Almost 200 writers including author Salman Rushdie have signed an open letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, urging him to take up “the rising climate of fear” in India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Britain. Mr Cameron has visited the country thrice in five years and pushed for a “special relationship”, noting that India was a top focus of Britain’s foreign policy. We have traditionally been cooperating extensively on defence and security issues and this visit will build on strong ties.
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Ultimately to talk directly to the 1.5m people of Indian origin living in the UK.
“The protests have grown beyond the community of Indian writers of all languages”. Because in doing so, we can make two of the greatest countries in the world even greater’.
He will also visit the statue of Indian statesman Mahatma Gandhi, which stands alongside those of British prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Sir Winston Churchill in London’s Parliament Square.
“British companies must work together with their Indian counterparts to take advantage of the liberalisation of the Indian economy… they should be confident that an investment in India will not go unrewarded”, Kapadia said.
Congress leader PC Chacko dubbed the foreign visits of Prime Minister Modi as having brought no diplomatic success to the nation.
Mr Cameron is due to meet with Mr Modi for comprehensive talks in London and later at Chequers, with the Indian PM also due to meet with the Queen at Buckingham Palace during his visit.
Commander of Metropolitan Police, London Mak Chishty (full name Makhdoom Chishti, a Muslim) has issued a statement to protesters to remain calm and peaceful during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi to London.
Mr. Modi will address the Indian diaspora on November 13 at Wembley Stadium.
Writing on Facebook before the visit began, Mr Modi said the trip was aimed at “strengthening cooperation with a traditional friend”. It listed the BJP’s electoral victories and defeats under Modi – including its landslide parliamentary win in 2014 that made Modi prime minister – and pledged to review the results.
There is also expected to be a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover factory in Solihull.
There have been sporadic protests in London against Mr Modi’s visit with more being planned.
After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rout in assembly polls in Bihar, the speech at Wembley Stadium will be the first public address by Modi, who previously drew flak from the opposition Congress for criticising the United Progressive Alliance Government during his overseas tours.
The swastika, the OM sign in Hinduism, indicated Modi s alleged use of religious symbols for authoritarian ends, the group explained.
The United Kingdom treasury minister Priti Patel also said that Modi has received a “mandate” to be in the UK.
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On the sidelines of the Summit, there will be several bilateral meetings with world leaders.
