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World Day for Cultural Diversity marked at the British Parliament House

Organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence and hosted by Baroness Verma, who spoke on the significance of cultural diversity and the role of women, the event had interesting inputs by Ambassador Joakim K Kamere- Deputy High Commissioner, Kenya High Commission, Mrs Roshan Khanal-DCM/Counsellor, Embassy of Nepal, Dr Phil. Sahidi Bilan- University of Sunderland in London, Cllr. Sharad Kumar Jha and Chanukya Rajagopala.

Diplomats of four countries’ missions and several prominent members of the diaspora from different parts of the UK, and from Germany have attended the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development organised at the House of Lords recently.

Baroness Verma delivering the opening note

Organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence and hosted by Baroness Verma, former Under Secretary for International Development- who spoke on the significance of cultural diversity and the role of women, the event had interesting inputs from Ambassador Joakim K Kamere- Deputy High Commissioner, Kenya High Commission, Mrs Roshan Khanal-DCM/Counsellor, Embassy of Nepal, Dr. Phil. Sahidi Bilan- University of Sunderland in London, Cllr. Sharad Kumar Jha and Chanukya Rajagopala. Diplomats Ms Fathika Fayaz from the High Commission of the Maldives and Ms Thivanka Athuraliya from the High Commission of Sri Lanka represented their High Commissions.

Members from the Tibetan House Trust were in attendance, along with attendees who came from Coventry, Manchester, Norwich and Rugby.

A variety of dances from different regions were presented on the occasion, demonstrating the positive role of performing arts on mutual respect, cooperation, and development. Rarely seen Garo (Meghalaya), Miji (Arunachal Pradesh), Siddi & Hejje Kunita (Karnataka) Shondol (Ladakh), and the oldest Nepalese dance Maruni have enhanced the cultural awareness of the attendees, besides the presentation of Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam. Presenting artists were Deepa Khanal, Preetha Chandran Sakunthala, Lumbini Bafna, Swarnalatha Pasupuleti, Shouri Kokkonda, Harsha Srinivas, Sindhu Narasimaiah, Manju Sunil and Ragasudha Vinjamuri.

Ambassador Joakim Kamere representing Kenya High Commission

Sanskruti Centre has been lauded for the unique initiative as such events are key to facilitating the exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples. All the speakers and presenters were felicitated with shawls for their participation. 

DCM Mrs Roshan Khanal representing Embassy of Nepal
Trustee of Sanskruti Centre Sushil Rapatwar introducing Ambassador Joakim
Siddi Dance
Miji Dance
Bharatanatyam
Garo Dance
Maruni Dance
Dr Sahidi Bilan speaking on understanding Cultural Diversity
Hejje Kunitha
Shondol Dance
Performing Artistes at World Day for Cultural Diversity
Cllr Sharad Kumar Jha on the role of languages
Attendees and performers at the World Day of Cultural Diversity
Mohiniattam
Chanukya Rajagopala speaking on the role of music
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Mayors Support Net Zero

Metro Mayors and leaders from across the UK tell Government they are ready to lead country to net zero carbon…reports Asian Lite News

London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham have joined other metro mayors and leaders from across the UK to ask for greater powers and funding so they can lead the country to net zero carbon in a way that’s fair for everyone.

At the Decarbonisation Summit event at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, eight English metro mayors and the leader of Glasgow City Council, said they will support the campaign to meet net zero.

They said that they are ready to lead the country to net zero carbon, but need to be backed by Government with new powers and more resources.

“We have each developed detailed plans for our regions to accelerate the drive to net zero carbon – in most areas by at least a decade ahead of the Government’s 2050 national target,” they said. “We know that we can play a crucial role in getting the whole of the UK to net zero carbon, creating a ripple across the country. By freeing the city regions up, we will be able to establish the skill base, new technologies and experience to lay the path for the rest of UK to succeed.  This is much more than getting to net zero carbon, however. What we’re setting out to achieve is a greener future, but also a fairer one.

“We all have plans to do this. For instance, as we work to decarbonise, many of us will also look to reduce fares for public transport or keep them affordable – with a joint commitment to ensure they remain as low as possible. We are all developing plans to decarbonise homes through a retrofitting programme – which can also help to reduce people’s energy bills and create good jobs.

