India–United Kingdom relations : Updates
- Thread starter Gautam
- Start date
This belongs in the 'Funny stuff' thread really. Apparently there's a similar movement in Italy calling themselves 'The Sardines,' I shit you not.
Sardines squeeze into Italian cities for biggest anti-Salvini protests yet
Claim to be an anti-fascist movement and then violently protest the result of a free and fair election.
And then they gave him some loose change.Just found this. British Parliament is fun.
How Boris Johnson's Election Victory Sets In Motion Closer Ties With India
"I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour," Boris Johnson had said.
Press Trust of India
Updated: December 24, 2019 14:50 IST
PM Modi was one of the first few leaders to congratulate Boris Johnson on his re-election.
London: The protracted uncertainty over Brexit that haunted Britain seems to have ended with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's big election gamble paying off with a "stonking mandate", a development that augurs well for UK-India strategic ties, as it offers continuity in the bilateral relations.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power with an even bigger majority for the BJP in May, his British counterpart Johnson won a landslide mandate to implement his central "Get Brexit Done" pledge by January 31 deadline.
The snap poll on December 12 was called because of the "B word" that has dominated much of British politics since the June 2016 referendum in favour of leaving the European Union (EU).
Boris Johnson took over from Theresa May at 10 Downing Street in July after a bruising leadership struggle due to repeated failures by the former prime minister to get her so-called EU divorce bill through Parliament. But Mr Johnson faced similar frustrations in the House of Commons with his "new and improved" EU Withdrawal Agreement due to the realities of a minority government.
He took a gamble with the first pre-Christmas polls in the UK's history for nearly a century, which paid off with a 364-seat haul, based largely on his central "Get Brexit Done" pledge.
Addressing a victory rally in London, Mr Johnson hailed a "new dawn" which "unarguably" broke the Brexit deadlock and called for closure on the subject.
While his win puts Britain on course to finally exit the 28-member economic bloc by the January 31 deadline, it also sets in motion closer ties with India not least if Mr Johnson is to be relied on his own campaign pledges to "Narendrabhai".
"I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour," he declared, as he appeared adorning a tilak at the famous Swaminarayan Mandir in London, just days before the election.
"British Indians have played a vital role in helping the Conservatives win elections in the past. When I told Narendrabhai (Modi) this, he just laughed and said Indians are always on the winning side," he claimed, which may be even more true this time than in the past, given the Opposition Labour Party's crushing defeat in its traditional heartlands.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had angered sections of British Indian voters over the party's perceived anti-India stance on Kashmir.
Prime Minister Modi was one of the first few leaders to congratulate Mr Johnson on his re-election with a tweet, which was followed by a phone call during which they resolved to continue working closely on issues such as trade, security and defence and climate change.
The Johnson-led team's decision to revive the post-study work visa has already had an impact on Indian student numbers, which registered an impressive 63 per cent hike this year over the previous year.
However, it remains to be seen how some of his election pledges play out, including a special visa for international doctors from countries like India and a new Australian-style system to level the playing field for Indian migrants vis-a-vis those from Europe.
The latest visa figures released by the Office for National Statistics also reflects the UK's continued popularity among Indian holidaymakers, with more than 512,000 Indian nationals being granted tourist visas during the same period a nine per cent increase compared with the previous year.
Much of this hike was probably down to the Cricket World Cup in June this year, which may have seen Virat Kohli's men being knocked out early but the Indian cricket fans stayed to cheer on an England win in July.
The World Cup high towards the middle of the year also coincided with back to back India Days being hosted in the UK Parliament and the financial hub of City of London.
A new 40-million pounds Fast-Track Start-Up Fund, supported by both the UK and Indian governments, to invest in Indian start-ups focussed on emerging technology was among some of the highlights during that phase, as the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) revealed that bilateral trade between the two countries was now valued at more than 20.5 billion pounds per year.
