Ten years on, UK wants Modi by its side
12 Oct 2012 8:15 AM IST
Ending a 10-year boycott of the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi imposed after the 2002 riots, the UK has said that it has decided to resume engagement with Gujarat, prompting Modi to welcome the move as a 'better late than never' effort.
The British government has asked its envoy to India, James Bevan, to visit Gujarat and meet Modi and other senior figures in the state to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, explore opportunities for closer cooperation and secure 'justice for the families of the British nationals killed in 2002'.
'Der aaye durasta aaye!! I welcome UK govt's step for active engagement and strengthening relations with Gujarat. God is Great,' Modi tweeted, reacting to Britain's Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire's statement.
Earlier in a statement here, Swire said that he had asked the British high commissioner in New Delhi to visit Gujarat. '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 ties with India,' he said.
After the Godhra riots, the UK took a policy decision not to have active engagement with Gujarat. Modi, since 2003, has not visited Britain.
The British government has asked its envoy to India, James Bevan, to visit Gujarat and meet Modi and other senior figures in the state to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, explore opportunities for closer cooperation and secure 'justice for the families of the British nationals killed in 2002'.
'Der aaye durasta aaye!! I welcome UK govt's step for active engagement and strengthening relations with Gujarat. God is Great,' Modi tweeted, reacting to Britain's Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire's statement.
Earlier in a statement here, Swire said that he had asked the British high commissioner in New Delhi to visit Gujarat. '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 ties with India,' he said.
After the Godhra riots, the UK took a policy decision not to have active engagement with Gujarat. Modi, since 2003, has not visited Britain.
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