NEW DELHI, APRIL 22
The bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Prime Minister 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.
PM @BorisJohnson and I spoke about the reforms in India and the investment opportunities they bring. We also had deliberations on strengthening the innovation eco-system for the benefit of our youth and start-ups. pic.twitter.com/wEdwnJN4hs
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2022
ohnson 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.
We don’t tolerate extremist groups operating in UK, targeting other countries: UK PM
The UK does not tolerate extremist groups operating in in the country and targeting other nations, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday on India’s concerns over Khalistani elements there.
Addressing a press conference after his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day, Johnson said there is so much potential to take the bilateral partnership to a whole new level.
Asked about India’s position on Russian aggression against Ukraine, he said, “You have to recognise that India came out strongly against what happened in Bucha.”
India has historic relationship with Russia and everybody respects it, he said.On India’s concerns over Khalistani elements in the UK, Johnson said, “We don”t tolerate extremist groups operating in UK and targeting other countries.”
Asked about reports of rights violations in India, Johnson said India is a great democracy and has constitutional protection.
