Labour ready to engage with Modi-led govt

The Labour Party that was in power when a diplomatic boycott was imposed on Narendra Modi, the prime-ministerial front-runner in India, now looks forward to engaging with a government headed by him. Asked by The Hindu on what her party’s expectations from a new government that quite possibly will be headed by Mr. Modi are, Harriet Harman Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Party Chair and Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: “The big expectation from India will be for it to fulfil the democratic mandate of peace and prosperity.” The Labour Party for reasons both historical and political is more invested in Indian elections and its outcome than any other political party in the UK. “India has chosen who their leader is and in the event that the exit polls are correct, then the world will work with Mr. Modi, and work with him for the benefit of both stability in that part of the world but also in terms of raising the standard of living of the people of India.” Some Labour MPs, especially those whose constituencies have large Asian populations, however sounded a note of concern over some of the unresolved issues of Mr. Modi’s past. “Clearly Mr. Modi comes with a reputation, and the fact that he was on the banned list in the UK and the USA for several years is going to present challenges for all the parties, Labour included,” said Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East. For Kamaljeet Jandu, Labour candidate from London for the European Parliamentary elections, a GMB union member, and a third generation UK-born Indian, the new government that comes to power in India “must recognise the fact that India’s founding constitutional principles are secular,” and address “the overriding issues of access to food, health, education and shelter.” These can be the only basis for a truly productive engagement between India and the UK.