London, July 19 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari has reaffirmed his party's commitment to economic reforms, and said that the fast changing global scenario was helping India play a pro-active role in global recovery and redefining the new economic world order.
Addressing a meeting of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary group and Indo-European Business Forum in the House of Commons here yesterday, Gadkari said that the NDA Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004) had carried the reform process in a number of areas, including international trade, foreign investment, disinvestments, telecommunications, power, roads and education.
He said that the BJP remains committed to taking the reform process further when returned to power at the centre.
Gadkari said the rapid pace of development, favourable demography (large young population), and growing class with more and more disposable income and huge domestic market have made India one of the top investment destinations in the world.
He said India and Britain can take advantage of this potential for greater cooperation between the two countries in the field of research and development, science and technology, advanced manufacturing, green technologies, non-conventional energy, defence, skilled development and education.
With the changing world order, India and Britain may explore taking this enhanced strategic partnership to next level of economic cooperation in third countries, Gadkari said.
Gadkari said his party was proud of the immense contribution of the two million strong people of Indian origin in the development and progress of Britain.
Seven members of the House of Commons and 24 members of the House of Lords were of Indian origin and it was in a way India's contribution to British democracy, Gadkari said.
The meeting, convened by the Labour member of the House of Commons from the predominantly people of Indian origin constituency of Ealing-Southall Virendra Sharma, was presided over by Lord Paul.
During the interaction with members of the group, including several members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, Gadkari said his party has a liberal economic approach and attached highest priority to politics for development with emphasis on rural development, agriculture, water management, irrigation and power sectors.
He said all the BJP-ruled states were doing extremely well in terms of providing good governance with Gujarat showing a growth rate of 14 percent as against the average growth rate of 2.80 percent among the Indian states.
The BJP believed in complete transparency in administration and the party-ruled states were implementing policies aimed at ameliorating the plight of farmers, removing poverty, improving health and sanitation and concentrating on power generation and alternative sources of energy.
He invited investments in the BJP-ruled states in the areas of tourism, health, irrigation, water management and infrastructure and assured a favourable investment climate.
Speaking on the occasion, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said the BJP governments have always safeguarded the interests of the NRIs' and the people of Indian origin and will resolve their problems brought to the notice of the BJP president.
She said India and Britain should use their combined potential and work together in third countries in the field of research and development, science and technology.
Replying to a question from Lord Dholkia about the plight of widows in the India, Raje said most of the Indian states were implementing schemes for the welfare of widows and were encouraging to re-marry.he newly elected member of Rajya Sabha Smriti Irani highlighted the achievements of the BJP ruled states in providing basic human right to education.
Winding up the interaction, Lord Paul said Britain acknowledged India's potential as an emerging economy and would like to understand the economic policies of the country's main opposition the BJP which had covered a lot of ground during the Vajpayee government.
Gadkari presented hand crafted paintings from the tribal areas of Thane district of Maharashtra to Lord Paul and Mr. Virendra Sharma.r. Sharma hosted a lunch in honour of Mr. Gadkari and his team at the Westminster.
Those who attended the two functions included Lord speaker Baroness Hymen, Lord Karan Billimoria, Lord Graville janner, Lord Dholakia, Lord Lumba, Lord Ghulam Noon, Baroness Sandy Verma, Barry Gardiner, Steven Pounds, Bob Blackmen, Dr. Hywel Francis (all members of the house of commons), Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (MP from New Zealand) and a large number of businessmen and industrialists of Indian origin.
Gadkari during his visit to British Parliament also met Keith Vaz, Preeti Patel (both MPs of Indian origin) and Baroness Flather, Lord Bhiku Bhai Parekh and lord Popat. (ANI)
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