Agenda

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackburn Town Hall

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Apologies

2.

Prayers by the Mayor's Chaplain

3.

Minutes Of The Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 104 KB

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 69 KB

5.

Mayoral Communications

6.

Council Forum

To consider questions from members of the public received under Procedure Rule 12

7.

To consider Motions submitted under Procedure Rule 12

One Motion has been submitted as follows:

 

Human Rights Violation in Kashmir

 

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is deeply concerned that the Indian Government has revoked Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.

 

This decision is in violation of United Nation Security Council Resolution 47.

 

There is a huge concern among the BwD BME Community and also many people from Indigenous community about the ongoing human rights violation in Kashmir.

 

In occupied Kashmir, the imposition of a strict curfew, the detention of the entire political leadership, large- scale arrests of thousands of innocent Kashmiris coupled with the extremely harsh suppression of all human rights and a freeze of land line, mobile and internet communications is fast leading to a major humanitarian crisis for more than 8million people. The supply of food, medicine and other necessities of life are also deliberately withheld.

 

Since 5th August India has transformed Jammu and Kashmir into the largest prison on the Planet.

 

The Indian Government has moved 18,000 troops into Kashmir in addition to the existing 700,000 occupational armed forces. They use Cluster ammunition, pellet guns and heavy artillery in flagrant disregard of the fundamental norms of International humanitarian law.

 

The Kashmiri people in the occupied territory have been waiting for seven decades for their right of self-determination and now they face grave threats to their lives from a murderous, misogynistic and xenophobic regime.

 

The Council:

 

a)    Request the Chief Executive to write to the both MPs of Blackburn with Darwen requesting them to ask the Government to make representation to all whom they can to demand India to reverse the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A and to raise with the Foreign Office the need to work for the implementation of UN Resolution 47 on Kashmir and push for a diplomatic solution.

 

Also

 

b)    that the Chief Executive write to Dominic Raab the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs - to

 

i)     Urge the Indian government to immediately restore power and to lift all communications and media blackouts and the draconian curfew conditions and to allow the people of Kashmir to have immediate access to food and medicine.

 

ii) To demand that all political leaders are freed and all obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and various human rights instruments restored as required by international law.

 

iii)To request that the International Human Rights Observers Group in Kashmir, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Commission are allowed access again and that the Indian armed forces immediately cease unlawful operations in Kashmir.

 

Mover- Councillor Mustafa Desai

 

Seconder – Councillor Andy Kay

.

 

 

8.

Hate Crime Update pdf icon PDF 157 KB

9.

Updates from other Committees pdf icon PDF 94 KB

The Chairs of the Policy and Resources, PLACE AND PEOPLE Overview and Scrutiny Committees will update Council Forum on the work of their Committees.

10.

Reports of the Executive Members with Portfolios:

10.1

Leader pdf icon PDF 73 KB

10.2

Growth & Development pdf icon PDF 74 KB

10.3

Children, Young People & Education pdf icon PDF 67 KB

10.4

Environmental Services pdf icon PDF 60 KB

10.5

Public Health & Wellbeing pdf icon PDF 90 KB

10.6

Adult Services & Prevention pdf icon PDF 59 KB

10.7

Digital & Customer Services pdf icon PDF 57 KB

10.8

Finance & Governance pdf icon PDF 93 KB

11.

To consider any questions received from Members under Procedure Rule 11

PART 2: ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE

There are no items to be considered under Part 2.