India-UK Trade Deal On 'Verge Of Collapse' Over Visa Comments: Report
NDTV
A report in 'Politico' claims that any plans of a UK visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Diwali to sign off on an FTA is also now not likely to go ahead.
The India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) is reportedly on the "verge of collapse" after the Indian government was angered by comments made by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman questioning action over visa overstayers from the country, a UK media report claimed on Wednesday.
'The Times' quoted government sources to say that ministers in New Delhi were "shocked and disappointed" by the "disrespectful" remarks made by Braverman, who said she had concerns of an "open borders" offer to India as part of an FTA. The likelihood of meeting the Diwali deadline for the pact, set by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is now believed to be diminishing.
"There's still a lot of goodwill but if certain individuals are still embedded in the [UK] government it will paralyse the talks," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
A report in 'Politico' claims that any plans of a UK visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Diwali to sign off on an FTA is also now not likely to go ahead.