“We are ready to grasp the opportunities that the transition to zero carbon offers to our economies, but we need more regional powers to develop and maintain the skills we need to fill the jobs we create. We will share best practice and research with each other and together explore opportunities around innovation, joining our regions up to create a country-wide impact. However, we need the Government to work with us on this.

“We are asking for greater regional powers over issues like skills and a funding package that matches our ambitions so we can drive the whole country to net zero carbon. This is a golden opportunity for the Government to work with us to decarbonise the country and level it up at the same time.

Besides Mr Burnham and Mr Khan, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson; Myor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram; Mayor of North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll; Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard; Mayor of West of England, Dan Norris; Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin; Leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken were present.

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India News UK News

Coronation day of Chhatrapati Shivaji marked in the UK

Director of TNC Amish Tripathi

For the first-ever time in the UK, and coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji was commemorated in London on Monday, 6th June. Organised by the Nehru Centre- Cultural Wing of High Commission of India in London in association with Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence, the program consisted of an array of presentations that enthralled the nearly packed auditorium.

Vinata Joshi presenting Shivaji Aarti

Amish Tripathi, Director of the Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture) at the HCI highlighted the importance of the Coronation Day of the brave King Shivaji and spoke about imbibing his qualities of self-belief and courage in our day to day lives.

An excellent melodious veneration to Shivaji Maharaj was presented by Mahila Shahir and renowned Powada singer Vinata Joshi, grandniece of Veer Savarkar.

Trustee of Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence Sushil Rapatwar elaborated on the situation in India before Shivaji and how Shivaji and his friends took the oath of establishing swarajya. He then described how, when and by who the coronation of Shivaji was done. This overall picture of the grandeur of the coronation ceremony that took place on 6th June 1674 has immensely enthralled the audience.

Choreographed by award-winning Ashwini Kalsekar, young dancers from KKMUK – Annika, Renuka, Sharvani and Nidhi have presented Kathak rendition- Nataraj Vandana. Rajshree Wakhare has enchanted the audience with “Hey Hind Shakti”, a high-energy song fit for the occasion. Five young children Arya Tarhalkar, Nivaan Dughrekar, Adheej Bhat, Rishikesh Rane, and Asmi Khairnar narrated the life story of Shivaji Maharaj through their research and understanding and one of them also sang a famous ballad.

Sushil Rapatwar of Sanskruti Centre speaking on Chhatrapati Shivaji

Warrant Officer in the British Army Ashok Chauhan, MBE gave an insightful view on the war tactics that were practised by Shivaji Maharaj and stated that any fight needs to be undertaken with proper preparation and planning especially focussing on our SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).

The programme has concluded on a high note with the Karnataka community presenting their tribute to Shivaji, for his role in protecting Bijapur. Harsha, Pratima, Sriranjini, Hamsa, Sushma, and Rama have presented the beautiful celebratory dance.

Manoj Karkhanis has anchored the show seamlessly and the programme was coordinated by Ragasudha Vinjamuri- Founder of Sanskruti Centre.

Rajshree Wakhare presenting song on Shivaji
Celebratory Dance
Tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji by Kannada community
Natraj Vandana by KKUK students
Understanding of Chhatrapati Shivaji in young minds
Attendees at the event commemorating Emperor Shivaji’s Coronation
Ashok Chauhan MBE on constributions of Shivaji Maharaj
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UK growth set to be worst in G20, warns OECD

In its bi-annual economic outlook released on Wednesday it cited “considerable” risks to its outlook…reports Asian Lite News

Britain is on the brink of recession amid warnings that several economic headwinds including inflation and a shortage of staff will derail the recovery from the COVID pandemic and grind the economy to a halt.

Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said recent rises in income and business taxes will prove “contractionary” and contribute to a slowdown.

This will see GDP stagnate in 2023 due to “depressed demand” amid the global supply bottlenecks and energy market turmoil.

It forecast the UK economy will expand 3.6% this year, the second-fastest rate among the G7 advanced nations behind Canada, before sinking to zero — the weakest economic growth in the developed world.

The OECD predicts inflation will peak at more than 10% at the end this year, and still stand at 7.4% at the end of 2023 amid the tightest squeeze on household budgets since the 1970s.