But beyond business and trade, this year marked a series of events to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Both the economic and cultural aspect of the relationship were in focus during the royal visit to India in November by Prince Charles, who not only celebrated his 71st birthday this year but also became a new grandfather earlier in the year to baby Archie the son of Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle.
The couple have had a tough year as they both went on to sue English tabloids for invasion of their privacy.
Those cases will continue to play out well into the new year as will the ongoing extradition cases involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Nirav Modi, who remains behind bars at Wandsworth prison in south-west London, is scheduled for his extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in May 2020.
Vijay Mallya remains on bail after he won the right to appeal against his extradition order in the High Court in London, an appeal which will be heard in February next year.
How Boris Johnson's Election Victory Sets In Motion Closer Ties With India
"I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour," Boris Johnson had said.
Press Trust of India
Updated: December 24, 2019 14:50 IST
PM Modi was one of the first few leaders to congratulate Boris Johnson on his re-election.
London: The protracted uncertainty over Brexit that haunted Britain seems to have ended with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's big election gamble paying off with a "stonking mandate", a development that augurs well for UK-India strategic ties, as it offers continuity in the bilateral relations.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power with an even bigger majority for the BJP in May, his British counterpart Johnson won a landslide mandate to implement his central "Get Brexit Done" pledge by January 31 deadline.
The snap poll on December 12 was called because of the "B word" that has dominated much of British politics since the June 2016 referendum in favour of leaving the European Union (EU).
Boris Johnson took over from Theresa May at 10 Downing Street in July after a bruising leadership struggle due to repeated failures by the former prime minister to get her so-called EU divorce bill through Parliament. But Mr Johnson faced similar frustrations in the House of Commons with his "new and improved" EU Withdrawal Agreement due to the realities of a minority government.
He took a gamble with the first pre-Christmas polls in the UK's history for nearly a century, which paid off with a 364-seat haul, based largely on his central "Get Brexit Done" pledge.
Addressing a victory rally in London, Mr Johnson hailed a "new dawn" which "unarguably" broke the Brexit deadlock and called for closure on the subject.
While his win puts Britain on course to finally exit the 28-member economic bloc by the January 31 deadline, it also sets in motion closer ties with India not least if Mr Johnson is to be relied on his own campaign pledges to "Narendrabhai".
"I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour," he declared, as he appeared adorning a tilak at the famous Swaminarayan Mandir in London, just days before the election.
"British Indians have played a vital role in helping the Conservatives win elections in the past. When I told Narendrabhai (Modi) this, he just laughed and said Indians are always on the winning side," he claimed, which may be even more true this time than in the past, given the Opposition Labour Party's crushing defeat in its traditional heartlands.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had angered sections of British Indian voters over the party's perceived anti-India stance on Kashmir.
Prime Minister Modi was one of the first few leaders to congratulate Mr Johnson on his re-election with a tweet, which was followed by a phone call during which they resolved to continue working closely on issues such as trade, security and defence and climate change.
The Johnson-led team's decision to revive the post-study work visa has already had an impact on Indian student numbers, which registered an impressive 63 per cent hike this year over the previous year.
However, it remains to be seen how some of his election pledges play out, including a special visa for international doctors from countries like India and a new Australian-style system to level the playing field for Indian migrants vis-a-vis those from Europe.
The latest visa figures released by the Office for National Statistics also reflects the UK's continued popularity among Indian holidaymakers, with more than 512,000 Indian nationals being granted tourist visas during the same period a nine per cent increase compared with the previous year.
Much of this hike was probably down to the Cricket World Cup in June this year, which may have seen Virat Kohli's men being knocked out early but the Indian cricket fans stayed to cheer on an England win in July.
The World Cup high towards the middle of the year also coincided with back to back India Days being hosted in the UK Parliament and the financial hub of City of London.
A new 40-million pounds Fast-Track Start-Up Fund, supported by both the UK and Indian governments, to invest in Indian start-ups focussed on emerging technology was among some of the highlights during that phase, as the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) revealed that bilateral trade between the two countries was now valued at more than 20.5 billion pounds per year.
