UK envoy: Cannot ignore Gujarat

The British government on Thursday defended its decision to end its boycott of the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government saying that it cannot ignore the state in its goal to create a stronger relationship with India. Delivering a lecture here on the topic “The UK and India: Myths, Reality and Prospects,” the British high commissioner to India James Bevan said that it was part of Britain’s policy to work more closely with India. Setting aside the criticism that Britain was moving on in matters regardless of the allegations against Mr Modi in connection with the 2002 riots, Mr Bevan said that the government of a state had to be dealt with if anybody wanted to deal with a state. “Our belief that India will matter more and more in future, and that all of India matters, also played a part in our recent decision to change our policy on Gujarat. Since the 2002 riots, the British government has had no high level contact with the government of Gujarat. But if you want to build a stronger relationship with India, as we do, you can’t ignore Gujarat. And if you want to deal with any Indian state, you need to deal with the government of that state.” said Mr Bevan, who set off Britain’s new engagement with Gujarat by visiting Mr Modi in Ahmedabad on October 22. Mr Bevan, who had clarified after his meeting with Mr Modi that the reengagement could not be seen as an endorsement to Narendra Modi, added that Gujarat could not be ignored on many counts as the state had been leading in science and technology, action against climate change etc. He also said that people to people contact between Britain and Gujarat was also crucial as many Gujarati-origin people are currently settled in London.