LONDON (UK) – Adopting the “new normal”, the Conservative Friends of India held its annual Conference Celebration Reception virtually on October 5.
It was the first CF India Conference Reception for Her Excellency Gaitri Issar Kumar, the new High Commissioner of India to the UK, and Cllr Reena Ranger OBE and Cllr Ameet Jogia as the newly appointed Co-Chairs of the Conservative Friends of India.
Reena and Ameet opened the Reception. Introducing Issar Kumar, Founding Chairman of CF India Lord Dolar Popat said how both the UK and India would benefit from the significant experience of the new High Commissioner, having been Ambassador in several EU countries.
Lord Popat, also paid tribute to Reena and Ameet for their leadership in strengthening UK-India relations.
The Guest of Honour, Issar Kumar, said, “India greatly values the engagement with the UK and the signals from the UK government under the current Conservative Party leadership.” The High Commissioner also conveyed that the Indian government looks forward to the possibility of Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting the country in the new year and looked forward to a dialogue with the Party through the Conservative Friends of India.
Patron and past Co-Chair of CF India Baron Ranger CBE echoed the sentiments of Lord Popat, and said how proud he was of the work being carried out by the new CF India Co-Chairs Reena and Ameet. Lord Ranger also highlighted the need to support London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey to bring about change in the city. “We need a mayor who has empathy for Londoners,” he said.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden MP, who was the chief guest, thanked the High Commissioner on behalf of the government and spoke of the great synergy in the relationship Britain enjoys with India and how both countries, as global leaders in technology, have great opportunities in developing the collaboration further. He praised the contribution of the British Indian community, their contribution from the hundreds of councillors, the House of Lords and the Cabinet. He said he looked forward to strengthening the special relationship with India after having left Europe.
Chairperson of the Conservative Party Amanda Milling MP thanked the High Commissioner for her support. Amanda was delighted to announce how this year’s conference attracted 20,000 members and she gave a huge thank you to Co-Chairs Ameet and Reena for the great work they are doing and thanked Lord Popat, Lord Ranger and Nayaz for the fantastic support. “The hard work of CF India was instrumental in supporting the candidates and sitting MPs get elected and re-elected,” she said.
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland MP said the British India community shares the same common values with the Conservative Party. In his closing note, he said, “It is with this deep sense of pride I am at today’s event, my very best wishes to CF India.”
Greg Hands, Minister of State for Trade Policy, spoke about recent initiatives between the UK and India in developing trade partnership, and how the JETCO meeting provided the opportunity to review the current market barriers.
Paying glowing tribute to the High Commissioner, Minister of the Commonwealth and the United Nations Lord Tariq Ahmad said, “In a short period of time, the High Commissioner has taken incredible steps in strengthening the ties between India and the UK and how we look forward to a multi-lateral relationship with India.”
Speaking on the occasion, Bailey said the mayoral elections provide a “generational opportunity to remove Sadiq Khan. It is not just about the city we live in, it is about the future of our children, housing, business and making London a safer place”.
Minister for London and Small Businesses Paul Scully MP lauded CF India and the Indian diaspora for working day and night around the country to help the Party secure record success, in particular, the marginal seats. “The support of British Indians is paramount. The Indian community is helping us through COVID, the community is there to get us through the tough times and to keep us all going,” he said.
Andy Street CBE, Mayor of the West Midlands, thanked the Conservative Friends of India, stating, “I would not be mayor without the help of the British Indian community”.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat MP said there is “No way of talking about British history without Indian history, there is no way to split both great countries, we are far too close”. In his closing remarks, he said how proud he was to be a Patron of Conservative Friends of India.
Showering praise on the work of CF India, Padma Shri Bob Blackman MP said the Reception was a great way to celebrate the special relationship with the country. The contribution of the Indian diaspora is immense and now is the time to formulate a trading partnership with India, he said. Bob reconfirmed that “the policy of the Conservative Party is that the matter of India’s borders is an internal matter and that Jammu & Kashmir is part of India”.
Theresa Villiers MP thanked CF India for the “support and incredible hard work over the general election.” She said, “without this hard work I would have struggled to gain a majority”. Villiers also paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of the British Indian community during the COVID pandemic.
Gagan Mohindra MP said, “The UK and India are natural partners. I applaud Reena and Ameet for this great work and how you have taken CF India to the next level.”
While Joy Morrisey MP thanked the British Indian diaspora and the Conservative Friends of India for the campaigning and financial support to candidates across the country, Suzanne Webb MP, while quoting Mahatma Gandhi, said, “be the change you wish to see”, adding how it still resonates today.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner candidate Jay Singh Sohal said he looks forward to working to make the streets of the West Midlands safer, bringing down crime to make communities safer, adding that this can be achieved with the support of CF India in the upcoming elections.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Director of CF India Nayaz Qazi thanked the High Commissioner, Secretaries of State, Chairman of the Party, CF India Parliamentary Patrons, CF India Parliamentary Vice-Chairs, MPs, members and Reena and Ameet and said how the Party’s engagement is expanding under their Chairmanship. “The special relationship between the UK and India is deep-rooted in history and is like two threads of the same tapestry,” he said in his closing note.