But beyond business and trade, this year marked a series of events to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Both the economic and cultural aspect of the relationship were in focus during the royal visit to India in November by Prince Charles, who not only celebrated his 71st birthday this year but also became a new grandfather earlier in the year to baby Archie the son of Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle.
The couple have had a tough year as they both went on to sue English tabloids for invasion of their privacy.
Those cases will continue to play out well into the new year as will the ongoing extradition cases involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Nirav Modi, who remains behind bars at Wandsworth prison in south-west London, is scheduled for his extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in May 2020.
Vijay Mallya remains on bail after he won the right to appeal against his extradition order in the High Court in London, an appeal which will be heard in February next year.
How Boris Johnson's Election Victory Sets In Motion Closer Ties With India
U.K. preparing govt-to-govt framework for defence deals, says official
By Dinakar Peri
NEW DELHI
18 January 2020 11:37 IST
Proposal will soon be presented to Union government
The U.K. government is working on a government-to-government framework for defence deals in future, given India’s preference for such deals, Brig. Gavin Thompson, U.K. Defence Adviser in India, said on Friday.
“We have worked very hard since April last year to get all departments in U.K. to get this mechanism. We are at a point where we can send this proposal to the Indian government,” Brig. Thompson said. The mechanism needed to be agreed by both sides, he stated.
However, unlike the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the U.S. government where the government charges a small service charge, Brig. Thompson said there were no overheads built into the contract. “It is a lighter model,” he stated, adding the U.K. presently did not have such a mechanism.
In the last few years, India had concluded multi-billion dollar deals through the inter-governmental route for Rafale jets, S-400 air defence systems and stealth frigates, among others.
During Aero India at Bengaluru last year, the U.K. made a pitch to India for collaboration in the areas of aircraft carriers and development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft technologies. In this regard, Brig. Thompson said that the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers were 30% of the cost of the U.S. carriers, provided 60% of the sortie rate and required only 25% of the manning compared to U.S. carriers.
There is also interest in the Indian Navy on the U.K.’s progress in integrated electric-propulsion and have exchanged subject matter experts. Recently, HMS Defender, a Type 45 destroyer, was in Goa and 27 Indian Navy officers went on board and had interactions, the Defence Adviser stated.
There are three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the U.K. and India lined up, said Dominic Beales, Defence and Security Organisation in India. While Defence Equipment Memorandum (DEM) was signed in April last year renewing an earlier agreement, the Logistics MoU has been discussed with Indian officials and “is about to formally enter the Indian system, and the Training MOU is in progress,” he stated. “We are looking at collaboration, for co-development and co-IP sharing and exports,” Mr. Beales added.
U.K. preparing govt-to-govt framework for defence deals, says official
By Dinakar Peri
NEW DELHI
18 January 2020 11:37 IST
Proposal will soon be presented to Union government
The U.K. government is working on a government-to-government framework for defence deals in future, given India’s preference for such deals, Brig. Gavin Thompson, U.K. Defence Adviser in India, said on Friday.
“We have worked very hard since April last year to get all departments in U.K. to get this mechanism. We are at a point where we can send this proposal to the Indian government,” Brig. Thompson said. The mechanism needed to be agreed by both sides, he stated.
However, unlike the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route of the U.S. government where the government charges a small service charge, Brig. Thompson said there were no overheads built into the contract. “It is a lighter model,” he stated, adding the U.K. presently did not have such a mechanism.
In the last few years, India had concluded multi-billion dollar deals through the inter-governmental route for Rafale jets, S-400 air defence systems and stealth frigates, among others.
During Aero India at Bengaluru last year, the U.K. made a pitch to India for collaboration in the areas of aircraft carriers and development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft technologies. In this regard, Brig. Thompson said that the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers were 30% of the cost of the U.S. carriers, provided 60% of the sortie rate and required only 25% of the manning compared to U.S. carriers.
