Decision by UK Government to explore opportunities for closer cooperation between UK and Gujarat hailed
BJP welcomes move of the British Government
Bipartisan support in UK for the step
Labour MP Mr. Barry Gardiner welcomes move
Lord Gulam Noon expresses delight over the decision of the British Government
The decision by the British Government to explore opportunities for closer cooperation between Gujarat and UK has been universally hailed. Members of the House of Lords, an eminent writer as well as Netizens gave their thumbs up to this move by the British Government. The BJP and the Labour Party in UK have also given their stamp of approval to the same.Shri Modi himself spoke on the issue during his speech at the conclusion of the Vivekananda Yuva Yatra in Pavagadh. Welcoming the move, Shri Modi said that after having little official contact with Gujarat for 10 years, the UK has understood Gujarat’s importance and decided to work with the state. He added that the UK has understood what our own Prime Minister may not have!
Earlier in the day, Shri Modi welcomed the move by Tweeting minutes after the press statement was announced. He wrote, “Der AayeDurastaAaye!! I welcome UK Government's step for active engagement & strengthening relations with Guj. God is Great.” Shri Modi was flooded with congratulatory messages especially from the Indian diaspora. Thanking them, he Tweeted, “Getting many messages of pride & joy from Indian diaspora, especially Gujaratis in London & all over the world. Thanks for your affection!”
BJP Welcomes Move!
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the decision of the British Government. BJP General Secretary Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad said that in a time when the foreign media called the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ‘underachiever’ this step surely comes as a very positive sign.Other leaders of the BJP who welcomed the move include BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Smt. Smriti Irani and BJP Leader Shri Balbir Punj.
Bipartisan Support Across United Kingdom
Both the leading parties of Britain are on the same page in hailing the decision to explore close cooperation with Gujarat. The announcement was made by Mr. Hugo Swire, on behalf of the Conservative Party led Government and the Labour Party has welcomed it.Mr. Barry Gardiner, Labour MP and Labour Friends of India said in a statement that he supports this move. The statement notes that British companies are doing more business with Gujarat than with all other states of India put together. The statement lauds Shri Narendra Modi for having put delivered unprecedented growth, that has made its economy the envy of rest of India.
Mr. Gardiner shared his own experience of visiting Gujarat in 2009 during which he was extremely impressed with development in the state. His statement read, “I saw for myself the way education and healthcare had been rolled out to the most remote rural villages alongside a programme of rural electrification and road infrastructure which has brought real prosperity to what were previously some of the poorest regions."
On the biennial Vibrant Gujarat summits, the Labour MP said, “At the Biennial Trade Fair: "Vibrant Gujarat" industrialists like Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Mittal and Ratan Tata have lined up to pay tribute to the way that the Chief Minister has cut through corruption and bureaucracy to create a stable and supportive business environment.”Mr. Gardiner himself represents Brent North, a seat with a substantial number of voters of Gujarati origin in the House of Commons.
Member of the House of Lords and an individual who distinguished himself in the food industry, Lord Gulam Noon expressed delight on the British Government’s decision. He said, “I was delighted to learn that the British Government has finally accepted the importance of Gujarat and its Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s dynamic leadership for the State of Gujarat.This is indeed a very important announcement which recognises the huge progress the State of Gujarat has made in the last decade.” He also stated he awaits Mr. Modi’s visit to the UK very soon.
Another Member of the House of Lords and noted academic Lord Bhikhu Parekh viewed it as recognition of the fact that Britain could not hope to trade with India without leaving Gujarat out.
Widespread Support On Social Media
Closer home, renowned author Chetan Bhagat gave his thumbs up to the move of the UK authorities.Social Media too was abuzz with immense support for the step. Netizens viewed it as an indication of Gujarat’s growing economy, the global acceptance of its development model under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi.
