BJP’s Narendra Modi needs to be heard, say British MPs

Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, has defended the invitation to the politician to address MPs on “the future of modern India”.

Mr Gardiner said: “This is a man who has been re-elected three times as the chief minister of the state in India with which Britain does the most business. In fact, we do more business with Gujarat than with the rest of India put together.

“He is now the leader of India’s official opposition party. He is obviously a key player in Indian politics, and as such he is somebody British politicians need to hear from.”

Shailesh Vara, Conservative MP for Cambridgeshire North West, has also invited Mr Modi to speak to a group of MPs in Westminster.

“I am aware that Mr Modi is controversial, but I am also aware that over the years there have been three inquiries, and that none of them have found anything against him,” he told the BBC’s Asian Network.