There is also interest in the Indian Navy on the U.K.’s progress in integrated electric-propulsion and have exchanged subject matter experts. Recently, HMS Defender, a Type 45 destroyer, was in Goa and 27 Indian Navy officers went on board and had interactions, the Defence Adviser stated.
There are three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the U.K. and India lined up, said Dominic Beales, Defence and Security Organisation in India. While Defence Equipment Memorandum (DEM) was signed in April last year renewing an earlier agreement, the Logistics MoU has been discussed with Indian officials and “is about to formally enter the Indian system, and the Training MOU is in progress,” he stated. “We are looking at collaboration, for co-development and co-IP sharing and exports,” Mr. Beales added.
U.K. preparing govt-to-govt framework for defence deals, says official
HM Armed Forces Jewish Community???!? Do you have sectarian community wise organizations within the Armed Forces, Paddy? Indulging in religious activities , off shore & on shore ? Sponsored by the MoD? What next? Iftar parties? This is amazingly stupid. @BMD
Royal Navy chief pushes for cooperation between U.K. and India
Admiral Tony Radakin laid particular emphasis on collaborations in the development of aircraft carriers and discussions on electric propulsion.
Observing that both India and the U.K. are working on aircraft carriers, fifth generation fighter aircraft and integrated electric propulsion, Admiral Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, U.K., said it feels “immensely comfortable and strategically sensible that we should be looking to converge and come together”.
There are amazing sets of investments going on in the Indian military, Adm Radakin said, which is aircraft carriers, submarines and thinking about integrated electric propulsion and the Royal Navy is going through its own significant recapitalisation, growing for the first time in 70 years. We will grow in tonnage terms by 30% in size between 2015 and 2025. And while five years ago the U.K. had no aircraft carriers, “We now have two,” he said.
“When you marry that with a nation like India and the journey that it is on, it is immensely comfortable and strategically sensible that we should be looking to converge and come together. Those are the conversations we are having and they are exciting…,” he told The Hindu on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue last week jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.
On this, the Royal Navy chief laid particular emphasis on cooperation on aircraft carriers and discussions on electric propulsion. He said there is clarity for most navies that are seeking to modernise and to embrace technology that electric propulsion “is the way to go” and it then starts to open up opportunities with directed energy weapons. “The U.K. position is that we have very clear, shared values and responsibilities and ambitions and therefore we would look to collaborate with India as a friend.”
The U.K.’s renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific comes as the country prepares to leave the European Union (E.U.). Referring to this, Adm. Radakin said as part of the U.K.’s long presence in the Indian Ocean and in conjunction with that, the ability of the U.K. to be “both taking stock as it leaves the EU and the clarity of the government that this is not retrenching the world. If anything there is a need for us to emphasis our broader role in the rest of the world”.
Elaborating on the common interests, he said both countries have such a reliance on the energy that flows through the Strait of Hormuz. “We shouldn’t get too fixated by individual security constructs. I think at this stage we should be confident that we have the ability to work together to share information that we both have the same shared interests and values, and that enhances mutually our own security.”
Referring to the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Adm. Radakin said fusion centres are an example of collaboration at a tactical level “but really a strategic operational level signalling of where countries come together”.
The U.K. has already accepted India’s offer to post a Liaison Officer at the IFC-IOR which is likely to happen sometime next year. Also the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to undertake its maiden operational deployment in the Indian Ocean Region in 2021.
Royal Navy chief pushes for cooperation between U.K. and India
Admiral Tony Radakin laid particular emphasis on collaborations in the development of aircraft carriers and discussions on electric propulsion.
Observing that both India and the U.K. are working on aircraft carriers, fifth generation fighter aircraft and integrated electric propulsion, Admiral Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, U.K., said it feels “immensely comfortable and strategically sensible that we should be looking to converge and come together”.
