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UK foreign secretary raises BBC tax searches with Jaishankar

According to sources, Jaishankar firmly told Cleverly that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations when the latter raised the issue of searches at BBC offices last month.

UK foreign secretary raises BBC tax searches with Jaishankar

[Photo: Twitter/@BBC]

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Tuesday raised the issue of recent tax searches at BBC offices in India with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who also held bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the margins of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting

According to sources, Jaishankar firmly told Cleverly that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations when the latter raised the issue of searches at BBC offices last month.

The UK foreign secretary later told the media that the BBC was an independent organisation and was separate from the UK government. ”I didn’t see the documentary but I’ve seen reactions in the UK and India. BBC is an independent organisation separate from the government. I enjoy a strong personal relationship with Dr Jaishankar…relationship between UK-India growing stronger by the day,” said Cleverly without giving a straight reply when asked about the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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On the extradition of fugitive economic offenders Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, Cleverly said the British judicial system was independent of the government and it was for the courts to decide the matter.

Jaishankar also held talks with the Russian foreign minister who arrived here this morning to attend the G20 meeting, which is likely to witness fireworks over Russia’s military action in Ukraine.

The Ukraine issue is understood to have figured prominently during the meeting between the two ministers.  Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of some other countries. These meetings will continue tomorrow also on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

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