From H S Rao
London: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said her upcoming three-day maiden visit to India shows the importance of the UK and India bilateral ties which will be a true celebration of relations and shared ambition for the future.

Addressing the Indian community for the first time at a Diwali reception in her official residence, May said: “It was here in Downing Street PM Narendra Modi chose to start last year’s visit and next month I am delighted to join him in India.”

“It will be the first bilateral visit I make outside European Union. I will be going to Delhi and Bangalore and it shows the importance of our relationship between the UK and India and I think it will be a true celebration of relations between our countries and shared ambition for the future,” she said.

At the outset, May, Dinesh Pattnaik, India’s acting High Commissioner to the UK and Jit Patel from the board of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple lit the lamp, and inaugurated the Diwali celebrations.

“It is a great pleasure and honour to host my first Diwali reception as the Prime Minister. It really shows that the Indian community in the UK is absolutely at the heart of our British society,” May said.

Earlier in the day, May announced in the House of Commons that she would be leading a trade delegation to India from November 6 to 8 next month, as her government seeks new relationships after Britain leaves the European Union.

“I’ll be visiting India in early November and I’m pleased to say that I will be taking a trade delegation with me. We’ll be focusing on small and medium-seized enterprises to try to ensure that we boost the relationships between smaller and medium-sized businesses here in the UK with the important Indian market,” she said.

May, who succeeded David Cameron as the new British Prime Minister in July pointed out that “there is a limit to what we can do in terms of entering into a trade arrangement before we have left the European Union, but that does not mean we cannot scope out negotiations and start to have those discussions and indeed we are doing that with a number of countries.”

She said she intends to start formal negotiations on leaving the EU by the end of March, putting Britain on course to exit the bloc – and potentially the European single market – by early 2019.

About Diwali, the British Prime Minister said “one of the things about this festival that appeals to me is the huge reach and scale of appeal – if we look at India, there are over a billion people, speaking hundreds of languages, following various faiths, united by this festival of light.

“For the rest of the world, colourful celebrations taking place, in Singapore, South Africa to Australia and look at Britain where people right now are buying gifts at Leicester’s Gold Mile… or the string of lights on Wembley’s Ealing Road.” May said.

“As I said those 5 days of festival has become such a recognised and important part of our national lives. We have just heard some references to the meaning of Diwali and when we look at it, its relevance extends beyond India, beyond the Indian diaspora, even beyond Hindu, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and different ways of festival. There is a message for all of us whatever be our faith.

“Now I have to say I have not read the 24,000 verses in the epic poem of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. But I do know stories from many Diwali celebrations that I have attended in my own constituency, where over a number of years the children have actually acted out the story of Rama,” she said.

Relating the message of Diwali to her role, May said “As a PM we should give importance to the values of charity, sacrifice, responsibility. To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, losing yourselves in service of others. Values of good conduct, Dharma, taking the right path and ensuring the good triumphs over evil… the values we now need even more.”

“The Mission of my government is a fairer Britain, no matter who you are you can achieve your dreams and the achievements of the British Indian community – 1.5 million people demonstrate just how much a country can achieve when talents are unleashed.

“People of all backgrounds and potentials can achieve that – in politics we have Priti Patel in the Cabinet, Alok Sharma in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, MPs Shailesh Vara and Rishi Sunak in Commons, Peers like Jitesh Gadhia, Dolar Popat, Sandip Verma, Ranbir Suri in Lords. In education system there are more chances and opportunities created, like in Avanti Trust, achieving great things, proves why need to go further and support faith schools,” May said.

“Our economy has become more successful and dynamic including different industries such as technology, films, fashion and society becomes stronger as people from all backgrounds play their parts in making our schools, hospitals, armed forces the best they can be. We celebrate the achievements of British Indians, I want to remember the importance of removing the barriers.” PTI