By Manish Chand, IANS
New Delhi : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a self-confessed admirer of Indian culture who has earned the affectionate sobriquet ‘Govardhan’ from British Indians, comes here Sunday on his first visit after getting the top job last year.
More business with India – a country he sees as an emerging power and vigorously supports for a place on the UN high table – is Brown’s mantra as he comes here accompanied by Britain’s top corporate and academic figures.
Regional and international issues like the ongoing turmoil in Pakistan in the aftermath of Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, fostering democracy in Myanmar, counter-terrorism and climate change are some of the leading issues he will discuss with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the fourth India-UK Summit Monday.
“Most of the discussions will, however, focus on putting bilateral relations on a more dynamic footing. Issues relating to immigration and closer cooperation on international governance will figure in discussions,” a top official, who did not wish to be named, told IANS.
“It will be a meeting of minds when Brown meets Manmohan Singh Monday for formal talks as both leaders share a close rapport and a common vision of India-UK relations,” the source said.
Manmohan Singh and Brown met on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Summit in Kampala in November last year.
Although Brown’s visit will be high on business and bonhomie befitting strong bilateral ties, he may have to do some explaining to his Indian interlocutors about the proposed British immigration policy that has rung alarm bells in this country, specially among professionals who still see Britain as their preferred destination.
In December last year, Britain unveiled a consultation paper on immigration that, if implemented in its present form, will adversely affect millions of people who go to Britain on temporary visas annually from outside the EU.
The proposal envisages ordinary tourist visa limits halved from six months to three. According to this draft, families who “sponsor” visits on temporary visas from relatives abroad may have to put up a cash bond – possibly of 1,000 pounds – before their visitors are allowed in.
However, after a chorus of protests in India, the British high commission in India quickly clarified that it was just a “consultation exercise”.
Besides business, Brown will be keen to expand cooperation with India in a slew of developmental, education and health-related projects that promise to bring the benefits of diplomacy to ordinary people in India.
Closer cooperation on eradicating diseases such as tuberculosis, polio and malaria by harnessing “scientific knowledge for all the people” will also be on the agenda.
Brown’s passionate admiration and advocacy for India – he strongly supported India’s candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council in his maiden foreign policy speech as prime minister last year – has earned him many friends and high esteem in this country and among British Indians.
Sporting a bright vermilion mark on the forehead, Brown was anointed ‘Govardhan’ – an honorary Indian name that means a hill in paradise – by cheering Asians celebrating Diwali in London last year.
Delhi University plans to honour Brown with a doctorate degree at a special convocation in recognition of his achievements in the field of academics and public services.
It will be a reciprocal gesture, underlining vibrancy in ties between the two countries, as the University of Cambridge had honoured Manmohan Singh with a doctorate degree last year.
Brown is no stranger to India. He came to India last year as deputy prime minister when the racist slur controversy involving Indian actress Shilpa Shetty in a British reality TV show was hogging the headlines. Unfazed by the controversy, Brown went out of the way to assure Indians about Britain’s multi-cultural traditions and the success of the Indian community in that country.