The UK has a strong and productive relationship with the Indian Government, which is one of our most important global partners. This means we are able to discuss difficult issues where appropriate, and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) maintains a continuous assessment of human rights in India.

India rightly prides itself on its tradition of religious pluralism. Nonetheless, I recognise that, like many countries, it faces challenges in enforcing its constitutional protections for freedom of religion; and the situation for religious minorities in India can vary depending on location, socioeconomic background, and numbers.

The Foreign Secretary recently visited New Delhi, where he set out his ambition for a closer and stronger partnership with India in the near future, and discussed how we can work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle climate change. He also raised a number of human rights issues with the Indian Minister for External Affairs.

I will continue to monitor the situation in India. I take a strong interest in protecting freedom of religion worldwide, and have recently raised the persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and Christians in Northern Nigeria in the House of Commons. It is important that we speak up for religious minorities around the world, and work with friendly countries towards a future where nobody is persecuted for their religious beliefs.