22 oct 2012
Signalling a formal end to
Britain’s 10-year-long boycott of Gujarat, British high comissioner
James Bevan met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday.
Britain however stressed that the decision to “re-engage” with Gujarat was taken in the national interest of UK and should not be seen as an “endorsement” of any individual.
Britain had decided to boycott Modi after the 2002 riots. Earlier this month however, the British government announced a change in policy.
“This is engagement with Gujarat and Gujarat as a whole, and not an engagement with any individual,” Bevan told mediapersons after his meeting. “I don’t agree with your perception that we are rehabilitating Modi, this engagement is not about endorsement. If we need to engage with some state, we need to engage with the chief minister of the state and Modi is the democratically elected leader of Gujarat.”
Asked about the timing of Britain’s decision just ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls, Bevan said, “I sought to make it clear that we are not taking a political position on the elections in Gujarat...Who runs Gujarat is a matter of the people of the state.”
Asked about alleged human rights violations in Gujarat, Bevan said the UK considered the issue important, but “engaging with Gujarat” was a step in the right direction not only for pending human rights issues, but also “the right way to advance UK’s interest in the state”.
He also pointed out that with a former minister, Maya Kodnani, having been convicted, justice seemed to be progressing.
British envoy meets Modi, says it is engagement, not endorsement
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Britain however stressed that the decision to “re-engage” with Gujarat was taken in the national interest of UK and should not be seen as an “endorsement” of any individual.
Britain had decided to boycott Modi after the 2002 riots. Earlier this month however, the British government announced a change in policy.
“This is engagement with Gujarat and Gujarat as a whole, and not an engagement with any individual,” Bevan told mediapersons after his meeting. “I don’t agree with your perception that we are rehabilitating Modi, this engagement is not about endorsement. If we need to engage with some state, we need to engage with the chief minister of the state and Modi is the democratically elected leader of Gujarat.”
Asked about the timing of Britain’s decision just ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls, Bevan said, “I sought to make it clear that we are not taking a political position on the elections in Gujarat...Who runs Gujarat is a matter of the people of the state.”
Asked about alleged human rights violations in Gujarat, Bevan said the UK considered the issue important, but “engaging with Gujarat” was a step in the right direction not only for pending human rights issues, but also “the right way to advance UK’s interest in the state”.
He also pointed out that with a former minister, Maya Kodnani, having been convicted, justice seemed to be progressing.
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