Johnson hails Indian republic

PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson on Tuesday (26) greeted India on its Republic Day and said both countries were working side-byside to “free humanity” from the pandemic.

In a video message to celebrate the birth of an “extraordinary constitution” that established India “as the biggest sovereign democracy in the world”, Johnson reiterated his plans to visit India in the coming months.

He was due to be in New Delhi as the chief guest at the annual parade to mark India’s 72nd Republic Day. But Johnson had to call off the visit to tackle rising cases caused by a variant of the coronavirus in the UK.

“I was hugely looking forward to joining you for this important occasion at the kind invitation of my friend prime minister Modi. Alas our common struggle against Covid has kept me in London,” said Johnson.

“As I speak, our two countries are working side by side to develop, produce and distribute vaccines that will help to free humanity from the pandemic.

“I look forward to visiting India later this year, strengthening our friendship, and striving for the quantum leap in our relationship that prime minister Modi and I have both pledged to achieve.”