Diaspora, govt looking forward to Modi’s visit, says United Kingdom
According to sources, the political document will talk about the need to reform the United Nations and other institutions, and bring India and Africa together on a host of issues ranging from climate change to maritime cooperation.
A great deal of effort is also being taken to showcase the variety of Indian culture and culinary traditions to those attending the LONDON: The leader of the House of Commons on Monday said the David Cameron government, the Indian diaspora and the entire country was looking forward to the November visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi is scheduled to arrive here on a three-day visit on November 12 in what will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly a decade (the last such visit was by Manmohan Singh in 2006).
During a short discussion, Bob Blackman, Conservative MP from Harrow East, which has a large population of Indian origin, said the House should note that leader of opposition Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell “sought to block a visa being issued only two years ago” to Modi.
Participating in the short discussion, leader of the House Chris Grayling said Modi could expect a “warm welcome” during the visit.
He said, “Can I say on behalf of the government how much we are looking forward to PM Modi’s visit. India is a country with which we have long and historic ties.”
Modi is scheduled to address MPs and lords in Westminster during the visit, besides bilateral and business talks, inaugurate a memorial to BR Ambedkar and a statue of Basaweswara by the Thames, and address the diaspora at the Wembley Stadium.
MODI IS SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS MPS AND LORDS IN WESTMINSTER AND ADDRESS THE DIASPORA AT WEMBLEY
summit, said Syed Akbaruddin, additional secretary in the external affairs ministry, the chief coordinator for the summit.
Besides addressing foreign ministers attending the meet, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will have more than 10 bilateral meetings on Tuesday. “There could be more meetings,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. NEW DELHI: The Madras high court’s suggestion to the Centre to consider castration as a punishment for convicts of child sex abuse has triggered a fresh debate on the issue that has attained alarming proportions in India in recent times.
“The (existing) law is ineffective and incapable of addressing the menace,” Justice N Kirubakaran said, adding, “The court is sure castration of child rapists will fetch magical results.”
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a child is abused every 30 minutes in India. Over 19,000 child-abuse cases were reported in 2014. India witnessed 151% increase in child rapes in five years (from 5,484 in 2009 to 13,766 in 2014). The actual figures could be higher as many such cases go unreported due to social stigma.
Justice Kirubakaran said he was alarmed by the growing