London: UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that she has "reservations" about Britain's trade deal with India since it could scale up immigration to the UK, IANS reported.
Her statement comes while British Prime Minister Liz Truss decided to sign a trade agreement with India at the end of October, by Diwali. The Indian government has been demanding an increase in work and study visas for Indian citizens in the UK. Former UK PM Borris Johnson had said such an agreement would lead to the rise in immigration.
In an interview with the Spectator, Baverman said that it was Indian immigrants who are most in number among visa overstayers in the UK. She criticised the deal, which was signed by Priti Patel, who held the office before her. She said that the deal was to increase the number of illegal migrants and overstayers returned to India but has not necessarily worked very well".
She said, "I have concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India because I don't think that's what people voted for with Brexit."
When Baverman was asked whether she would support a deal if it only involved greater flexibility for students and entrepreneurs, she said, "But I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country -- the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants."
"We even reached an agreement with the Indian government last year to encourage and facilitate better cooperation in this regard. It has not necessarily worked very well," she added.