UK’s India aid wins support

Britain’s controversial billion-pound aid to India won cross-party support on Wednesday, in spite of being attacked by the domestic press — at a debate in parliament only one MP spoke against the move.

Britain’s controversial billion-pound aid to India won cross-party support on Wednesday, in spite of being attacked by the domestic press — at a debate in parliament only one MP spoke against the move.

HT Image

Malcolm Bruce, a senior MP belonging to the Liberal Democrats — the other half of the ruling coalition — and former Labour minister Barry Gardiner congratulated the government, which ringfenced the Indian aid while scrapping aid to China and Russia last year.

“The partnership with India is much wider than development,” responded international development minister Andrew Mitchell. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday welcomed the aid.