SPOTLIGHT
Brexit trade deal that Britain is seeking. India is said to
be on top of Johnson’s “to do” list once Britain is out the
European Union leaving it scrambling for new markets
outside Europe. He is desperately looking for a good free
trade agreement with India, and in the past, he has off ered
to address Indian concerns on various issues as part of a
comprehensive deal.
Johnson’s two immediate predecessors, David Cameron
and Theresa May, talked a good talk. But even as they claimed
to value India-UK ties describing them as one the “most
important relationships of the 21st century” they failed to
walk the talk. Time and again they acted in a manner that
directly hurt Indian citizens —like retrospective changes
to residency rules for high-skilled immigrants that forced
many legally settled Indian migrants to return home. Indian
protests were ignored. Indians have also been aff ected by
the frequent tightening of visa rules for students and intra-
company transfers. Indian businesses fi nd visa rules a major
hindrance to trading with Britain.
The May administration’s response to the Indian demand
was a bullish “no”. Far from off ering any concessions, it
from the European Union stopped. But he has now changed
his tune and is instead touting an Australian-style points
immigration system. It will be a one-size-fi ts-all system with
no exemptions for Indian or other Commonwealth citizens.
Priti Patel is a known hawk on immigration, and she lost
no time damping down expectations, and making clear that
nobody should expect an easy ride.
Only those with “highest skills” not easily available
locally will be allowed to come in —that too “only if they
have a job off er from an employer registered with the Home
Offi ce and if they can speak English”. Looks like a case of
plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose, (the more things
change the more they remain the same ), as the French say.
India-UK relations are often good-humouredly likened to
those between an amiable old couple muddling through for
old time’s sake but lacking any spark. Neither London nor
Delhi appears in a hurry to revive a fl agging relationship.
At the heart of the problem is Britain’s lingering colonial
mindset that still informs much of its foreign policy. Former
colonies are still mainly looked upon simply as markets to
be exploited. This approach ignores the reality that the world
India-UK relations are often good-humouredly likened to those between an amiable old
couple muddling through for old time’s sake but lacking any spark. Neither London nor Delhi
appears in a hurry to revive a fl agging relationship. At the heart of the problem is Britain’s
lingering colonial mindset that still informs much of its foreign policy.
appeared to actively discriminate against India—for example
by excluding India from an expanded list of countries from
which student visa applicants require “reduced level of
documentation”. China is on the list. The move prompted
outrage in Indian circles. Lord Bilimoria, a leading
businessman and Chancellor of Birmingham University,
denounced it as “another kick in the teeth for India”
It doesn’t end here. May’s people also tried to bounce New
Delhi into accepting thousands of illegal immigrants who it
says are Indian citizens living. A claim India has questioned
arguing that many of these people lack identity papers that
would prove that they are Indian citizens. It is demanding fi rm
evidence-based on independent background checks. It also
fears some of them might pose a threat to national security.
During his UK visit last year to attend the Commonwealth
summit, Modi was expected to sign an MoU on the issue but
the move was abandoned at the last minute after the home
ministry raised national security concerns.
Will Johnson be more responsive to Indian concerns? He
used the Brexit referendum campaign to raise expectations
promising to open up immigration from India and other
Commonwealth countries once free movement of workers
has changed and countries like India are now major economic
powers in their own right who expect to be treated with respect
in accordance with their new status. In other words, as equal
partners, not as pushovers.
Britain’s own Parliament pointed this out in a strongly-
worded report recently—warning the government that the
country risked being left behind in the global race to engage
with India if it didn’t change its current approach. The report
from the infl uential Parliamentary Foreign Aff airs Committee
said: “India’s place in the world is changing fast and the UK
government needs to adjust its strategy to fi t India’s enhanced
infl uence and power; the UK cannot aff ord to be complacent
or rely on historical ties.”
It will require abandoning successive Tory governments’
wholly market-oriented focus in favour of a policy that would
put bilateral relations on a more equal footing.
Is Johnson up to it? The jury is still out on that.
* Author is based in London. His new book, Who Killed
Liberal Islam, has just been published. A version of this article
fi rst appeared in the Business Standard.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 9 • September 2019, Noida • 33