‘Straighttalking’ Sitharaman’s new role hailed in UK

Vince Cable, who as business secretary in the David Cameron government interacted with his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman on trade issues, has hailed her new role as India’s defence minister even as many here recalled her straight talk on India-UK ties in the past.

Sitharaman, who worked at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in London and the BBC World Service, was here in January 2015 as minister for commerce for the 10th India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting, when she had a bilateral with Cable.

Now leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cable said: “Sitharaman is a highly impressive minister with whom I had very productive meetings. I am delighted she has progressed to such a crucial and sensitive post in the (Indian) cabinet.” Industrialist Swraj Paul added: “It is a great appointment. She is a very efficient and capable person. Everyone knows my admiration for the first woman who held the defence portfolio: Indira Gandhi.

Sitharaman has a very big act to follow; I wish her the best.” When PM Theresa May travelled to India in November 2016 on her first visit outside the European Union, seeking to enhance trade ties after Brexit, Sitharaman did some straight-talking while May was there.

The visa issue overshadowed May’s visit while her desire for a free trade agreement with India got less traction in the British and Indian media. As the commerce minister, Sitharaman’s remarks were considered significant in London. Interviewed on BBC, she said British visa restrictions for Indians “sound like non-tariff barriers in the services sector”, and noted India was “not being treated as old friends any longer”. In her new role, Sitharaman will oversee relations with Britain, which are seen as “another important pillar” in bilateral cooperation.