News Analysis India

Tag: Boris Johnson

  • Johnson-Modi meeting: Big bonding, no U-lecture

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Having accorded a king-size welcome in Gujarat the previous day like he did for former US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi built the atmospherics for the summit with his UK counterpart Boris Johnson, drawing wholesome praise from the visitor on Friday even on prickly issues like Ukraine.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi, Boris Johnson set Diwali deadline for India-UK free trade agreement

    Both leaders addressed each other on first name terms at a joint press conference, with Boris profusely thanking his khaas dost (special friend) Narendra for the overwhelming reception, which included a roadshow in Ahmedabad, saying and felt like cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on his arrival and like superstar Amitabh Bachchan on seeing his hoardings everywhere in Gujarat.

    Both sides set a Diwali (October) deadline for arriving at a comprehensive free-trade agreement and signed six pacts in the interregnum. The bilateral talks covered a wide spectrum, including enhancing defence and security ties. Prominent among the proposals on the table were the building of a new fighter jet in India with top-of-the-line British know-how.

    Refusing to criticise India’s comparatively soft line against Russia on the Ukraine invasion, Johnson said, “Modi has come out in strong language at what happened in Bucha. He has made several attempts to reach out to Vladimir Putin asking him what on earth he thinks is he doing? Indians want peace and Russia out and I tend to agree with that.’’ Modi said both India and Britain were hopeful of a resolution in Ukraine.

    “We have focused on dialogue between the nations in the Russia-Ukraine war and have always maintained that the sovereignty and integrity of both nations be maintained.” Modi credited Johnson for improving ties between the two countries.

    “This may be his first visit as PM to India, but Boris knows India very well. He has contributed greatly in enhancing India- UK ties.’’ Regarding upholding human rights and democratic values, Johnson said India functions according to its Constitution that had provisions to safeguard the interests of everyone.

    “If I talk about human rights and democratic values, of course we have this conversation but the advantage of our friendship is that we can have them in a friendly and private way,’’ he said. Johnson said India was different from autocracies around the world like Russia and China.

    Both sides unequivocally condemn civilian deaths

    A joint statement said Modi and Johnson unequivocally condemned the civilian deaths in Ukraine, and “reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, which was having severe implications across the globe, in particular for developing countries”

  • PM Narendra Modi, UK’s Boris Johnson agree to constitute sub-group on countering extremism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Friday expressed “zero tolerance” for terrorism in all its forms and reiterated their condemnation of Mumbai and Pathankot terror attacks.

    In their wide-ranging talks, Modi and Johnson agreed to constitute a sub-group on countering extremism in order to further enhance cooperation between India and the UK in ensuring that all possible actions are taken against groups and individuals based in or operating out of either country.

    “Both leaders expressed zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms – and for all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, whatever their motivation may be,” a joint statement said.

    ALSO READ| PM Narendra Modi, Boris Johnson set Diwali deadline for India-UK FTA

    It said the two prime ministers called upon all countries to work together to root out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupt terrorist networks and their financing channels, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists.

    It said Modi and Johnson reiterated their condemnation of terrorist attacks in India and the UK, including the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks. “They emphasised the importance of perpetrators of terrorist attacks being systematically and expeditiously brought to justice, and agreed to work together to take concerted action against globally proscribed terrorist entities and individuals,” the statement said.

    It said the two leaders expressed satisfaction on the ongoing cooperation through the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (JWG-CT), including with regard to information and intelligence sharing on terror entities and individuals.

    “Within this framework, they agreed to constitute a sub-group on countering extremism in order to further enhance cooperation between the two sides in ensuring that all possible actions are taken against groups and individuals based in or operating out of either country, seeking to incite violent extremism and terrorism and who are involved in financing such activities,” it said.

    In their talks, Modi and Johnson also reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace and welcomed the progress under the enhanced India-UK cyber security partnership to tackle shared cyber threats including to critical national infrastructure. “They outlined commitment, in a joint cyber statement, to deepen cooperation across cyber governance, deterrence and strengthening cyber resilience,” the statement said.

    ALSO READ| ‘No pressure’ from UK over India’s stance on Ukraine war: Foreign Secy

    On the situation in Afghanistan, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2593 which unequivocally demanded that Afghan territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts.

    “Both sides agreed to continue to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and reiterated the need for a representative and inclusive political system in support of a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan,” the statement said.

