Britain favours closer engagement with Gujarat and its chief minister Narendra Modi to realise the country’s wide-ranging objectives in the state, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
“In the last 12 months, there have been significant developments in the legal process following the 2002 Gujarat riots, including convictions in a number of high profile cases,” Mr Cameron told the Eastern Eye, a weekly published by the Garavi Gujarat Group of newspapers.
“We believe that closer engagement with Gujarat, including chief minister Narendra Modi, is now the best way to achieve our wide-ranging objectives there — including on human rights — and ensure that the UK can provide a full and consistent range of services across India,” Mr Cameron said.
Asked whether the UK will issue a visa to Mr Modi if he wins the 2014 elections, Mr Cameron said “any visa application is assessed on its merits. We are committed to a strong bilateral relationship with India, and that includes welcoming the Indian Prime Minister here for bilateral meetings.” Mr Modi was named as the Opposition’s candidate PM on September 13. Although many nations including UK and the US, distanced themselves from Mr Modi in the aftermath of the 2002 riots, there has been a shift in their position in the past year.