London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the City of London at Indo-UK Business Meeting in The Old Library, at Guildhall, London on Nov 12, 2015. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
London, Nov 13 (IANS) Britain must realise that it needs India perhaps more than India needs Britain, said a leading British daily which noted that whatever Britain does, it must do so with candour and sincerity since "India does not wish to be lectured or patronised; it wants to be treated with respect".
An editorial "Narendra Modi's visit is an opportunity for Britain to raise sensitive issues" appeared in the Independent on Friday during the Indian prime minister's three-day visit to Britain that began on Thursday.
"The most remarkable thing about Modi's three-day visit to the UK is that it is happening at all. For more than a decade, Britain boycotted the politician - who was then the chief minister of the state of Gujarat - over allegations that he had failed to stop or had even encouraged, a massacre of hundreds of Muslims in 2002," said the daily.
In October 2012, Britain decided to re-engage with Modi. "...it was the right move: Modi swept to a landslide victory in May 2014."
David Cameron has long courted India as a business and strategic partner - he has visited the country three times - and Britain has sought to host a reciprocal visit since Modi was elected.
"But Britain must realise that it needs India perhaps more than India needs Britain," said the daily.
Since coming to power, Modi has been feted in more than 30 national capitals, as he seeks to promote himself and his country as a place to do business.
"In truth, doing business with India has never been easy. Although Modi announced that restrictions would be eased on foreign direct investment this week, domestic political realities mean he will not be able to offer the trade liberalisation that many Western nations want - at least not quickly," said the editorial.
It went on to say that if doing business with India is not easy, "it is an endeavour that remains vital. The country has a growing middle class with an appetite for everything from university education to designer clothes".
"And a successful business relationship with India is not solely of economic benefit to the British prime minister, who is keen for any possible route to growth. It would also send out a warm message to a large and growing British-Indian electorate - tens of thousands of whom will cheer his arrival in their country at a special ceremony at Wembley Stadium in London today (Friday) - which Cameron wishes to woo."
This community was considered so important to modern Conservative success that Cameron's former adviser Lynton Crosby gave it a label, "the Hindu vote".
The editorial said that Britain can offer India expertise and skills, and it can also remind Modi "how the City of London can play a bigger role in the Indian economy, with plans for Indian companies to raise money in UK markets".
Modi too will be courting London investors, who may be able to help to fund his country's much-needed new infrastructure and plans for digital growth. "The longer-term potential for the UK is massive."
The daily said that the "dark history of colonialism has also left Britain with an advantage that it needs to make the most of. Among the 1.5 million Britons of Indian heritage are 10 MPs and 24 members of the House of Lords. Tata Motors is the UK's biggest manufacturing employer and Modi will visit the company's Jaguar Land Rover factory in Solihull. In the special relationship, that represents power, soft and hard".
The editorial noted that there are sensitivities.
"Protesters against Modi's visit are critical of the British Government for apparently failing to stand up to India's leader on moral matters while happily engaging over the financial ones. Britain must, of course, raise the issue of human rights and ask about progress in the investigation into the deaths of the three Britons killed in the violence in Gujarat in 2002. India itself has been riven by debate over whether the country has become less tolerant since Modi's election.
"But whatever Britain does, it must do so with candour and sincerity. India does not wish to be lectured or patronised; it wants to be treated with respect," it added.