There are amazing sets of investments going on in the Indian military, Adm Radakin said, which is aircraft carriers, submarines and thinking about integrated electric propulsion and the Royal Navy is going through its own significant recapitalisation, growing for the first time in 70 years. We will grow in tonnage terms by 30% in size between 2015 and 2025. And while five years ago the U.K. had no aircraft carriers, “We now have two,” he said.
“When you marry that with a nation like India and the journey that it is on, it is immensely comfortable and strategically sensible that we should be looking to converge and come together. Those are the conversations we are having and they are exciting…,” he told The Hindu on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue last week jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation.
On this, the Royal Navy chief laid particular emphasis on cooperation on aircraft carriers and discussions on electric propulsion. He said there is clarity for most navies that are seeking to modernise and to embrace technology that electric propulsion “is the way to go” and it then starts to open up opportunities with directed energy weapons. “The U.K. position is that we have very clear, shared values and responsibilities and ambitions and therefore we would look to collaborate with India as a friend.”
The U.K.’s renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific comes as the country prepares to leave the European Union (E.U.). Referring to this, Adm. Radakin said as part of the U.K.’s long presence in the Indian Ocean and in conjunction with that, the ability of the U.K. to be “both taking stock as it leaves the EU and the clarity of the government that this is not retrenching the world. If anything there is a need for us to emphasis our broader role in the rest of the world”.
Elaborating on the common interests, he said both countries have such a reliance on the energy that flows through the Strait of Hormuz. “We shouldn’t get too fixated by individual security constructs. I think at this stage we should be confident that we have the ability to work together to share information that we both have the same shared interests and values, and that enhances mutually our own security.”
Referring to the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Adm. Radakin said fusion centres are an example of collaboration at a tactical level “but really a strategic operational level signalling of where countries come together”.
The U.K. has already accepted India’s offer to post a Liaison Officer at the IFC-IOR which is likely to happen sometime next year. Also the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to undertake its maiden operational deployment in the Indian Ocean Region in 2021.
Royal Navy chief pushes for cooperation between U.K. and India
‘Came on cancelled visa’ — British MP critical of Article 370 move denied entry into India
Debbie Abrahams had a visa valid until October 2020 but it was cancelled on some grounds and she was informed about it 'well in advance', say authorities.
By Ananya Bhardwaj
17 February, 2020 4:52 pm IST
A file photo of Debbie Abrahams. | Photo: Facebook/Debbie Abrahams
New Delhi: A British lawmaker was Monday denied entry into India on arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital as her visa was found to be “invalid”, ThePrint has learnt.
Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams was unable to clear customs in Delhi and will now be deported, confirmed an official at the Bureau of Immigration, who did not wish to be named.
Abrahams chairs a UK parliamentary group focused on Kashmir, and has been a critic of the Narendra Modi government’s move to scrap Article 370.
Speaking to news agency Associated Press, Abrahams said the immigration officials didn’t cite any reason for denying her entry and revoking her visa, which was valid until October 2020.
However, sources in the immigration department told ThePrint that Abrahams came to India with an e-visa that had been cancelled by authorities earlier and hence wasn’t valid.
“The visa she came on was a cancelled visa,” the official said. “She did have a visa that was valid till October 2020, but it was cancelled over some ground and she was also informed about the same, well in advance, via an email.”
The official said she was also conveyed that she should contact the Indian embassy in the UK if she wanted the visa again.
“A detailed mail was sent to her and she was also told that she should contact the embassy for a fresh visa but she chose to fly with the cancelled visa,” said the official.
Abrahams, along with her aide Harpreet Upal, arrived at the IGI Airport on an Emirates flight from Dubai at 9 am. She was supposed to be in India for two days on a personal trip, said the AP report.
“I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a ‘visa on arrival’ but no one seemed to know,” AP quoted her as saying in a statement.
