Can’t ignore Gujarat, UK says loud & clear

Defending its decision to end the boycott of Gujarat over the 2002 riots, Britain on Thursday said it could not ignore the state if it wanted to build a stronger relationship with India.

Delivering a lecture "The UK and India: Myths, Reality and Prospects", British High Commissioner James Bevan cited the recent decision of Britain to re-engage with Gujarat on trade and easing travel advisory on Jammu and Kashmir to show his country liked to have a robust partnership with the country.

"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," he said.

Britain had decided to re-engage with Gujarat and Bevan met Chief Minister Narendra Modi on October 22. Bevan had then said the decision should not be seen as an endorsement of Modi but as an "engagement with Gujarat".

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