CAA:UK envoy recalls Modi Govt’s ”sab ka saath…” promise; hopes he would address protesters’ concern

Jan 30, 2020

New Delhi: Amid continued international attention to the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests in the country, outgoing British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith on Thursday expressed the hope that the Modi Government would address the concerns of its people protesting against the newly enacted law.

Pointing out that the ruling BJP had in its manifesto promised to work with ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas’( Taking all together, development of all, winning trust of all), Asquith, in his last interaction with media, said he was sure that the trust of all the people of the country would be maintained.

There is protest in every single democracy, he underlined while responding to queries on the ongoing agitation over the CAA-NRC issue.

While expressing regret over any threat that Indian diplomats may have felt as a result of the protests outside the Indian high commission in London in August and September 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, the British High Commissioner, however, said the right to protest in democratic societies could not be curtailed.

He said the balance between the right to protest and ensuring the protesters did not cross the line of legality was always difficult to maintain.

He, however, expressed satisfaction that the last two protests had not caused any serious concern.

Answering a question on the anti-CAA resolution moved in EU Parliament, he said the
Parliament as a democratic institution had the right to debate any issue.

India has strongly objected to the move saying that the CAA-NRC issue was its internal matter.

The British envoy replied in the negative when asked whether his country was invited to send its representative for the recent Kashmir visit of envoys sponsored by the Government.
He, however, expressed his country’s desire to visit the valley, adding that. ”We have a standing request for that.”

On whether an environment of protests in the country could hinder British investments, the outgoing envoy said that India had a long history of inclusiveness and tolerance , and British companies will look at that history. “India is a huge country with extraordinary talent, massive ambitions and great opportunities. Sometimes we have got to step back and look at the full picture,” he said, pointing out that the British-India relationship had a strong structure to stand on.

Answering a question, Asquith said he could look back on his tenure with satisfaction for the fact that the bilateral ties between UK and India had expanded and been strengthened in diverse fields like sport, business, science, research and people to people contact etc.

During this period, the revenue of Indian companies based in the UK had doubled, while 150 new UK companies had been established in India, and the UK has issued more business visas to India than to any other country (around 93000 as on June 2019). Moreover, he said, adding that the number of Indians in UK universities had also increased by 40 per cent.

The British envoy also highlighted the importance of partnership with India in the fight against climate change, and looked forward to working with it in the next COP which will be held in Glasgow.

He also announced that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was likely to visit India this year, expressing confidence that post-Brexit, there would be expansion of diplomatic, trade and security relations with India, with a renewed focus on matters of national.

—India News Stream