NEW HOPE: Funds from British-Indians help to rebuild Gujarat

Labour friends of India (LFIN) is taking a delegation of seven MPs to India from January 21 to 31. The delegation will also attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi to express solidarity with India after the attack on its Parliament on December 13, 2001. The highlight of the visit is to review reconstruction work in Gujarat after last year's massive earthquake. Other important issues are strengthening trade links with India and studying the environmental and animal rights laws in the country.

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THE AGENDA » To review the post-earthquake reconstruction work in Gujarat » To express solidarity with India after the attack on Parliament » To study India's environmental and animal rights laws » To strengthen bilateral trade ties, especially in the field of IT

The seven MPs who will be part of the delegation are Barry Gardiner (Brent North), Stephen Pound (Ealing North), Paramjit Dhanda (Gloucester), James Purnell (Stalybridge and Hyde), Andy Love (Edmonton), Dari Taylor (Stockton South) and James Mann (Bassetlaw). Gardiner, who will lead the delegation, said, "We are keen to give support and reassurance to India that the international community takes seriously the outrages they have suffered by the terrorist attacks on their Parliament and the legislative assembly in Srinagar. The delegation will also seek to strengthen the trade relations that Britain and India have in the IT industry that is so important for both our countries." The delegation will cover Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bhuj.

"Delegates are looking for a first hand experience" VIKAS POTA, Director, LFIN

In recent years, there has been a rise in Indian firms investing in the UK. The number of Indian companies listed on LSE has also gone up with bilateral trade touching the £3 billion-mark. In Gujarat, the delegation will review the construction work as many UK families and charities have pumped funds into the region after the earthquake. Delegates want to get a first hand experience of what happened, said LFIN director Vikas Pota.

The MPs who have joined the delegation have a keen interest in the region. Some are from constituencies which have a large Indian or Asian population, while others would like to know more about the balance of power in the region.

-Ishara Bhasi