British Indians Urge New UK Government to Prioritize Democracy in India Relations

As the UK election campaign concludes, the British Indian community calls for the new government to prioritize democracy and human rights in its foreign policy towards India. The Platform for Indian Democracy emphasizes the need to uphold democratic values, urging Parliament to align policies with the principles cherished by British Indians.

As the UK general election campaign enters its final phase, a British Indian community group has rallied for the newly elected government to realign its foreign policy priorities towards India.

The Platform for Indian Democracy is urging new British lawmakers to focus on democracy and human rights in the UK's foreign policy towards India, while also upholding democratic values in bilateral relations.

"The UK government has a unique opportunity to reshape its foreign policy with India, aligning it with the values that British Indians hold dear," said Raul Lai, Coordinator of Platform for Indian Democracy. "By advocating for human rights, democratic principles, and ethical diplomacy, the UK can strengthen its relationship with India while upholding the ideals that both nations strive to achieve," Lai added.

As the largest ethnic minority group in the UK, British Indians exert substantial influence in constituencies across the country. The Platform for Indian Democracy highlighted their electoral impact in last year's Uxbridge by-election, where their significant role helped secure a narrow victory for the Conservatives. This underscores the need for political parties to recognize the community's perspectives on UK-India engagement, according to the group.

British Indians also maintain strong ties with India, with over half (58 percent) reading news about India weekly and keeping a close watch on the recent Indian general election results. A survey by the Platform for Indian Democracy in late 2023 revealed that 90 percent of UK respondents believe human rights should be a condition for industrial and commercial investments in India.

The UK's Indian diaspora, estimated at around 1.8 million, has traditionally leaned towards Labour but has shown more diverse voting patterns in recent elections. With Rishi Sunak as the first British Indian Prime Minister leading the Conservatives, the influence on diaspora voters in Thursday's election will be pivotal.

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