In a Twitter post later in the day, Abrahams said she would “continue to challenge my own Government & others while injustice & abuse is unchecked”.
“In response to some of the comments I was planning to visit Indian family in Dehli accompanied by my Indian aide. I became a politician to promote social justice & human rights FOR ALL. I will continue to challenge my own Government & others while injustice & abuse is unchecked,” she posted.
Notice sent to Emirates
The Bureau of Immigration has now sent a notice to Emirates to ascertain how Debbie Abrahams was allowed to board the flight with an invalid visa, said the official quoted above.
“The airlines did not check her visa before she boarded and that is a violation too. Also, the details that her visa has been cancelled should have been with the airlines as it is also updated in their system, but they were not careful enough to check,” said the official.
“We have now sent them a notice seeking an explanation for the same,” added the official.
The official also said when the staff at the airport asked her to show them a copy of her visa, she showed them the visa that was cancelled.
“She then requested us to give her an on-arrival visa, which we refused. Travelling without a valid visa is an offence. It is a violation of visa rules. Hence, she will now be sent back,” the source said.
Criticism of Kashmir move
Since the Modi government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 4 August 2019 and clamped down on communications, Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has organised programmes in the UK and started a petition to raise awareness about the issue.
In her petition addressed to the British PM, she called on the UK government and the international community to use “all diplomatic and economic measures at their disposal to influence the Indian and Pakistan government to ensure that democracy is respected and that the Kashmiri people are at the heart of any constitutional reform of the region”.
On a page titled “Oldham stands in solidarity with Kashmir” on her website, Abrahams wrote about her concerns about detentions of political leaders and even children in Kashmir, and mass mobilisation of troops in the region.
“We heard first hand from local people who are understandably distraught at not having been able to contact their relatives as a result of India’s media and communications blackout. They are really concerned about violence escalating as tens of thousands of Indian troops have been sent to the region, and hundreds of politicians are either under house arrest or have been detained,” she wrote.
“There are also worrying reports that children as young as 11 years old are being detained.”
She also asked the Government of India to ensure that the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir are respected.
Abrahams also wrote to India’s High Commissioner to the UK, saying the government action “betrays the trust of the people” of Kashmir. She was elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir in 2018.
'Came on cancelled visa' — British MP critical of Article 370 move denied entry into India
Debbie Abrahams had a visa valid until October 2020 but it was cancelled on some grounds and she was informed about it 'well in advance', say authorities.
By Ananya Bhardwaj
17 February, 2020 4:52 pm IST
A file photo of Debbie Abrahams. | Photo: Facebook/Debbie Abrahams
New Delhi: A British lawmaker was Monday denied entry into India on arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital as her visa was found to be “invalid”, ThePrint has learnt.
Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams was unable to clear customs in Delhi and will now be deported, confirmed an official at the Bureau of Immigration, who did not wish to be named.
Abrahams chairs a UK parliamentary group focused on Kashmir, and has been a critic of the Narendra Modi government’s move to scrap Article 370.
Speaking to news agency Associated Press, Abrahams said the immigration officials didn’t cite any reason for denying her entry and revoking her visa, which was valid until October 2020.
However, sources in the immigration department told ThePrint that Abrahams came to India with an e-visa that had been cancelled by authorities earlier and hence wasn’t valid.
“The visa she came on was a cancelled visa,” the official said. “She did have a visa that was valid till October 2020, but it was cancelled over some ground and she was also informed about the same, well in advance, via an email.”
The official said she was also conveyed that she should contact the Indian embassy in the UK if she wanted the visa again.
“A detailed mail was sent to her and she was also told that she should contact the embassy for a fresh visa but she chose to fly with the cancelled visa,” said the official.
Abrahams, along with her aide Harpreet Upal, arrived at the IGI Airport on an Emirates flight from Dubai at 9 am. She was supposed to be in India for two days on a personal trip, said the AP report.