Britain’s inflation rate is currently running at five times the Bank of England’s 2% target after CPI inflation hit a 40-year high of 9% in April.

According to the organisation, households will take on debt to “to keep up with the rising cost of living,” while businesses will cut investment in the face of higher borrowing costs.

The club of rich nations said: “In most OECD economies, real household disposable income was already declining on a year-on-year basis in the last quarter of 2021, despite strong employment growth, and in many that decline is estimated to have continued in the first quarter of 2022.”

It also warned Threadneedle Street will need to raise interest rates to 2.5% from 1% to tackle faster price growth, adding higher than expected goods and energy prices could reduce real incomes even further.

“A prolonged period of acute supply and labour shortages could force firms into a more permanent reduction in their operating capacity or push up wage inflation further,” the OECD said.

In its bi-annual economic outlook released on Wednesday it cited “considerable” risks to its outlook.

“Spillovers from economic sanctions and higher than expected energy prices as the Ukraine war drags on, and a deterioration in the public health situation due to new COVID strains are significant downside risks,” the OECD said.

As part of a global slowdown, worldwide GDP is forecast to rise by 3% this year, compared to a forecast of 4.5% before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and expected to grow by just over 1% in 2023.

The eurozone economy is expected to slow to 2.6% this year and 1.6% next year, with the risk of a recession if all Russian gas imports are cut off either by EU sanctions or the Kremlin.

A full end to Russian supply would knock another 1.25 percentage points from eurozone growth, which “could potentially leave many countries close to, or in, recession in 2023,” according to the OECD.

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‘Most British Muslims feel life is improving’

The survey was commissioned by Hyphen, a new magazine that focuses on Muslim issues in Europe…reports Asian Lite News

More than half of British Muslims feel like their lives are improving, citing role models and work opportunities, according to a new poll.

Savanta ComRes surveyed 1,503 British Muslims who said life was improving in Britain on 10 out of 12 measures, but workplace discrimination was getting worse.

Britain’s Muslim population stands at 3.3 million, making up 5 percent of the total population.

More than two-thirds surveyed said they felt that Muslim “participation in society” had risen since 2017, which tied in with 58 percent pointing to a rise in role models for British Muslims.

The survey was commissioned by Hyphen, a new magazine that focuses on Muslim issues in Europe.

Co-founder and journalist Burhan Wazir said major Muslim figures such as actor Riz Ahmed, star baker Nadiya Hussain and London Mayor Sadiq Khan had provided high-profile public role models.

Other high-profile Muslims cited by the survey and magazine include champion footballers Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez, Olympian Mo Farah and boxer Amir Khan, who retired last month, reported Arab News.

But it was not just the rise in role models that attracted significant polling support, with 59 percent agreeing that businesses were creating more products and services tailored to Muslim consumers.

Fifty-three percent said “acceptance of Muslims in the UK” had risen in the last five years, but 19 percent said it had declined.

Access to higher-paying jobs and opportunities to be successful were both seen as more likely by those surveyed, with 53 percent saying “life overall” had improved in the same period.

But despite these perceived improvements in work life, 46 percent said Islamophobia in the workplace had worsened.

Just 21 percent said it had improved, with almost 70 percent reporting an experience of discrimination at work.

Wazir said he was surprised by the high number of Muslims reporting workplace discrimination, adding that there was a lot of “informal” and “off-the-cuff” Islamophobia. “Some companies who do very well in terms of raising the profile of women and looking after some minority groups perhaps don’t do so well on Islamophobia,” he said.

Fifty-seven percent of people agreed that “young Muslims growing up in the UK today will be more successful than their parents,” Wazir added.

“I put that down to the fact that there are now three or four generations of Muslims in this country, so younger generations probably do feel a bit more confident and see other people like them.

“There are more role models for young Muslims and there is some sense of there being better access to jobs.”

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Priti Patel outlaws dangerous tunnelling protests

With a proposed new maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine, the gravity of the potential impact of tunnelling will be properly recognised for the first time…reports Asian Lite News

Dangerous tunnelling by protesters will be banned under a new law announced by the Home Secretary, as the government acts to end the serious disruption and risk to life this guerrilla protest tactic poses.

