Former British PM Boris Johnson has written lovingly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his memoir ‘Unleashed’, which will be available in bookstores in the UK in a few days.
The book, which travels through Mr Johnson’s very eventful, remarkable and vibrant political career, mentions his meetings with Prime Minister Modi, calling him the “change-maker” we need. Writing about his first meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Johnson recalls “a strange subtle energy” that he felt.
The former British Prime Minister has written an entire chapter dedicated to India and described the relationship between the two countries as “as good as it has ever been.”
Calling Prime Minister Modi a “truly friendly partner”, Mr Johnson credited himself and Prime Minister Modi for laying the foundation for the free trade agreement between India and Britain.
The importance of India-UK relations can be seen in the former Prime Minister’s book as he repeatedly mentions the “friendship” shared between the two countries, especially in the context of the Indo-Pacific region and its outlook.
“For some reason, we went to stand in the dark in front of a crowd of his supporters near Tower Bridge,” Mr Johnson writes in the chapter titled ‘Britain and India’, referring to his first meeting with PM Modi . During a visit to his City Hall office on the banks of the River Thames when he was Mayor of London.
“He raised my hand and chanted something in Hindi, and although I could not follow him, I felt his keen subtle energy. I have enjoyed his company ever since – because I think he He is the change-maker our relationship needs. “Together with Modi, I am confident we can not only make a great free trade deal but also build a long-term partnership as friends and equals,” he writes.
Mr Johnson revealed how a “frankly sniffy” UK Foreign Office blocked him from meeting Mr Modi during his first mayoral trade delegation to India in 2012, a problem, he writes, that was exacerbated by the relationship. was “soon removed” to pave the way for. “Reach all-time high”.
In the book he also mentions how much he loves India, describing himself as a “veteran” of many Indian marriages as his children with ex-wife Marina Wheeler, of Sikh heritage, have roots in India.
While he writes with pride of a similar “Anglo-Indian syncretism” in politics with his diverse Cabinet as prime minister, which includes many British Indians like Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, Mr Johnson criticizes bilateral trade because of unnecessary trade barriers. Express regret over the slow growth of business. Which leaves UK visitors “duty-free drinking” for Indians hungry for Scotch whiskey at reasonable prices.
He recalls the “overwhelming success” of his visit to India as Prime Minister in January 2022 as a “morale boost” and a “balm for the soul” away from increasingly fraught domestic politics, which ultimately led to his unceremonious exit from the 10 Will end with. Downing Street just a few months later.
He claims that he also wanted to use the visit to give a “gentle talk to Narendra” on the issue of relations with Russia at a “global inflection point” with its conflict with Ukraine.
He writes: “I knew all the history and sensitivities, given India’s post-war non-alignment with the West, its seemingly unbreakable relationship with Moscow. I understood India’s dependence – like China’s – on Russian hydrocarbons.”
“But I wondered whether it wasn’t time for modulation, for rethinking… As I was serving to the Indians, the Russian missiles were proving to be statistically less accurate than my first serves in tennis. Were they “Are you really sure you want to keep Russia as your main supplier of military hardware?” It is in this context that in another section of the book, where he lavishly praised the late Queen Elizabeth II for her deep personal knowledge of history and history-makers, he praised India for her efforts to take a “tough stance”. Made reference to. With the Russians.
“He remembered what former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said in the 1950s. ‘He told me that India will always be with Russia and some things will never change. They just are.’ I cite this as an example of his amazing ability to reassure and contextualize,” he shares in reference to his traditional weekly audience with the late monarch as prime minister.
Mr Johnson credits himself for presenting a comprehensive vision for the India-UK partnership to move beyond trade and climate change and educational partnerships and launch a whole program of military and technological cooperation.
He proudly declares, “Overcoming the concerns of the MOD (Ministry of Defence), which is always concerned about India’s proximity to Russia, we are developing all types of military equipment from submarines to helicopters to marine propulsion units. Have agreed to work together on technology.
With ‘Unleashed’, Mr Johnson appears keen to emphasize his lack of bitterness over his unceremonious removal as PM in the wake of the Partygate scandal over parties breaking Covid laws, but it is clear it was Rishi Sunak who was 10 His last successor was at the age of . Downing Street, who led the problems by resigning from his cabinet as chancellor in June 2022.
“It was worse than a crime, I thought, it was a mistake – for both Rishi and the party, let alone the country. It proved that,” he said of the recent disastrous general election result for the Tories. Pointing and writing.
“I don’t blame Rishi for wanting to become prime minister prematurely; in fact, I don’t blame any of them for trying to remove me. That’s what Tory MPs do…it Needless to say, if we had all remained united, I have no doubt that we could have won in 2024, and many of my friends would now have their seats,” he claims.
(Inputs from PTI)
