Indian Media Sees Britain’s Immigration Upheaval Through Students, Diaspora, and Asylum Abuse
by Jaffa Levy
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NEW DELHI/LONDON — As Britain’s asylum system creaks under record numbers and Labour’s government pursues reforms, Indian newspapers are watching closely. Their coverage reflects both practical concerns — warnings to Indian students, exposure of fraud — and cultural unease, with diaspora voices comparing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s rhetoric to Enoch Powell’s.
Warnings to Students
This week, The Times of India reported that the UK Home Office will send text alerts to Indian students warning them not to exploit the asylum system. Officials say the messages will emphasise visa compliance and warn against fraudulent claims, part of a wider crackdown on irregular migration. Times of India
Diaspora Alarm: “Enoch Powell in New Clothes”
Coverage in The Times of India also highlighted backlash from the diaspora earlier this summer, when Starmer’s white paper on immigration included stark warnings about Britain becoming an “island of strangers.” Indian-origin critics accused him of echoing Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. Times of India
India vs. Britain: Contrasting Approaches
In Deccan Chronicle, columnist Sunanda K. Datta-Ray contrasted Britain’s continuing adherence to the UN Refugee Convention with India’s decision not to sign it. The piece argued that, despite controversy, Britain is still committed to formal asylum processes, while India reserves discretion to manage refugees on its own terms. Deccan Chronicle
Abuse Cases: From Sikh “Afghans” to Low Success Rates
Indian coverage has also dwelled on fraud. In December, Times of India reported the case of a Sikh family accused of posing as Afghans to win asylum in Britain, an episode that sparked headlines about abuse of the system. Times of India
Indian Express offered a more data-driven perspective, noting that only 6–9 percent of Indian asylum claims succeed in the UK or U.S. By contrast, applicants from Pakistan or Iran face much higher approval rates. Long removal delays, however, mean some unsuccessful Indian applicants still remain in Britain for years. Indian Express