The digging of make-shift tunnels is one of the most dangerous and costly tactics deployed by groups such as Just Stop Oil and protesters against levelling up projects such as HS2. The removal operation alone following tunnelling by protesters at Small Dean in Buckinghamshire in 2021 added more than £4 million to the cost of HS2.

Filled with lethal levels of carbon monoxide and dioxide, these tunnels can become death traps, not just for those inside them and members of the public, but also for those who are required to undertake rescue operations.

An amendment to the Public Order Bill will make it a criminal offence to cause serious disruption by creating and occupying tunnels, while going equipped to create these tunnels will also be criminalised.

With a proposed new maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine, the gravity of the potential impact of tunnelling will be properly recognised for the first time.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said, “This country will not be held to ransom by so-called activists unconcerned about putting the lives of others in danger. These death traps don’t just put lives at risk, they divert precious police resources away from where they are needed most. These measures will give our police the powers they need to crack down on this lawlessness and continue to make our streets safer.”

The current offences available are not sufficient to recognise and deal with the scale of danger and disruption caused by tunnelling. This law will empower our police and courts to take action, from arrest through to conviction, against those intent on risking lives.

Another amendment to the Bill will extend the powers to manage public assemblies to the British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police.

The Public Order Bill complements the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, recently passed into law, which has increased the penalty for wilfully obstructing a highway and will make public nuisance a statutory offence.

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Boris faces Parliament for 1st time since trust vote 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson - Weekly Cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs his weekly Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of No10 Downing Street. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

Critics, however, have warned the political crisis is not over for the embattled prime minister after more than 40 percent of his own MPs voted against him in Monday’s no-confidence vote…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a boisterous parliament Wednesday in his first appearance before lawmakers since narrowly fending off a damaging no-confidence vote from his own Conservative MPs.

His backers are likely to stage a noisy show of support when he steps up for his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions.

Critics, however, have warned the political crisis is not over for the embattled prime minister after more than 40 percent of his own MPs voted against him in Monday’s no-confidence vote.

Johnson, who called the 211-148 vote a “convincing result”, has vowed to plough on, saying it was time to “draw a line” under questions about his leadership and the “Partygate” controversy over lockdown-breaking events at Downing Street.

The prime minister’s team has tried to regain the offensive by pointing to a setpiece speech expected in the coming days on new economic support measures, as Britons struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.

But many question whether Johnson can recover voters’ trust, as the party braces for two Westminster by-elections this month and an upcoming investigation by MPs into whether he lied to parliament over “Partygate”.

Even without any obvious candidate to succeed him, former Tory party leader William Hague this week argued that Johnson should now “look for an honourable exit”.

Comparing Monday’s margin to votes that ultimately toppled Johnson predecessors Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, Hague said it showed “a greater level of rejection than any Tory leader has ever endured and survived”.

“Deep inside, he should recognise that, and turn his mind to getting out in a way that spares party and country such agonies and uncertainties,” Hague wrote in The Times.

‘War of attrition’

The Guardian reported Wednesday that rebel Conservative MPs were drawing up plans for “vote strikes” to paralyse the government’s legislative agenda, as happened at the end of May’s stint in office.

Johnson, 57, needed the backing of 180 of the 359 Conservatives MPs to survive the vote.

Most of Johnson’s cabinet publicly backed him in the secret ballot. But more than 40 percent of the parliamentary party did not.

The scale of the revolt “constitutes a crisis for Downing Street”, King’s College London politics professor Anand Menon said.

“I think there’s very little doubt that the vulnerability of the prime minister is going to be the single greatest factor shaping what this government does for the foreseeable future,” Menon told AFP.

Under current Tory rules, the prime minister cannot be challenged again for a year, which leaves little time for any new leader to emerge before the next general election due by 2024.

But the party’s “1922 committee” of MPs, tasked with overseeing leadership challenges, says it could easily change the rules if a majority backs it.

The Liberal Democrats are now pushing for a parliamentary no-confidence vote after Johnson survived the Tory revolt.

“Liberal Democrats are tabling a motion of no confidence in the prime minister so Parliament can finally put an end to this sorry mess,” party leader Ed Davey said.

“Every Conservative MP with a shred of decency must back our motion and give Boris Johnson the sack.”

