UK ends no-contact policy with Gujarat CM Narendra Modi

Britain is ending its official no-contact policy with Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, replacing it with a programme of "active engagement" that could see the rehabilitation of the controversial Indian politician in the West. Dipankar De Sarkar reports.

Britain is ending its official no-contact policy with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, replacing it with a programme of "active engagement" that could see the rehabilitation of the controversial Indian politician in the West.

Gujarat-chief-minister-Narendra-Modi-addresses-tribals-during-his-Swami-Vivekananda-Yuva-Vikas-Yatra-in-Limdi-Dohad-PTI

Modi chose to react on his Twitter profile and welcomed the UK government's initiative towards normalising ties with Gujarat. His website also carried the press release issued by Hugo Swire, the new British minister in charge of India.

"Der Aaye Durasta Aaye!! I welcome UK Govt's step for active engagement & strengthening relations with Guj. God is Great," Modi wrote on his Twitter account.

A decade after the Gujarat riots, in which three Britons were killed, Swire has asked his high commissioner in New Delhi to visit Gujarat and meet with Modi and other senior figures.

"This will allow us to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, in line with the British Government's stated objective of improving bilateral relations with India," Swire said in a statement.

Narendra Modi addresses his supporters during a campaign rally ahead of the state assembly elections at Dokar village. Reuters