India Asks Theresa May to Extradite 57 Wanted Persons From Britain
May is all set to hold talks with Narendra Modi to bolster bilateral strategic ties in areas like defence.
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- Theresa May arrived in India on Sunday night on her first bilateral visit outside the UK
- May and Prime Minister Modi together inaugurated the India-UK TECH Summit 2016 on Monday morning
- In her address, May announced a faster UK visa process for Indians who travel to the UK frequently for business
- Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of technological development and collaboration between the two countries
India Asks Britain to Extradite 57 Wanted Persons
India on Monday asked Britain to handover 57 wanted people, including Chirstian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal, so that they can be brought to justice for committing various offences in the country.
This was conveyed during the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Theresa May.
Britain also hand over to India a list of 17 people whom it seeks custody under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or against whom Letter Rogatory were issued, official sources said.
Among the people India seeks extradition include Chirstian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal.
Both the countries are believed to have agreed to expedite the each other's all extradition requests and help to take all such cases into logical conclusion, sources said.
On Monday morning, Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Theresa May inaugurated the India-UK Tech Summit 2016. This is what preparations looked like ahead of the arrival of the two leaders.
Both Prime Ministers launched an India-UK Urban Partnership on smart cities and urban development which could unlock new business worth up to 2 billion pounds to British firms over the next five years.
The Indo-British collaboration is also expected to focus on Madhya Pradesh besides the historic and holy city of Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi's constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Modi and May at the TECH-Summit
The two heads of the state kicked off the Summit.
Commenting further on the relations between the two countries, May said:
The UK premier announced the Registered Traveller Scheme and said that for the first time, the UK will offer a swifter passage at airports to those Indians who fly there frequently for business. The entire process would involve less forms and formalities.
May concluded with emphasis on importance of free trade and investment to make the two countries more secure and stable.
Modi Emphasises Technological Development for Mutual Gains
Stressing on the significance of science, technology and innovation in the India-UK bilateral engagement, the Indian Prime Minister said both countries should work together to define the knowledge economy of the 21st Century.
He said the two countries have agreed to set up an India-UK Clean Energy R&D Centre on solar energy with joint investment of 10 million pounds. He also said setting up of a new Anti-Microbial Resistance initiative with joint investment of 15 million pounds has also been agreed.
Following May’s address, Prime Minister Modi also made a speech at the Summit where he spoke of mutual gains for the two countries based on technological development.
The Indian Prime Minister also spoke of the importance of technology being local and his Jan Dhan Yojana which, he said, will be the largest social security programme in the world.
Modi also thanked the visiting British Prime Minister for choosing India for her first bilateral visit outside Europe.
Amid Tata-Mistry Tussle, Group Finds Mention in May's Address
As the bitter boardroom battle in the Indian salt-to-software conglomerate continues, the Tata Group on Monday found a mention in the UK Prime Minister's first address to Indian businesses.
Earlier this year in January, JLR became the UK's largest car maker eight years after it was acquired by Tata Motors for USD 2.3 billion from Ford.
Last month, in a sudden and dramatic turn of events, Cyrus Mistry was unceremoniously removed as the Chairman of Tata Sons and replaced by his predecessor Ratan Tata in the interim, triggering a confrontation between the single-largest shareholder and the company's founding family.
Theresa May arrived in India on Sunday night for a three-day visit.
The UK Prime Minister met Narendra Modi, along with expectations of agreements being signed and a joint statement set to be issued.
Ahead of her visit, May described India as one of the UK's "most important and closest" friends, and a leading power in the world.
May, who has clarified that she won't meet any executives from Tata Steel Ltd during her trip to India, also said that she will hold talks with counterpart Narendra Modi to bolster bilateral strategic ties in areas like defence, security and trade.
She added that talks about the future of Tata Steel’s British operations are still going on.
Before her visit, an article published in the Sunday Telegraph quoted May as saying that she plans to "promote the best of Britain" during her three-day trade mission to New Delhi and Bengaluru.
India, Pakistan Should Talk Over Kashmir: May
Theresa May on Sunday also said that India and Pakistan should hold bilateral talks to settle the issue of Kashmir.
"This is a matter for India and Pakistan to sort it out through dialogue," May told IANS on board the Royal Air Force Voyager, regarding Britain's stance on cross border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan in Kashmir.
(With inputs from media agencies.)
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