After Snubbing Labour Party Over Kashmir, Indian Diplomats Attend Conservative Party-Linked Event In London

After snubbing a drinks reception with Labour Friends of India just last week, a majority of senior Indian diplomats in London went to attend a similar event with Conservative Friends of India (CFI) on the sidelines of the Tories’ party conference, reports The Times of India.

The Labour event was boycotted after the left-wing party passed a motion seen going against Indian interests in Kashmir, with its delegates backing a referendum to secede in the region.

The CFI drinks reception saw around 350 people in attendance, with views being exchanged on a number of issues, including border security, Kashmir and immigration.

Speaking about the event, CFI treasurer Amrish Patel also mentioned the growing closeness between the Conservative party and the Indian diaspora.

“It was jam-packed and that is why the food ran out. The Indian diaspora now realises the Tories are a party in line with the BJP and centre-right politics. The previous mindset among Asians was to vote Labour but that is no longer the case. The reality is that 80 Labour MPs rely on the Pakistani Kashmiri vote and only five Labour MPs reply on the Indian vote,” he said.