If the government lost a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons it would have to call a snap general election.

That appears unlikely at present given the Conservative majority, but Johnson could face a challenging period in the months ahead.

Senior backbencher Tobias Ellwood, who voted against Johnson, said the prime minister was living on borrowed time.

“I think we’re talking a matter of months, up to party conference (in October),” he told Sky News.

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Dead Man Walking at No10

Given the British public’s now overwhelming disapproval of Johnson, pressure is expected to be mounted on ministers in Johnson’s government to revolt against him … writes Ashis Ray

“Wounded” is the word that was widely used by a number of British newspapers in headlines about their Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, despite his win on Monday night in a confidence vote in his ruling Conservative parliamentary party.

After Johnson’s fellow MPs moved a no-confidence motion against – the minimum threshold for such a vote being letters from 15 per cent of such lawmakers – 148 of them cast their ballots against him versus 211 in favour. This was an unusually large rebellion, bigger than the number that opposed Johnson’s immediate predecessor Theresa May. Notwithstanding the latter seeing off the challenge, she was compelled to resign within a few months of this verdict. 

Given the British public’s now overwhelming disapproval of Johnson, pressure is expected to be mounted on ministers in Johnson’s government to revolt against him. Even a majority of his party rank and files, polls indicate, have turned against him. Backbench Conservative MPs could team up with the opposition Labour party to block legislation in parliament – as they did in the case of May – to paralyse governance.   

Conservative MPs are acutely aware that John Major won a confidence vote in 1995, but was crushed in a general election two years later. In other words, they realise their re-elections are endangered if Johnson remains in power.

Johnson had set the pace in a trade treaty with India. Business circles in London maintained optimism on a deal. “I don’t think it changes the speed and direction of the FTA (free trade agreement) negotiations or of the wider UK-India relationship,” an insider stated on condition of anonymity.

However, even a Conservative government under a new Prime Minister, less hostile towards the European Union (EU), is from all accounts likely to smoothen trade ties with the EU, thereby potentially reducing the urgency of a pact with India.

 Financial Times, Britain’s leading economic affairs daily, was among the morningers which used the term “wounded”. Its post-mortem of Monday night’s vote was: “Tories (Conservatives) descend into acrimony as Johnson fights for his political life.”  

The Daily Telegraph, a paper Johnson work for and which is quite supportive of him, wrote: “Boris Johnson’s hollow victory tears Tories apart.” A commentator in the publication felt “the PM looks like toast”. 

The verdict of columnists in The Times asked, is he a “dead man walking?” A sketch on another of its pages portrayed the situation as: “A PM, his party and the country left firmly in limp-in territory.”

Even the right-wing, markedly pro-Boris and hot-selling tabloid Daily Mail pronounced the “brutal confidence vote saw 148 Tory MPs try to oust him – worse than Theresa AND Maggie (Thatcher) – with loyalists admitting even ministers secretly voted against him”.

The left-of-centre Guardian described it as an “unexpectedly large rebellion” before going on to say Johnson is “badly weakened”.

BBC’s analysis was: “Boris Johnson will know his opponents are thwarted, not defeated.”

 “Who could replace Boris Johnson?” The Independent asked. It claimed: “Even before the no-confidence vote, he was odds-on at 4/9 to leave No 10 (Downing Street, his Prime Ministerial office-cum-residence) according to (betting agency) Betfair.”

 According to this bookmaker: “Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, is now the favourite to replace the PM at 9/2.” Hunt is also an erstwhile Foreign Secretary, who lost the leadership contest to Johnson in 2019.

  Liz Truss, presently Foreign Secretary, is touted as second favourite at 7/1. The third favourite being bandied about is Tom Tughendhat, MP, who has no previous ministerial experience, but is currently chair of the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee.

 A former leader of the Conservative party Lord William Hague said Johnson’s premiership is no longer “viable”. He suggested he “should look for an honourable exit”.

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UK News

UK govt threatens asylum seekers with war zone return  

The document says: “You have the option to leave the UK voluntarily. However, should you be removed it will be to Rwanda.”…reports Asian Lite News

The British Home Office is giving asylum seekers the option of being flown back to the conflict zones they escaped from or being sent to Rwanda, the east African nation that the UK has signed a deportation deal with.

