The Rt. Hon Peter Mandelson MP this week showed the Labour Party's firm and unwavering support for India and the continuation of strong economic links with the country in the annual Clement Attlee Lecture & Banquet, organised by the Labour Friends of India.

Mr Mandelson, who in the past has been dogged by controversy for his relations with the British-Asian community, shook off all past rumours and reiterated his own personal commitment, as well as his party's to the secure and long standing future of Indo-British relations, saying: "British society, and our economy, benefit enormously from the contribution that members of the Indian community make. Thank you very much for the additional quality of life that Indian people - your culture, your high skills, your values and, of course, your cuisine - are bringing to Britain."

The Clement Attlee Lecture and Banquet, played host to 500 select guests from the British Asian community, over 20 labour MP's and a special delegation of representatives of Indian Industry. The guests included recently knighted Sir Gulam Noon, The Hinduja Brothers, Keith Vaz and Lord Swarj Paul. The dinner was also attended by the Indian High Commissioner Mr Ronen Sen as well as His Excellency Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Law and Justice and Commerce and industry, who is firmly tipped as a strong contender for India's premiership.

Mr Mandelson, spoke frankly about Indo-British relations in a 25-minute lecture, which covered a range of economic, political and domestic issues including India's foreign policy, the war on terrorism, bilateral trade & investment, poverty and the growing influence of the global Indian diaspora.

"We recognize the need to respond to the particular conditions of the Indian community in the UK, whether in terms of health, education and housing, and the government is doing that" he added.

On subject of India and the relationship with the Labour Party he said: "The relationship between India and the British Labour Party is long and deep, and not only because of the electoral support we receive from the Indian community for which we are grateful. It was a Labour government after 1945 that first enabled India to become what it is today: a stable democracy, a dynamic economy, a cohesive society."

He continued, "India has made great strides in the last decade and a half. The creation of a huge middle class. The boom in inward investment. A bold leap forward into the knowledge economy. By opening up its economy, India released its creative potential, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world and also - courtesy of Bollywood - one of the best projected countries. India's success is, of course, rooted in its long history of civilization and strong tradition of democracy. Together with its ethnic and religious diversity, India offers a model of stability and diversity which it must do everything to preserve. It would be tragic if risks were taken with that stability for the sake of short term political advantage."

On the Kashmir Issue, Mr Mandelson stated:"I welcome the diplomatic peace that has been established between India and Pakistan. Nuclear armed provocations are in no one's interests. I suspect that there is political will in both countries to make a lasting, negotiated deal concerning the future of Kashmir but fundamentalists remain strong on the ground, with a wider constituency of support that is now strongly tinged with anti-Americanism, creating its own domestic political pressures.

There is no room in any civilized society for organizations such as Lashkar e Toiba and Jaish Mohammed. The appalling terrorist attacks suffered in India are an affront not just to your democracy but the civilized values we seek to uphold in all our countries.

Of course people are entitled to pursue their political views by legitimate means. But we condemn terror whatever its origin, and its sources of support. This stand must unite us all."

ABOUT LABOUR FRIENDS IN INDIA

Labour Friends of India is an independent parliamentary group whose key aim is to promote understanding and appreciation amongst Labour Parliamentarians about India and to develop good long-term relations between the Governments and Parliaments of the United Kingdom and India.

Labour Friends of India is delighted to host a senior business delegation comprising of leading members of the Confederation of Indian Industry including its President, Mr Anand Mahindra as well as Mr Jamshed Irani (Tata), Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Telecom) and Mr Narayana Murthy (Infosys).

Founded over 100 years ago, the CII is the voice of Indian business. The organisation has been the interface for Indian companies who want to do business both at local and global levels. The process of India's integration into the dynamic world economy poses new challenges and presents new opportunities for Indian business. The CII is committed to ensuring the growth of Indian industry and for India to become a driving force in the process of globalisation.

The dinner was held in aid of Dil Save, a charity committed to raising funds to provide a mobile cardiac Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner to research into the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the UK Asian community.

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