Stephen has lent his support to campaigners who are protesting against India’s new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The act offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from three countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan - by amending India's 64-year-old citizenship law which currently prohibits illegal migrants from becoming Indian citizens.
The campaigners - who held a protest outside the Indian High Commission at the weekend - say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in India’s constitution. They say faith should not be made a condition of citizenship and fear that many Muslim citizen could be made stateless.
Speaking about the CAA, Stephen said: “Earlier this month, I spoke at a demonstration in my constituency to protest about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India. Several hundred demonstrators took part, and it was striking how diverse the group was – Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians.
The Indian Constitution is the crowning achievement of Dr B Ambedkar. Many of us have long admired it as a beacon for democracy, with in particular its commitment to equal treatment for all, irrespective of religion. It is deeply troubling to see these crucial commitments being cast aside.”
Stephen has written to the Foreign Secretary asking what response the British Government is making; and to the Indian High Commissioner requesting a meeting.