Some of Britain's Conservative Party MP on Monday questioned the UK government's financial assistance programme for India- that includes £53mn for 2018-19 and a £7mn decrease in 2019-20 to £46mn.
A few weeks back the Department for International Development (DfID) in the UK released its India profile for coming years in July and MP David Davies said that India 'did not want or need' UK aid and in effect Britain is 'Sponsoring an Indian moon launch'. India has 'splurged' £95.4 million on lunar probe Chandrayaan-2, which is expected to launch later this year.
Tory MP Phillip Davies told 'Daily Express', "Here we are spending money in a country that has not only got its own space programme but is developing its own overseas aid programme. To be honest, the government needs looking at if it thinks that is an appropriate way of spending taxpayers' money,"
"It needs to get out of Whitehall and appreciate the public is not just sick and tired of this but angry too. It is completely unjustifiable and truly idiotic," Davies added.
However, DfID stressed that none of the financial assistance marked for India was intended for its space programme.
A spokesperson reportedly said, "DFID ended traditional aid to India in 2015. The UK now provides the country with world-leading expertise and private investment which boost prosperity, create jobs and open up markets, while generating a return for the UK at the same time.
"This is firmly in our interests. Not a penny of British taxpayers' aid money has gone on India's space programme.
In its "India Profile" assessment, DfID notes that it works in partnership with the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Trade and the UK Treasury to deliver joint economic development priorities in India, focusing on areas which will "generate the most jobs and lift people out of poverty".
The PTI reported that describing India as an important economic partner for the UK, DfID points out that India is constrained in reaching its full global economic and political potential by significant internal challenges, including some 230 million people living in poverty; skills shortages; unplanned urbanisation and a huge infrastructure deficit.
