The issue of the overstaying of “certain individuals” wanted by India was raised over the past two days, including with British Prime Minister Theresa May, during meetings held between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and senior Cabinet members in the U.K. While discussions did not name individuals, it was a clear reference to India’s bid to push for the extradition of Vijay Mallya.
Mr. Jaitley was not scheduled to meet Mrs. May, who dropped in on his meeting on Wednesday afternoon with Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond.
Other issues discussed with Mr. Hammond and the Prime Minister include follow-up of Ms. May’s visit to India last November, including plans to establish an India-U.K. Sub Fund under the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, which will leverage private sector investment in London to fund infrastructure projects in India, as well as the economic and financial dialogue due to take place later this year.
The Prime Minister was eager to stress that independently of Brexit, India-U.K. relations were on an upward path. The previous day Mr. Jaitley met Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, during which meeting the extradition issue was also raised.
Mr. Jaitley has been on a five-day visit to the U.K. which has combined the launch of the India-U.K. year of culture — and a grand reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth.
In public remarks, Mr. Jaitley has contrasted India’s opening up with the protectionist direction of much of the rest of the world, though insisting that Brexit was not part of this protectionist drive, and that Britain was eager to strengthen trade relations with India and beyond.
