Keir Starmer has raised concerns with India’s Prime Minister regarding the country’s acquisition of Russian oil, which is being used to support Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
During a meeting in Mumbai, Prime Minister Modi and Starmer discussed the contentious issue, with Starmer acknowledging the ongoing purchase of discounted Russian oil by India despite international repercussions, including penalty tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.
Starmer confirmed that the topic of India’s oil purchases from Russia was addressed during the talks with Modi. Both leaders outlined their efforts to resolve the conflict, particularly focusing on combating the influence of the Russian shadow fleet.
Additionally, Starmer highlighted the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without a conviction. Starmer mentioned that consular cases, including Johal’s, are consistently raised whenever possible, indicating ongoing efforts to address such issues.
In response to Starmer’s actions, Gurpreet, Jagtar’s brother, expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s intervention but emphasized the family’s disappointment over the lack of progress in resolving the case.
Despite disagreements over the situation in Ukraine and Russia, the Prime Minister emphasized the strong ties between India and the UK. He commended the recent trade deal between the two countries, highlighting the opportunities it creates for British businesses in India, including collaborations on Bollywood projects.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister underscored the vast potential for partnership between the UK and India, citing India’s status as the world’s largest democracy and a future economic powerhouse, with projections to become the third largest economy by 2028.
