India-UK Relations: Unpacking Main Takeaways From Boris Johnson's India Visit

It has taken three attempts for the UK PM to arrive in India, having cancelled his earlier two trips in 2021.

Image used for representation only.

(Photo: Namita Chauhan/ The Quint)

In his first visit to India since being elected United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson on 22 April said the relationship between the two countries is stronger than ever.

It has taken three attempts for Johnson to finally arrive in India, having cancelled his earlier trips as the chief guest of the 2021 Republic Day and then calling his trip off again four months later in April on account of the deadly COVID-19 second wave.

However, even as her arrives in India, Johnson is being trailed by reverberations of “partygate” where the UK Parliament vote is deliberating on whether to refer him for a formal investigation into his knowledge of parties at 10 Downing Street despite the countries strict COVID-19 restrictions.

And his first day in India on 21 April was not a smooth landing, with an outpour of outrage online against his inauguration of a JCB factory in Gujarat, just a day after bulldozers made by the company razed alleged illegal construction in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri.

But despite the stumbles, Johnson's visit to India since being elected as prime minister is important since it signals that the two countries have to a large extent let go of their legacy colonial issues, which have plagued negotiations and ties in the past.

In today’s episode, we take a look at the India-United Kingdom relations and the main takeaways from UK PM Boris Johnson’s India visit. Joining me today is Vivek Mishra, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.