The UK and India have always enjoyed a special relationship that goes beyond hard numbers. There was euphoria about the prospect of an India-UK free trade agreement in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum. That has now subsided, but both sides understand that closer India-UK ties can not only boost the bilateral economic and strategic paradigm, but also help reshape the new emerging global order.
Theresa May cannot afford a pedestrian visit to India. Her ability to strike a personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi, who got along famously with Cameron, will give an indication of her future approach and direction. But optics alone cannot and will not do. There needs to be substance on the bone. As a prominent British journalist in New Delhi told me at the weekend: “All we are seeing so far is bones.”
True, we need to give Prime Minister May space to allow her to articulate her vision. She would do well, however, to build on the past, not draw a line under it and try to rewrite the rule book as she has done over her predecessor’s legacy in UK domestic matters. Some of her decisions have raised eyebrows in India. Indian leaders want some clarity on the following issues:
g Why is the UK pulling up the drawbridge for Indian talent?? The Indian government has sought a review of the decision to levy higher visa fees on Indian students, the clampdown on issuing post-education work permits and of tougher entry norms for Indian professionals, which make it difficult for Indian employers to transfer personnel from India to the UK. Given Mrs May’s hardline stance on these issues as home secretary, will she be willing to oblige?
g Given that the euphoria of an immediate improvement in trade ties following the Brexit vote has subsided, how realistic are hopes for an early free trade agreement between the UK and India? Many of the 800-odd Indian companies that had invested in the UK (and London, in particular) as a gateway to the EU are now worried that their plans could be in disarray. What is May’s message to such investors?
g In a break from recent convention, May’s delegation consists largely of businesses from the SME sector. The official explanation is that the visit will enhance cooperation between smaller companies that form the backbone of both economies. But, some Indian analysts are asking, is the absence of big business a sign that large British companies are unwilling to make international commitments till they get some clarity on where they stand in a post-Brexit world?
g The official UK reaction to the petition to condemn Pakistan for harbouring terrorist groups has disappointed many Indians. What, they ask, is May’s stand on Pakistan’s well-publicised use of terrorists as instruments of state policy?
It is imperative for the UK that a trade partner of such potential and goodwill is optimally befriended. India, Mrs May and her advisors must remember, is not short of options. courtesy the telegraph