  • UK PM Boris Johnson hails welcome in India, says felt like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson was palpable at a media event here on Friday with the UK PM referring to Modi as “khaas dost (special friend)” and calling him by his first name multiple times.

    Johnson also appreciated the welcome he received in India, especially in Gujarat, saying he felt a bit like Sachin Tendulkar and his face was ubiquitous like Amitabh Bachchan.

    Addressing a joint press event with Modi, “Thank you my friend Narendra, my Khaas dost is the phrase I would (like to) use in Hindi. We have had a fantastic two days here in India.”

    “Yesterday I became the first conservative prime minister to visit Gujarat, which is your birth place of course Narendra, but as you just said the ancestral home of about half of all the British Indians and I had an amazing reception, absolutely amazing, I felt a bit like Sachin Tendulkar and my face was ubiquitous everywhere as Amitabh Bachchan. I was everywhere to be seen and it was fantastic,” Johnson said.

    “This morning we have had wonderful talks and they have strengthened our relationship every way,” he said.

    Johnson said in challenging times it is important that we, the “khaas dost”, get closer together.

    “I believe the partnership between the UK and India, one of the oldest democracies and the largest democracies, is certainly the most defining of our times,” he said.

    Johnson arrived in Ahmedabad on Thursday as part of his two-day India trip and visited the famous Sabarmati Ashram and met industrialist Gautam Adani.

    In the backdrop of the rapid geopolitical turmoil, Prime Minister Modi and his British counterpart Johnson agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence partnership and vowed to seal an ambitious free trade agreement by the end of the year.

  • ‘I will raise difficult issues’: UK PM Boris Johnson on Jahangirpuri controversy

    By PTI

    LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday indicated that he would be raising “difficult issues” when he meets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday.

    The difficult issues being referred to is likely to include the controversial demolition of some properties as part of an “anti-encroachment” drive by the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) in the Jahangirpuri area of north-west Delhi, days after communal clashes in the locality.

    ALSO READ| Jahangirpuri demolition: Amnesty India slams Boris Johnson for inaugurating factory in Gujarat

    Johnson was responding to questions from the UK media during a visit to a new bulldozer factory in Gujarat’s Halol industrial area near Vadodara set up by British multinational JCB. “We always raise the difficult issues, of course we do, but the fact is that India is a country of 1.35 billion people and it is democratic, it’s the world’s largest democracy,” Johnson was quoted in the ‘Guardian’ newspaper as saying in response to questions.

    The factory visit came under fire on social media over JCB equipment being involved in the “anti-encroachment” demolitions in Delhi, which activists have claimed targeted one particular religious community – an issue being considered by the Supreme Court.

    However, Johnson sought to highlight the new Halol plant as a “living, breathing incarnation of the umbilicus between the UK and India”. “This is a world-leading factory – 600,000 diggers a year coming from India, exported from India to 110 countries with British technology,” he said.

    ALSO READ| Fugitive offenders need to be brought to book: EAM ahead of Modi-Johnson talks

    The UK media also raised the issue of JCB chairman Anthony Bamford being a donor to Johnson’s Conservative Party and whether the visit was motivated by that connection. “No, he chose to go to the JCB factory because it is a very good illustration of UK business, working with India and the Indian government to benefit both the UK and India,” Johnson’s official spokesperson told the ‘Guardian’.

  • Jahangirpuri demolition: Amnesty India slams UK PM Boris Johnson for inaugurating factory in Gujarat

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Hitting out at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for inaugurating a JCB factory in Gujarat a day after municipal corporation in Delhi razed homes in Jahangirpuri using bulldozers, Amnesty India called the move “ignorant”, while also saying his “silence” on the incident was deafening.

    Earlier in the day, Johnson, who is on a two-day visit to India, inaugurated a factory of UK-headquartered heavy equipment maker JCB at Halol in Panchmahals district of Gujarat.

    As Indian authorities clamp down on human rights daily, the UK government must not remain a mute bystander. It must bring human rights to the discussion table. India cannot wait another day for justice.2/4
    — Amnesty India (@AIIndia) April 21, 2022
    This comes a day after bulldozers tore down several concrete and temporary structures close to a mosque in Jahangirpuri as part of an anti-encroachment drive by BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporatin, days after the northwest Delhi neighbourhood was rocked by communal violence.

    The Supreme Court had to intervene twice to stop the drive after it took cognizance of a petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the demolition.

