LONDON(PTD): A section of the ruling Tones in Britain is urging premier John Major (o raise the human rights issue with prime minister P.V.Narasimha Rao when he visits New Delhi this week for the Republic day celebrations.

Major is under pressure from some party men who want him to urge Rao to allow Amnesty International to visit the strife-tom northern states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, informed sources here said.

Although Britain welcomed India’s decision to setup human rights commission and the recent exploratory visit of an Amnesty team to Delhi, Major is expected to tell Indian Leaders to agree to greater openness on Kashmir.

The issue was discussed during Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke’s recent visit to India and home minister S.B.Chavan had assured him that it might be possible to allow Amnesty to visit other states before taking up Punjab and Kashmir.

Besides Amnesty, the British Parliamentary Human Rights group and the Sikh Human Rights forum have been lobbying hard to get major to include human rights in his agenda for the New Delhi visit this week.

Several British MPs have been critical of India’s human rights record during the parliamentary debates on the situation in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

India and Britain will sign a revised double taxation avoidance agreement during Major’s VISIL.

The agreement assumes significance since there is considerable potential for stepping up bilateral trade. The U_K. is the fifth largest trading partner of India. The recent months have witnessed greater understanding between the two countries on various issues, including terrorism.

Britain has also shown understanding of the Indian government’s position on Ayodhya reflected in its statement condemning those responsible for provoking violence after the December 6 incidents. On Kashmir, the has clearly asked Pakistan to ensure there is: no external support to terrorists.

Major will also address a meeting of captains of Indian industry on January 26. Home Minister S.B.Chavan, finance minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Dinesh Sing will hold separate meetings with the British leader. Major is scheduled to leave for home from Bombay on January 28 after visiting Indore.

Currently, the annual British assistance to India is 100 million pounds covering nearly 200 projects.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 29, 1993