“I tried to establish why the visa had been revoked and if I could get a ‘visa on arrival’ but no one seemed to know,” AP quoted her as saying in a statement.
In a Twitter post later in the day, Abrahams said she would “continue to challenge my own Government & others while injustice & abuse is unchecked”.
“In response to some of the comments I was planning to visit Indian family in Dehli accompanied by my Indian aide. I became a politician to promote social justice & human rights FOR ALL. I will continue to challenge my own Government & others while injustice & abuse is unchecked,” she posted.
Notice sent to Emirates
The Bureau of Immigration has now sent a notice to Emirates to ascertain how Debbie Abrahams was allowed to board the flight with an invalid visa, said the official quoted above.
“The airlines did not check her visa before she boarded and that is a violation too. Also, the details that her visa has been cancelled should have been with the airlines as it is also updated in their system, but they were not careful enough to check,” said the official.
“We have now sent them a notice seeking an explanation for the same,” added the official.
The official also said when the staff at the airport asked her to show them a copy of her visa, she showed them the visa that was cancelled.
“She then requested us to give her an on-arrival visa, which we refused. Travelling without a valid visa is an offence. It is a violation of visa rules. Hence, she will now be sent back,” the source said.
Criticism of Kashmir move
Since the Modi government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 4 August 2019 and clamped down on communications, Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has organised programmes in the UK and started a petition to raise awareness about the issue.
In her petition addressed to the British PM, she called on the UK government and the international community to use “all diplomatic and economic measures at their disposal to influence the Indian and Pakistan government to ensure that democracy is respected and that the Kashmiri people are at the heart of any constitutional reform of the region”.
On a page titled “Oldham stands in solidarity with Kashmir” on her website, Abrahams wrote about her concerns about detentions of political leaders and even children in Kashmir, and mass mobilisation of troops in the region.
“We heard first hand from local people who are understandably distraught at not having been able to contact their relatives as a result of India’s media and communications blackout. They are really concerned about violence escalating as tens of thousands of Indian troops have been sent to the region, and hundreds of politicians are either under house arrest or have been detained,” she wrote.
“There are also worrying reports that children as young as 11 years old are being detained.”
She also asked the Government of India to ensure that the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Kashmir are respected.
Abrahams also wrote to India’s High Commissioner to the UK, saying the government action “betrays the trust of the people” of Kashmir. She was elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir in 2018.
'Came on cancelled visa' — British MP critical of Article 370 move denied entry into India
Azhvar idol traced to London museum
The Idol Wing CID has traced a bronze idol of Thirumangai Azhvar, which went missing from a temple in Kumbakonam 60 years ago, to a museum in London.
Azhvar idol traced to London museum
The Idol Wing CID has traced a bronze idol of Thirumangai Azhvar, which went missing from a temple in Kumbakonam 60 years ago, to a museum in London.
Azhvar idol traced to London museum
Over 100 mosques threaten to boycott Labour over Kashmir
The labour finds itself in one fine mess after the other !
Over 100 mosques threaten to boycott Labour over Kashmir
Over 100 British mosques and Islamic centres have signed a letter to Labour leader Keir Starmer saying they would support a call for Muslims to abstain from voting for Labour unless it supports Kashmir’s right to self-determination. The letter came after Starmer described the Kashmir dispute as...
www.defencenews.in
The labour finds itself in one fine mess after the other !
Lol even Labour knows that they are only party supporting these radicals and even these mosques know that , only influence they have is the labour party. Rest Britain has ran out of patienceOver 100 mosques threaten to boycott Labour over Kashmir
Over 100 mosques threaten to boycott Labour over Kashmir
Over 100 British mosques and Islamic centres have signed a letter to Labour leader Keir Starmer saying they would support a call for Muslims to abstain from voting for Labour unless it supports Kashmir’s right to self-determination. The letter came after Starmer described the Kashmir dispute as...www.defencenews.in
The labour finds itself in one fine mess after the other !