UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy aims to reset UK-India ties _ BBC News

Transcript

00:00This is the India Gate, commemorating a time when Indians fought and died for the British

00:08Empire in their thousand. David Lammy came here not just to pay his respects, but to

00:13revive a very different relationship, one in which he says India is now the superpower.

00:20Being here in India is essential. We have shared interests with India. It's a growing

00:26economy. It's going to be the third largest by the end of this decade. It's hugely important

00:31that we deepen and grow our ties. And that's why I'm here to launch this important technology

00:37and security initiative. With one chief aim, to grow Britain's economy. That's why Mr.

00:45Lammy visited India's equivalent of Silicon Valley, keen for new technology partnerships.

00:51That's why he said Britain will work with India to agree a new free trade deal in the

00:56coming months. It's no surprise that David Lammy has chosen to come here to India so

01:01soon after the election. With so much political instability in Europe and the United States,

01:06the government wants to revive and reset its relationships with countries elsewhere in

01:11the world. And India, with its busy, booming, bustling economy, is a big prize.

01:17And Indian leaders were appreciative. The prime minister, Narendra Modi, gave Mr. Lammy a rare

01:23meeting. And India's foreign minister was keen to echo Mr. Lammy's enthusiasm.

01:32We are both countries which have a big global presence in different ways. So I think it's also

01:41important that India and the UK work together on global issues.

01:47There are so many ways in which our two countries have shared interests

01:56when we look at the world. Record growth here in India,

02:01and our new government is committed to growth, and there's much that we can do together.

02:07But there remains grit in the relationship. India continues to feed President Putin's

02:12war machine in Ukraine by buying his cheap oil and gas.

02:19And this man, Jagtar Singh Johal, remains in an Indian jail. A Sikh activist from Scotland

02:26arrested in 2017. His family say he's falsely charged with conspiracy to murder.

02:32This is a serious case that I raised in opposition, and I'm raising again today.

02:38We want to see progress and the judicial system take its course.

02:44David Lammy wants to paint a new picture of Britain's relationship with India,

02:49one that is vibrant and modern, even if it does cover up the odd crack.

02:54James Landell, BBC News, New Delhi.

03:02Thank you.