Marking the end of the decade-long no-contact policy with Gujarat after
the 2002 riots, Britain's envoy to India Monday met Chief Minister
Narendra Modi and discussed new opportunities for collaboration. The BJP
hailed the change in Britain's stand towards the "vibrant and growing"
state.
British High Commissioner James Bevan met Modi in
Gandhinagar with a small delegation for around 50 minutes, official
sources said in New Delhi. The meeting came at a time when political
parties in Gujarat are geared for the state assembly polls in December.
Bevan also met Governor Kamla Beniwal.
Modi was quick to welcome the decision of British Prime Minister David Cameron to bolster relations with Gujarat.
"During
the meeting, Modi, keeping in mind the large number of Gujarat origin
people living in UK, urged him to start an office of deputy British high
commission in Gujarat," said an official statement by the state
government.
Modi also invited the British government to
participate in 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit', his flagship
project to spur state's industrialisation, to be held in January 2013.
"The envoy has accepted the invitation," it said.
On Oct 11, Britain announced its decision to end its no official contact policy.
In
a press statement, Hugo Swire, the new British minister in charge of
India, asked the high commissioner to visit Gujarat and meet Modi and
his senior cabinet colleagues.
"This will allow us to discuss a
wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for
closer cooperation, in line with the British government's stated
objective of improving bilateral relations with India," Swire said.
"Der
Aaye Durasta Aaye!! I welcome UK Govt's step for active engagement
& strengthening relations with Guj. God is Great," Modi had tweeted
in response.
Britain's turnaround comes a decade after the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which three Britons were killed.
BJP
spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said Bevan's meeting with Modi was a
review of Britain's stand towards the "vibrant" and growing state and
there was no isolation of the party leader.
"It was not an
isolation at all. Modi has visited countries like China and Japan," she
said, adding some countries, under the influence of certain vested
interests, had adopted a visa policy against him.
Party leaders said Britain appeared to be relooking at its visa policy vis-a-vis Modi.
They
said Britain's decision may also have been influenced by the court
rulings in riot cases. They admitted admitted that British move could
also be a result of Modi's growing stature within BJP and his posssible
shift to national politics after the Gujarat polls.
