Commerce ministry scuttles plan of Commonwealth centre in Delhi

A senior Indian government source corroborated that the proposed centre does not figure in the draft communique

Britain’s expectation of roping India into the affairs of Commonwealth in a concrete manner, and thereby giving birth to “Empire 2.0”, does not look like materialising.

The commerce ministry has reportedly shot down a proposal to establish a Commonwealth Trade and Investment Centre in India. The current draft of the communique, to be issued at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on April 19 and 20, makes no mention of such an institution. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit, which will witness the presence of the highest number of government heads for a CHOGM ever,