    Reacting sharply, Amnesty India tweeted, “In the backdrop of Municipal Corporation of Delhi using JCB bulldozers to raze down shops of Muslims in Northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri yesterday, UK Prime Minister’s inauguration of a JCB factory in Gujarat is not only ignorant but his silence on the incident is deafening.”

    It further said the UK government must not remain a mute bystander.

    “It must bring human rights to the discussion table. India cannot wait another day for justice… The demolition continued despite and in defiance of an order by the Supreme Court of India asking the authorities to stay the demolition exercise. The residents of Jahangirpuri were not even given an opportunity to salvage their possessions,” Amnesty India said in another tweet.

    The rights group also called these “brazen attacks” on the right to livelihood and adequate housing of religious minorities in India as an attack on their hopes for a secure future.

  • Johnson becomes first UK PM to visit Sabarmati Ashram, calls Gandhi extraordinary man

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Visiting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday termed Mahatma Gandhi an “extraordinary man” who mobilised the principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for better.

    Johnson became the first prime minister of the UK to visit the Sabarmati Ashram here, the place from where Gandhi led India’s struggle for freedom from the British colonial rule for more than a decade.

    In fact, the Tory politician is also the first British prime minister to visit Gujarat post 1947.

    “It is an immense privilege to come to the ashram of this extraordinary man, and to understand how he mobilised such simple principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for better,” Johnson wrote in the visitors’ book at the Gandhi ashram.

    “It is an immense privilege to come to the Ashram of this extraordinary man, and to understand how he mobilised such simple principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for the better”: UK PM Boris Johnson’s message at Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/z9Gj6FrB52
    — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2022
    While the British PM was effusive in his praise for the Mahatma, during the freedom struggle such praise for Gandhi from Britain’s ruling class was rare.

    Winston Churchill famously called Gandhi a “half- naked fakir” as the latter opposed sending Indian soldiers to fight for Britain in the Second World War and launched the Quit India movement in 1942. The Mahatma’s call to use the charkha (spinning wheel) and boycott foreign goods including cloth hit the textile industry in Manchester.

    Charkha became a very potent symbol of the anti-colonial struggle. During his visit, prime minister Johnson tried his hand at the charkha at Hriday Kunj, the hut where Gandhi lived. A replica of charkha was also presented to him.

    The Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust also gifted two books to him. One of the books was “Guide to London”, an unpublished book which consists of Gandhi’s suggestions on how to live in London.

    The other book was “The Spirit’s Pilgrimage”, autobiography of Mirabehn or Madeleine Slade, Gandhi’s British-born follower. Johnson is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday.

  • Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement laid down roadmap for British PM Boris Johnson’s India visit

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of rendering an unconditional apology for ‘partygate’, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson embarks on his India visit from Thursday.

    “My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth to energy security and defence,” Johnson said recently.

    The focus of his visit is going to be trade, defence and security. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, in his Spring Statement, laid out a series of measures relevant for Indian companies keeping in mind PM Johnson’s India visit – which would give an impetus to expand trade and investment between India and the UK.

    Indian companies secured 40 per cent of all work visas issued by the UK last year (almost as much as the rest of the world combined) and employ over 100,000 people in the UK. “This is significant for the two countries,” Sunak said in his statement.

    Tax relief has been extended to British companies to cover R&D conducted overseas – which could further enhance the R&D-driven investments by UK businesses in India, including the co-creation of new technology with Indian partners.

    At present R&D expenditure in India is around health, defence, agriculture, industrial production and technology, space, transport and energy. All these sectors are of interest to the UK.

    The UK-India FTA negotiations will be advanced with PM Johnson’s visit. Announcements are likely to be made in technology transfer in defence (specially maritime sector) and security.

    Meanwhile, PM Johnson begins his India trip by landing in Ahmedabad on Thursday. He is expected to inaugurate the sixth plant of JCB in Vadodara. JCB happens to be a supporter of the Conservative Party and its chairman, Lord Bamford, came for the laying of the foundation stone of the plant in 2019. The investment for this plant was Rs 650 crore.

    Johnson is also likely to meet with industrialist Gautam Adani and visit the Sabarmati Ashram.

    In Delhi, he will meet with Prime Minister Modi and they are likely to make an announcement around bilateral trade and partnerships.

    Ukraine will figure amongst their talks. “As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” Johnson said, indicating that he would expect India to take a firmer stand against Russia.

    Trade between India and the UK is worth an estimated £23bn each year. The two countries last year agreed on a UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which the UK government said would bring more than £533mn of investment into thecountry from India and would result in the creation of more than 6,500 jobs.

