Amidst the Indo-Pak war of words over Kashmir, Britain's ruling party chairman today condemned "states harbouring terrorism," and said that all governments are responsible to work jointly for global peace and progress.
"Every state has a responsibility to disassociate from all forms of violence," Conservative party chairman Patrick McLoughlin said when asked about the strife in Indo-Pak relations over the killing of 18 Indian soldiers at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir by militants hailing from Pakistan.
McLoughlin condemned "states harbouring terrorism," and said all governments should work together for global peace and progress, the Asian Lite newspaper reported.
He also said that UK Prime Minister Theresa May will soon visit India to resume trade talks initiated by former premier David Cameron.
"During Cameron's period, we made tremendous progress in many fields. I would like to continue talks, especially in transport and infra structure development," he said, adding that the Indo-UK trade relations will be a key factor in the post-Brexit British economy.
"India is on the right path to become a key player in the global economy," McLoughlin added.
He also mentioned changes in visa regulations that will help genuine Indian students to join UK Universities.
"The bogus colleges and illegal immigration had affected the sector. But after the tough rules and crackdown, things are getting back to normal,"McLoughlin said ahead of the annual party conference which begins in Birmingham on Sunday.
With the Conservative party looking to the Indian community to shore up its Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) votes, the chairman also praised highly the contributions of Indian community in Britain and asked them to join main stream politics.
During the 2015 election, about 48 per cent of the Indian community had supported Conservatives.
Indian-origin MP Priti Patel is in May's cabinet as International Development Secretary and former justice minister Shailesh Vora is co-chairman of Conservative Friends of India (CFI), a forum aiming to attract more Indian diaspora votes to the Conservative fold.
McLoughlin, a former miner turned politician, said the party is committed to fulfil its 2015 manifesto and will follow the 2020 Vision unveiled by Cameron to increase the black and minorityrepresentation in key sectors including politics.
Cameron during the 2015 campaign had promised to allocate 20 per cent of retirement seats for suchcandidates.
Indian-origin Rishi Sunak, 36, son-in-law of Infosys chairman Narayan Murthy, was one of the candidates who benefited from Cameron's 2020 Vision.
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