India does not want to be lectured: British editorial sees immense opportunities in Modi's visit
London: While some sections of the British media have gone ahead with merciless grilling of the Indian Prime Minister, a pragmatic few see immense opportunity in Narendra Modi’s UK visit.
“India does not wish to be lectured or patronised; it wants to be treated with respect,” said one of Britain’s leading English daily, The Independent in their editorial article. The article, titled “Narendra Modi’s visit is an opportunity for Britain to raise sensitive issues” further went on to analyse why it was that Britain needed India than India needing the British. “…Since coming to power, Mr Modi has been feted in more than 30 national capitals, as he seeks to promote himself and his country as a place to do business. In truth, doing business with India has never been easy…”
Read:
Modi gifts Cameron bookends with Gita verses on it
Modi in UK: India and UK are natural partners, experts say
India, UK announce 9 billion pounds worth of deals
Mushroom pulao, tarka dal for Prime Minister Modi at Chequers
Obserivng that Modi announced restrictions on FDI this week, the editorial conceded that he was not in a position to offer liberalisations to the extent that foreign nations expected. But “…if doing business with India is not easy, it is an endeavour that remains vital.”
Also read:
Conditions for take-off of Indian economy to get better in coming days, says Modi
Narendra Modi cites Nehru, Manmohan Singh in address to British MPs
In India, every footballer wants to bend it like Beckham, says Modi in UK
The country has a growing middle class with an appetite for everything from university education to designer clothes, the article said and added that a successful business relationship with India is not solely of economic benefit to the British Prime Minister, who is keen for any possible route to growth, but it would also send out a warm message to a large and growing British-Indian electorate which Mr Cameron wishes to woo. “This community was considered so important to modern Conservative success that Mr Cameron’s former adviser Lynton Crosby gave it a label- the Hindu vote,” said the article.
Also read:
India, UK announce 9 billion pounds worth of deals
6 significant agreements among 9 billion pound India-UK deals
Signing of civil nuclear deal reflects our trust, says Modi after talks with Cameron
Confident Indo-UK relations will further deepen under your leadership, Modi tells Cameron
Suggesting that UK can pave way for better relations with India by providing the country with much needed expertise and skills, better infrastructure and digital growth, the editorial said “The dark history of colonialism has also left Britain with an advantage that it needs to make the most of.”
Agreeing that there were sensitivities, it said, “Protesters against Mr Modi’s visit are critical of the British Government for apparently failing to stand up to India’s leader on moral matters while happily engaging over the financial ones. Britain must, of course, raise the issue of human rights and ask about progress in the investigation into the deaths of the three Britons killed in the violence in Gujarat in 2002. India itself has been driven by debate over whether the country has become less tolerant since Mr Modi’s election.”
Also read:
Narendra Modi to visit Jaguar Land Rover plant in Britain
UK PM owes royalty to Narendra Modi!
In UK, Narendra Modi raises student visa issue with David Cameron
The article concluded by surmising “But whatever Britain does, it must do so with candour and sincerity. India does not wish to be lectured or patronised; it wants to be treated with respect.”
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
