India has strongly underlined its interest in the speedy extradition of former Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya, who has completed all legal processes related to the UK’s extradition, during talks between Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in London.
On the final leg of her three-nation tour of Europe, Shringla has been holding talks in London with various UK ministers and officials and during her interactions with Patel and the UK Foreign Minister for South Asia Lord Tariq Ahmad, on Tuesday, the issue of Economic Criminals Extradited to Tackle the Indian Judicial System was one of the issues raised.
Read also: Extradition ‘stalled’; Is Vijay Mallya seeking asylum?
“We strongly underline our interest in seeing the speedy and early extradition of Vijay Mallya, who is an economic criminal who has completed all extradition procedures in the UK. We would like him to return to India as soon as possible, ”said Shringla.
Also, Nirav Modi. I raised this with both Lord Ahmad and the Home Secretary, and they both took very careful note of our priority and sentiments in that regard, “he said.
Mallya, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges in connection with loans taken by his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines from state-owned Indian banks, has a case to answer in India in UK courts. He is currently out on bail, going through a “confidential” legal problem before Priti Patel can consider signing his extradition order. On the other hand, Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond dealer accused of fraud and money laundering in connection with the state-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB), is currently housed at Wandsworth prison in London as he fights for his extradition. to India in Westminster Magistrates. ‘ Cut.
Shringla arrived in London after visiting Paris and Berlin on Tuesday and has held a series of meetings to cover a wide range of topics, including the UK-India vaccine partnership in a post-coronavirus and climate change world, as well to highlight India’s perspective on the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region.
Read also: How can the government claim that it has no information about Mallya’s extradition?: Shiv Sena
On the bilateral relations between India and the United Kingdom, the Foreign Secretary noted that the backdrop of Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU) paved the way for a re-establishment of the relationship, both with the United Kingdom United as with the EU.
“We are looking for early harvest agreements, which would bring benefits to our two countries, followed by a more detailed preferential trade agreement or a free trade agreement,” Shringla said.
“Obviously a limited agreement means that we work in those areas where both parties can agree immediately. We need more time to conclude a more complete trade agreement, but our ministers are in contact and will work to try to close this agreement, ”he said.
“We are also looking for a similar agreement at the EU level, but the bilateral agreement is always different from an agreement with a group,” he added.
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, highlighted the five priority areas of food and drink, life sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), chemicals and services that have been reduced by both parties, with the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary for International Trade Liz Truss set out to assess the level of movement in these areas during talks scheduled for November 9.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Prime Minister Boris Johnson are among the UK’s high-level visits to India scheduled for 2021, depending on the COVID-pandemic shutdown situation. 19. Foreign Secretary Shringla noted that as the UK is currently undertaking an integrated review of its policy framework, the Indo-Pacific region is expected to play a key role in the ‘transformation ratio’ to the that Raab has previously referred to with regard to India.
“We believe in the vision of free, open, transparent and inclusive Indo-Pacific stakeholders; We believe in multipolarity. The framework is in France and Germany and we see it in the UK as well, although it has yet to be articulated in the policy framework. (The Indo-Pacific) has become more significant, relevant and current, ”Shringla said.
In addition to his ministerial and official level talks, the foreign secretary also conducted a series of discussions with top business heads and CEOs and is scheduled to interact with representatives of the Indian diaspora later Wednesday before returning. to India at the end of their European meeting. excursion.
.
