Keir Starmer has raised concerns with India’s Prime Minister regarding the country’s purchase of Russian oil, which is being used to fund Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
During a meeting in Mumbai, the Prime Minister and Narendra Modi discussed the contentious issue, with Starmer highlighting the impact of India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil, which has resulted in penalty tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.
Starmer confirmed that the topic of India’s acquisition of Russian oil was addressed during his talks with Modi, emphasizing the steps being taken to resolve the conflict, particularly focusing on the activities of the Russian shadow fleet and the efforts to lead a coalition to address the issue.
In addition to discussing the oil matter, Starmer also raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist detained in an Indian prison for almost eight years without a conviction. Starmer mentioned that consular cases are consistently raised whenever the opportunity arises.
Gurpreet, Jagtar’s brother, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in Jagtar’s case despite the Prime Minister’s acknowledgment, hoping for concrete actions to secure his brother’s return home.
Despite disagreements over the Ukraine conflict and Russia, the Prime Minister highlighted the strong ties between India and the UK, citing the new trade deal signed earlier in the year as a significant step in fostering closer economic relations. The PM also mentioned the recent announcement of three Bollywood productions to be filmed in the UK, showcasing the growing opportunities for British businesses in India.
The PM emphasized the vast opportunities for partnership between the UK and India, considering India’s status as the world’s largest democracy and a rapidly emerging economic powerhouse set to become the third-largest economy by 2028.
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