attack which has so far claimed the lives of 42 paramilitary personnel condemned the terrorist incident and expressed his condolences to the Indian people and his continued support.
Speaking Virendra Sharma MP, Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) said:
"I am appalled at the senseless inhumanity of the violence we have seen, the pointless loss of life. I wish to send my condolences
to the families of everyone killed in yesterday's terrorist attack, and my thanks to those who have responded so professionally to
secure the area and care for the wounded. I totally condemn all those involved and wish to reiterate my support for India in Kashmir,
terrorism is never the answer to a political dispute and those hoping to spread fear and disunity will fail.
I was pleased to see the British Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, has offered his sincere condolences to the victims’ families,
and stated that "we stand with India", but I am concerned that he used the phrase 'India-administered Kashmir' and have today written to
the Foreign Secretary to reiterate that Kashmir is an integral part of the Indian state and has been since it formally acceded in 1947."
The 2019 Pulwama attack is the deadliest terror attack on the security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989.
Virendra Sharma MP has written to the Foreign Secretary asking him to "withdraw this phrase and demure from using it again in the future
due to the connotations this seemingly innocuous phrase contains", and has since tweeted the same request to the Foreign Secretary.
Virendra Sharma MP is the chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group, a forum to discuss and raise matters related to India
in the British Parliament.