AAP supporters in UK protest against junket by UP legislators

NRI supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party in the UK have staged a black flag demonstration here protesting over a 'junket' by Uttar Pradesh legislators.

The party submitted a memorandum to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Home Affairs Committee of the United Kingdom, urging cancellation of the 'junket' to the UK and discouraging the committees from meeting with the legislators.

The AAP UK believes that the visit entailed a significant wastage of Indian public money, uncalled for in the wake of the Muzaffarnagar riots and the need to invest in rehabilitating riot victims.

The memorandum pointed to the UP government's conspicuous neglect of the miserable conditions in rehabilitation camps of Muzaffarnagar riot victims and cited the core values of the Commonwealth charter, in particular those of human rights, provision of access to food and shelter to all, rule of law and good governance, to make the case against the legislators visit.

The group of NRIs made their protest public by gathering outside the High Commission of India (HCI) in London on Wednesday, holding up black flags and vociferously shouting slogans denouncing the extravagance and apathy of the UP government.

The protest was timed to coincide with the visiting legislators dinner meeting at the HCI.

The legislators are believed to have made their way out of the HCI through the back door to avoid being confronted by the protesters.

"Despite all the outrage back home at the ministers' callous response to the plight of the Muzaffarnagar victims, they chose to ignore it and go ahead with their trip," said Raj Redij-Gill, convener of AAP UK and leader of the protest.

"This protest would serve as a grim reminder to the legislators of the situation back home and their duties towards the public office they hold."