Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from Wednesday to shore up overall bilateral ties and formalise the landmark India-UK free trade deal that is set to pave the way for doubling two-way trade by 2030 from current $60 billion.
Modi will first travel to the UK on a two-day trip and then will visit the Maldives primarily to grace the island nation’s Independence Day celebrations as “guest of honour”, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit the UK from July 23 to 24 to hold wide-ranging talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the MEA said on Sunday.
India and the UK are expected to formally sign the free trade deal during PM Modi’s visit to London, people familiar with the matter said, adding the British side has completed the administrative process for inking of the pact.
It will be PM Modi’s fourth visit to the UK. The MEA said he is also expected to call on King Charles III. “During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties,” the MEA said in a statement.
Bhagwat to address BMS foundation day event
RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will organise an event on Wednesday to mark 70 years of its foundation.
The event, to be attended by a large number of delegates, will be addressed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, BMS president Hiranmay Pandya said on Monday.
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“The BMS will mark 70 glorious years of its journey with a grand event on July 23…. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya will grace the occasion as the guest of honour,” Pandya told a press conference at Keshav Kunj, the RSS office here.
Pandya said the BMS will felicitate many of its senior activists and workers for their exemplary contributions.
“The dignitaries to be attending the event include the director of the International Labour Organisation (India), officials from the V V Giri National Labour Institute and the ministry of labour and employment, members of Parliament and senior leaders of other trade unions,” he said.
Kejriwal, Mann in Gujarat
Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be on a two-day Gujarat visit from Wednesday, the party said last week.
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On Wednesday, the two leaders will take part in the party’s ‘Kisan-Pashupalak Mahapanchayat’ gathering in support of farmers and cattle-breeders, and speak at a public meeting in support of jailed AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, said the party’s state unit chief Isudan Gadhvi.
Tipra Motha to meet EC
The Election Commission (EC) has invited a delegation of Tipra Motha for a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the concerns raised by the party about possible enrolment of illegal immigrants in Tripura’s voter roll, TMP supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said.
The meeting has been called following a request from the TMP, a constituent of the BJP-led coalition government in Tripura.
Debbarma in a social media post said, “After we raised our concerns about possible enrolment of illegal immigrants in Tripura’s voter roll and demanded a Bihar – like Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Election Commission of India has called us for a meeting on July 23 to discuss these issues,” Debbarma said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
– With PTI inputs
