UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, against accusations of human rights violations in a BBC documentary aired on Monday.
The British leader said he believes the Indian government is taking steps to address the protests that have been taking place in the country since the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in December.
Sunak said he had discussed the CAA with Modi and believes the Indian government is “very conscious of the need to protect people’s rights.”
He also said he had been “encouraged” by the Indian government’s response to the protests, which have been largely peaceful.
The UK Prime Minister’s comments come amid intense global criticism of the Indian government’s handling of the protests, which have led to clashes between demonstrators and police.
Sunak’s remarks also come at a time when the UK and India are attempting to strengthen their economic ties. The two countries are in the process of negotiating a trade deal which could be worth up to £100 billion.