The Guardian has seen a document issued to the first set of asylum seekers expected to be sent to Rwanda, which says that the Home Office could send them to their home countries instead.

The document says: “You have the option to leave the UK voluntarily. However, should you be removed it will be to Rwanda.”

In a letter, the Home Office said that migrants had “inadmissible” asylum claims because they had crossed the English Channel by small boats. The letter added: “There is no right of appeal against the decision to treat your asylum claim as inadmissible.”

Those detained and awaiting offshoring to Rwanda include Syrians, Afghans, Iranians and Iraqis. Many of those expecting to be sent to the east African nation escaped from active conflict zones, with thousands of Afghans recently fleeing after the Taliban secured control of Kabul. Afghans were the largest group coming to Britain by small boats with 1,094 arrivals, followed by Iranians with 722 arrivals.

Karen Doyle, of Movement for Justice, said: “It’s as if the Home Office is saying to this group of asylum seekers: ‘Here’s a hell we created for you in Rwanda but you can choose to go back to the hell you escaped from instead.’ This is not a choice. These are refugees who cannot return home. In practice this is ripping up the UK’s stated commitment to refugees.”

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NHS clinical trial being launched in India for new Covid drugs

The envoy also said success or failure of Glasgow conference will depend on three countries including India…reports Asian Lite News

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis on Monday said a big National Health Service (NHS) clinical trial is being launched in India for new drugs related to Covid.

“One thing we learned in the last three years is that healthcare does not stop at your border. I think healthcare will continue to be one of the areas in which you will see a need for greater, more mutual resilience. It is great that we are launching a big clinical trial in India which is an NHS clinical trial looking at new drugs in relation to Covid because what happens in India will have a big impact on the UK. We saw that, frankly, during the worst stages of Covid,” Ellis said at an event.

The envoy remarked that India is valuable for the UK and there are wider benefits as well. Commenting further, Ellis said post-Covid situations are changing and the health consequences of it are quite different from what they were a year ago.

Interestingly, the envoy also mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping and said, “I think Chinese behaviour or behaviour of Xi Jinping, administration or government in China is forcing all of us to think quite hard that it is not only about the economics but also the geopolitical side, which we cannot ignore. And I think every country is now thinking about that in a different way. Of course, the situation of India is different because of the border it has.” The High Commissioner made these remarks at the Centre for Policy Research program.

He said that the next round of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is going to take place next week and both Prime Ministers have asked the negotiators that it will be done by Diwali. “UK is now no longer in the European Union and this actually offers the opportunity to strengthen the UK-India relationship. I think in particular about trade where we are negotiating a free trade agreement. We will have the next round of that next week and the two Prime Ministers have told negotiators that it will be done by Diwali,” Ellis said.

The British High Commissioner also mentioned that India’s internationalization is one of the most significant long-term events which will happen to the world and it is irreversible.

He also highlighted that India’s internationalization is present in every aspect, not just economics, and said, “You have just had a book written in Hindi, which has won the International Booker Prize. You can see it in lots of different areas. You can even see it, if I put it very crudely, in the British cabinet. The cabinet has several people of south Asian heritage sitting there. The Minister of Finance in the United Kingdom is Rishi Sunak. The same would not have been the case 15 or 20 years ago.”

The envoy also said success or failure of Glasgow conference will depend on three countries including India.

Nearly 200 countries in Glasgow, Scotland, adopted an outcome document, known as the Glasgow Climate Pact. It calls on 197 countries to report their progress towards more climate ambition next year, at COP27, set to take place in Egypt. The outcome also firms up the global agreement to accelerate action on climate this decade.

“India’s scale and size will have big global impacts. One of the interesting things about the Glasgow conference was that in the end, the success or failure of the world in dealing with climate change will depend on three countries including India,” he added.

India and the UK concluded the third round of talks for the proposed free trade agreement in New Delhi covering ground on key areas. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his India visit expressed his support for more skilled visas for Indians stating that the UK is currently facing a shortage of experts in IT and programming sectors.

India and UK launched Free Trade Agreement negotiations in January this year. The two countries are also exploring the possibility of an interim agreement to provide quick gains for benefiting businesses on both sides.

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