From 11th– 13thSeptember, 2020 in the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) in London, Indian High Commissioner to UK, Gaitri Kumar Issarsharedvirtual platform with left-wing Scottish historian William Dalrymple, who has been deliberately engaging in activities that interfere with India’s internal affairs.
Dalrymple’s statements and articles have been against India’s integrity, sovereignty and displayed a blatant bias against democratically elected Indian government. He has also voiced his support to the Kashmiri separatists and also has expressed his opposition to CAA, abrogation of article 370.
It was shocking and upsetting for British Indian Diaspora to see the High Commissioner of India share the platform with anti-India William Dalrymple. Additionally, the JLF event was also attended by many more controversial anti-nationals.
Furthemore, the JLF Festival was hosted by the “Aga Khan Foundation”. The foundation is the owner of Pakistan’s Habib Bank (owning 51% controlling stake in the bank), this the same bank which was banned by US in 2018 for terrorists funding and financial irregularities.
Habib Bank’sDirector is Javed Miandad’s son, Junaid Miandad who’s married to Mahrukh, daughter of India's most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim.
On 23rd September, 2020 Senior Advocate Monika Arora has filed a complaint with Consular, Passport and Visa Division of Ministry of External Affairs against the left wing Scottish historian William Dalrymple for violating Visa conditions and deliberately engaging in activities that interfere with India’s internal affairs.
In her complaint, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora has accused Scottish national William Dalrymple of interfering in country’s internal affairs by putting out public statements, interviews that concern India’s democratic and political processes.
William Dalrymple is a Scottish national who holds an Indian Business Visa. He regularly visits India, stays for long durations and resides mostly in Delhi, says the complaint. It added further that any foreign national must adhere to activities permitted under that specific visa.
Arora said that the Scottish national had admitted to be one of the key instigators behind the withdrawal of the book “Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story” and had pressurized, blackmailed and intimidated the publisher Bloomsbury India to withdraw her book.
In the complaint, Monika Arora asked the External affairs ministry regarding on what mandate did Dalrymple has as a foreigner to trample on her freedom of speech and expression granted to her as an Indian citizen under the Constitution of India.