  • PM Modi, Borish Johnson hold detailed discussion on Ukraine situation

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his British counterpart Boris Johnson over phone on Tuesday and the two leaders had a detailed discussion on the situation in Ukraine.

    Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He emphasized India’s belief in respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, as the basis of the contemporary world order.

    Russia began its military operations in Ukraine on February 24. PM Modi and Boris Johnson discussed issues of bilateral interests and agreed on the potential of further deepening cooperation in various areas including trade, technology, investments, defence and security besides people-to-people relations.

    According to a PMO statement, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

    He also appreciated the progress in implementing the ‘India-UK Roadmap 2030’ adopted during the virtual summit between both leaders last year.

    The Prime Minister conveyed his desire to welcome PM Johnson in India at an early date, as per mutual convenience. 

  • PM Modi, Boris Johnson hold detailed discussion on Ukraine situation

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his British counterpart Boris Johnson over phone on Tuesday and the two leaders had a detailed discussion on the situation in Ukraine.

    Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He emphasized India’s belief in respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, as the basis of the contemporary world order.

    Russia began its military operations in Ukraine on February 24. PM Modi and Boris Johnson discussed issues of bilateral interests and agreed on the potential of further deepening cooperation in various areas including trade, technology, investments, defence and security besides people-to-people relations.

    According to a PMO statement, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

    He also appreciated the progress in implementing the ‘India-UK Roadmap 2030’ adopted during the virtual summit between both leaders last year.

    The Prime Minister conveyed his desire to welcome PM Johnson in India at an early date, as per mutual convenience. 

  • Boris Johnson dismisses visa link with Indian free trade deal

    By PTI

    LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday sought to dismiss the notion that visa norms are set to be relaxed for Indians in pursuit of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India.

    During the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons, Johnson was asked by one of his Conservative Party MPs to comment on reports that emerged in the UK media over the weekend about easier visas for Indian professionals and students to make an FTA more attractive to India.

    Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh asked Johnson if a relaxation of visa controls from India was in the works to secure a trade agreement.

    “I don’t recognise the account he’s given at all. We don’t do free trade deals on that basis,” said Johnson.

    “Net immigration since we took back control (Brexit) has gone down… our new Borders Bill currently in the House of Lords enables us properly to take back control of our borders and to tackle illegal immigration,” he said.

    Free movement of people from within the European Union (EU) was a key issue during the 2016 Brexit referendum, with Johnson pledging to “take back control” to create a “fairer” visa regime for applicants from within and outside of the EU post-Brexit.

    “Apparently the government is thinking of relaxing visa controls from India in order to get a free trade deal. Whilst a free trade deal is valuable in itself, we should not be held to ransom,” said Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh in the Commons.

    “Would he agree with me that our new working class voters who voted Brexit did not vote to replace immigration from Europe with more immigration from the rest of the world. Will he convince us that he is determined to connect to our supporters and control immigration,” he questioned.

    His question in the Commons follows reports that UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan is expected to travel to Delhi later this month to kick-start FTA talks and is expected to offer a visa scheme similar to that agreed as part of the UK’s FTA with Australia.

    Such a scheme would allow young Indians the chance to come and work in the UK for up to three years.

    Another option reportedly being considered would be to cut visa fees for students and allow them to stay in Britain for a period after they graduate, possibly building upon the Graduate Route visa under the points-based immigration rules currently in place.

    “India is projected to become the world’s third largest economy by 2050 and a free trade agreement will open up huge opportunities for UK businesses to trade with India’s GBP 2.25 trillion economy,” said a Department for International Trade spokesperson, without confirming or denying the reports of a visa scheme linked with an FTA.

    “Companies up and down the country can look forward to the benefits, from manufacturers in the West Midlands to tech experts in Belfast, and we look forward to launching negotiations early this year,” the spokesperson said.

    The UK government’s stated priority for the FTA talks is a “broad and comprehensive” FTA, which achieves short and long-term benefits for British businesses.

    DIT sources said that a range of measures will be under consideration to enable British business to achieve maximum benefits from any deal.

    The UK’s target will be on reduced tariffs from up to 150 per cent on key exports such as cars and Scotch whisky to make UK goods more competitive in the Indian market.

    Back in May 2021, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson clinched an Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) during a virtual summit, with the goal to double bilateral trade to GBP 50 billion by 2030.

    The FTA is seen as the next step in the bilateral engagement.