UK PM Boris Johnson said, "The partnership between India and Britain is one of the defining friendships of our times." (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)UK PM Boris Johnson India Visit Updates: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday during his visit to India said that the India’s position on Russia is ‘well known’ and is not going to change, news agency ANI reported. He also said that the whole world is obliged to do more with the all that is happening around the world and Ukraine. Johnson also said, “India has historic relationship with Russian and everybody respects it.” He also highlighted India’s stand over the Bucha incident and said, “You have to recognise that India came out strongly against what happened in Bucha.”
After his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, UK PM Boris Johnson said that the two countries had a shared interest in keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open, particularly in the face of growing threats of autocratic coersion. Meanwhile, calling the British PM’s visit to India history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the two leaders had also discussed global developments and the need for dialogue and diplomacy for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
Johnson said that the relationship between the two countries is stronger than ever. Johnson on Thursday indicated that he would raise “difficult issues”, including the Jahangirpuri demolition drive in the National Capital, during his meeting with PM Modi. “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,” he told UK reporters during a visit to a new bulldozer factory in Gujarat.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday. (AP)
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. (PTI)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that economic offenders who want to use the UK’s legal system to evade the law in India are not welcome in the United Kingdom.
On the question of human rights issues in India, the British PM said that the UK raises these issues “privately” and “in a friendly way”. But he also said that India is a “great democracy”, where there are “constitutional protections for communities”. (Read more)
Bringing back economic fugitives to face justice was a "high priority" for the government, India conveyed to the UK on Friday as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated that he was "very sensitive" to these concerns and said Britain doesn't welcome people who want to use its legal system to evade the Indian laws.
India has been pressing the United Kingdom to extradite Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi to face trial in India for their alleged involvement in cases relating to financial fraud.
After his comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Johnson at a media interaction said the UK government has ordered their extradition and there are some legal technicalities that have made it very difficult.
"We don't welcome people who want to use our legal system to evade the law here in India," the British Prime Minister asserted. Briefing reporters on the wide-ranging talks between Modi and Johnson, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India's objective is to bring back economic fugitives who are wanted in India to face justice in the country and the matter did come up in the deliberations between the two leaders. (PTI)
Underlining that India and UK are sticking together and confronting their “shared anxieties” about the “autocratic coercion” around the world, visiting Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “intervened several times” with Russian President Vladimir Putin “to ask him what on earth he thinks he is doing, and where he thinks this is going.” And, he also said that what Indians want is “peace” and the “Russians out (of Ukraine).”
Johnson, who spoke at a press conference organised by the British High Commission after the bilateral meeting with PM Modi, steered clear of criticising India for not condemning Russia’s actions.
Britain does not rule out taking further steps to address problems in Northern Ireland caused by post-Brexit arrangements, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday. Johnson made the comments during a news conference in India after being asked if Britain would pass legislation to suspend aspects of the Northern Ireland protocol, which governs trade with the British-run province.
"It'd be fair to say that the protocol really does not command the confidence of a large, large component of the population in Northern Ireland. We have to address that, we have to fix that," Johnson said. "As I've said many times now we don't rule out taking further steps, if that's necessary." (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he would still be prime minister in October, addressing doubts about his future after he was fined by police for breaching strict lockdown rules that he set during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnson's personal standing has plummeted in recent months, primarily over revelations of parties held at his Downing Street office during lockdowns. Opponents say he misled parliament about the events. Asked during a news conference in India whether he would still be prime minister in October - when he hopes to have completed a free trade deal between the two countries - Johnson replied: "Yes".
Johnson's visit to India to talk trade and diplomacy has been overshadowed by the domestic crisis over whether he is fit to lead the country. On Thursday, the threat of a rebellion in parliament forced him to accept that he should be investigated by lawmakers over whether he lied to the House of Commons in his initial response to allegations of rule-breaking. (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during his India visit said that PM Narendra Modi and I have told our negotiators to conclude the Free Trade Agreement by Diwali, news agency ANI reported.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on being asked about Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and Khalistani extremists, said, "We've set up an anti-extremist task force to help India...UK govt ordered extradition...We don’t welcome people who want to use our legal system to evade the law in India."
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday during his visit to India said that the India's position on Russia is 'well known' and is not going to change. He also said that the whole world is obliged to do more with the all that is happening around the world and Ukraine. Johnson also said, "India has historic relationship with Russian and everybody respects it." He also highlighted India's stand over the Bucha incident and said, "You have to recognise that India came out strongly against what happened in Bucha." (PTI/ANI)
Britain plans to reopen its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv next week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday during a two-day visit to India.
The British government said in February, days before Russia invaded Ukraine, that its embassy office in Kyiv was relocating temporarily and staff were operating from an embassy office in the city of Lviv. (Reuters)
India on Friday raised the issue of Khalistan with UK Prime Minister Johnson during his visit to the country. Johnson said, "The UK is sensitive to India’s concerns and there will be zero tolerance to this issue," Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed through a statement.
A total of two Goverment-to-Government MoUs and four non-governmental MoUs were exchanged during the official visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to India, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan on Friday laid out the details of the meeting between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi, in a statement, he said,'During the bilateral talks, PM Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson held discussions on the ongoing FTA negotiations.' "Both sides agreed to the corporation on energy, green hydrogen, trade, defense," he added.
On issue of economic offenders, Shringla said, "We've been pursuing this matter for some time at different levels with UK. Our objective is to bring back those economic fugitives who're wanted in India to face justice in country. Matter was discussed during the bilateral talks."
'This is the first visit of Boris Johnson in his capacity as the PM to India. Both the leaders discussed a wide range of issues, trade, and jobs opportunities. Cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, space, and other technologies were also discussed,' the foreign secretary said. Shringla also informed about the discussion on Ukraine crisis, he said, 'They discussed their views on the Ukraine issue. We want that this conflict should be resolved soon.'
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday took to Twitter and said, "As India celebrates its 75th year of independence, I’m hugely optimistic about the depth of the friendship between our countries, and the security and prosperity it can deliver for our peoples for generations to come."
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi his “khas dost” (dear friend), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Monday said that India and the United Kingdom are on path to sign a free-trade agreement by Diwali this year.
“As the next round of talks begins here next week, we’re telling our negotiators to get it done by Diwali.... this could double our trade and investment by the end of the decade,” the British PM said after his meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi. (Read more)
The two leaders also discussed the Ukraine-Russia war, PM Modi said. "We insisted on dialogue and diplomacy in Ukraine for an immediate ceasefire and resolution of the problem," he said.
Speaking about the shared interests in keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open to counter the threat of autocratic coersion, UK PM Boris Johnson said: "Since last year, the threats of autocratic coercion have grown even further, therefore it is vital we deepen our cooperation including our shared interest in keeping the Indo-Pacific open and free."
British PM Boris Johnson in Delhi: "We have had wonderful talks today and have strengthened our relationship in every way. The partnership between India and Britain is one of the defining friendships of our times."
Speaking about the success of India-made coronavirus vaccines, UK PM Boris Johnson said that he had received the jab developed by the Serum Institute of India and Astrazeneca.
"I've the Indian jab (Covid-19 vaccine) in my arm, and it did me good. Many thanks to India," he said.
The UK has agreed to help India combat threats in the air, space and sea, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday. Both countries also have shared interests in keeping the Indo-Pacific region open and free, he added.
"We are taking steps for sustainable homegrown energy. This visit has deepened our relationship," the UK PM said.