Days after an Income Tax ‘survey’ at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) office in India, New Delhi on Wednesday said all entities operating in the country must fully comply with relevant laws. This message was firmly conveyed here by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to his UK counterpart James Cleverly when he brought up the tax ‘survey’ issue.
Cleverly is in the national Capital to take part in the G-20 Foreign Ministers’ conclave for two days commencing Wednesday. The two Ministers also held bilateral talks on a range of issues, including ways to expand two-way engagement in a number of areas.
“UK Foreign Secretary brought up the BBC tax issue with External Affairs Minister today. He was firmly told that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations,” sources said.
Last month, Indian tax authorities carried out surveys at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. The action by the tax authorities came in the backdrop of a controversy over a two-part documentary released by the BBC recently about the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of the State.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Jaishankar said the two sides reviewed the progress in the bilateral relations and exchanged views on the global situation as well as the G20 agenda. “Began the morning with a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly of the UK. Reviewed the progress in our relationship since our last discussion. Noted in particular the commencement of the Young Professional Scheme,” he said. “Also exchanged views on the global situation as well as the G20 agenda,” Jaishankar added.
The UK Government came out in defence of the BBC and its editorial freedom in that country’s Parliament, but also told Opposition lawmakers it would not comment on an ongoing investigation.
As regards the British Minister’s schedule, he marked a new scheme allowing young Britons and Indians to live and work in each other’s countries for up to two years, which was announced by the Home Secretary earlier this week. India launched the reciprocal scheme in London on Tuesday.
During a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, the British Foreign Secretary marked the opening of the Young Professionals Scheme, an ambitious new partnership between the UK and India which allows up 3,000 Brits and 3,000 Indians a year the right to live and work in the other country for up to two years.
He also announced the creation of the UK’s first Tech Envoy to the Indo-Pacific region, who will boost ties with India as a priority. “This envoy is the second of its kind to be announced by the UK (after the appointment of a Tech Envoy to the US in late 2020) and demonstrates our commitment to the region and tech-diplomacy,” a British High Commission statement said. The UK deployed its first Tech Envoy, Joe White, to San Francisco in 2020.
In a statement, Secretary Cleverly said, “India is a hugely important partner to the UK and the deeper ties we are forging now will help to grow the UK economy and boost our industries for future.
This landmark migration scheme will enable brightest and best in both our countries to benefit from new opportunities.”
“India is also an emerging global leader on technology and there are immense opportunities for better collaboration between us in this sector. That is why we will be sending our first Tech Envoy to the Indo-Pacific region, to maximise the tech expertise of both countries,” he said
Cleverly will also address an India-Europe business event in the Capital on Thursday where he will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to conclude a Free Trade Agreement with India.
With more links than almost any country in the Indo-Pacific region, the UK-India trading relationship is already worth £34 billion, growing by £10 billion in one year.