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OP-ED OCTOBER 14, 2022 | The Indian Eye 16

UK wants trade with India, but no Indians

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

ritain wants Indian trade. But
it does not want Indians. That,
Bin a nutshell, is the argument
of the United Kingdom’s new home
secretary, Suella Braverman, whose
comments have injected tension into
bilateral ties, uncertainty into the
prospects of a free trade deal be-
tween the two countries, and concern
about Britain’s approach to the world.
The interim deal with the United
Kingdom, which has been negotiat-
ed at breakneck speed in less than
two years, could, in theory, dramat-
ically increase bilateral trade, ease
movement of people between the two
countries and — for those who love
their drink — make Scotch whisky
much cheaper to import.
Ms Braverman, however, has
suggested that she is squeamish about
easing up visa barriers for Indians to
enter the UK. Indians, she said in re-
cent comments, tend to overstay in
larger numbers than other nationali-
ties. Her comments might sting many
Indians more because her parents
are of Indian origin. But in fact, they
represent the current wave of popu-
list, almost post-ideological, rhetoric Beneficiaries in a selfie session after they received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Bhopal (ANI)
guiding British politics. That mind-
set, also captured by the new British
government’s economic policies, has shocks are putting upward pressure RBI’s job harder, especially about the they contracted the virus. Research
left the pound pounded and mil- on the price level while demand re- timing of policy relaxation. has identified more than 200 different
lions of Britons struggling to make mains fragile. -- Editorial, The Times of India symptoms of long Covid so far.
ends meet. Meanwhile, some reports CPI for September was 7.4%, the We are approaching winter,
suggest that data localization — the ninth straight month where it over- NOT FREE OF COVID YET which has previously seen spikes in
concept that British firms that invest shot RBI upper threshold of toler- cases. The UK was reporting over
in India must not take data of Indian ance of 6%. Within this dataset the orldwide, Covid-19 cases 50,000 cases a day by the end of Sep-
customers outside the country — has most worrisome aspect is pressure continue to average ap- tember. The festive season in India
also emerged as a source of tension in coming from food inflation. It was Wproximately 5 lakh daily, has already put experts on alert.
FTA negotiations. 8.6% in September, driven mainly while India has about 3,000 daily cas- In India, the ratio is skewed
by the 11.5% cereal inflation. This is es. Although these numbers are not even higher towards home detec-
-- The Editorial Board, The Telegraph thanks to a supply shock that came alarming, the virus continues to be a tion. Improper use of home testing
(India)
from an abnormal weather pattern matter of concern. On average, over kits (errors in procedure and lack of
SPEND, BUT WISELY during the harvest phases. Given this, 1,500 people die daily due to Covid. reporting) leads to high transmission
GoI’s decision to persist with free ce- Survivors run the risk of long Covid with little awareness. From the onset
ata released over the last two reals for a while longer should act as symptoms, which we are just begin- of the pandemic, testing has played a
days indicate that the Indi- a check on the upward pressure on ning to understand. vital role in keeping communities safe.
Dan economy, while better off cereal price level. Research has indicated that Yet, with the paucity of the gold stan-
than most other major economies, is Domestic supply shocks pushing about half of those infected with SAR- dard of testing, the RT-PCR, being
still in a tight spot. Retail inflation up food prices makes RBI’s job more CoV-2 have long Covid symptoms administered, we do not have appro-
continued to inch up in September challenging. There are crosscurrents up to four months after the initial priate figures about the gravity of the
and growth in industrial output in Au- at play. True, the contraction in Au- diagnosis. Based on these estimates, pandemic.
gust shrank. Separately, IMF’s fore- gust’s industrial output came on the nearly 300 million people are suffer- --Rajesh M Parikh, The Indian Express
casts estimated that India’s economic back of a high base. Notwithstanding ing from Long Covid. More conser-
growth in 2022-23 will be 6.8%, which that, the ongoing monetary tighten- vative estimates place the figure at 10 Every week, we look at what the top
represents a 1.4 percentage point re- ing will have an adverse impact on to 20 per cent. Around 80 per cent of commentators in the Indian media are
duction since the April forecast. All demand. However, if food prices re- adults with symptoms of long Covid talking about and bring to you a slice
this calls for deft economic manage- main elevated for long there can be are experiencing limitations in their of their opinions and comments
ment as it’s a situation where supply second-round effects. This makes daily activities compared to before

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