The case of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, was raised in the House of Lords on Monday, as several members of the House questioned whether issues relating to human rights and respect for minorities would be raised during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London for a bilateral meeting, alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit.

“Such cases are nothing short of horrific,” said Baroness Deborah Stedman-Scott, responding on behalf of the government. “PM Modi has been clear that justice will be done,” she insisted.

For Kashmir, Khalistan

The case of the girl from Kathua was raised by Lord Nazir Ahmed, a long-term-critic of the Indian government, who asked whether the case and other abuses in Kashmir, Punjab and other areas of India would be raised during the summit, and called for the British government to support a “free, fair and impartial” plebiscite for Kashmir and a referendum for “Khalistan”. Lord Ahmed is organising a protest on Parliament Square during Modi’s visit.

Sikh sentiment

Lord Indrajit Singh of Wimbledon also pushed for the opportunity of the forthcoming Commonwealth summit to be used to raise issues around “devolution” and the “abuse of human rights” in India.

“We acknowledge the strength of feeling regarding 1984,” said Baroness Stedman-Scott, adding that it was a matter of investigation for India and Indian authorities. “We believe it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution,” she said on Kashmir, adding that the pace of progress had to be for India and Pakistan to determine.

Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Dholakia described the suggestion of British involvement in any push for India-Pakistan resolution on Kashmir “most unhelpful” and called for the opportunity of CHOGM to be used by India and Pakistan for peaceful dialogue, away from interference and “terrorism elements.”

In the weeks running up to CHOGM, which kicks off later this week, the issue of human rights in India has been raised repeatedly in different political forums. Ministers have confirmed they would raise issues relating to the treatment of religious minorities though insisted these discussions would happen privately, rather than through “megaphone diplomacy.”

On Monday, a petition was launched on the website Change.org calling for Ahmed’s “sponsored” protest to be banned by the British government, accusing him of pursuing a “Pakistani agenda.”