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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made a pledge to partner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his mission to build a new India, as he and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds visited a famous Hindu temple in London to woo Indian diaspora votes ahead of the December 12th General Election, reported PTI.
Dressed in a bright pink silk sari, 31-year-old conservationist Symonds made her first official campaign tour on Saturday with 55-year-old Johnson at one of the UK’s most famous temples Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, north-west London.
Prime Minister Johnson vowed to partner with his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his mission to build a new India.
“I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour,” said Johnson, whose ruling Conservative Party is currently leading in opinion polls over the Opposition Labour Party.
In an indirect reference to Labour’s perceived anti-India stance over the issue of Kashmir, he noted: “There can be no place for racism or anti-India sentiment of any kind in this country”.
“British Indians have played a vital role in helping the Conservatives win elections in the past. When I told Narendrabhai [Modi] this, he just laughed and said Indians are always on the winning side,” said a tilak and garland sporting Johnson.
In reference to the temple, he said, “This temple is one of the greatest gifts that the Hindu community has given to our country. It is brought to life by the amazing community spirit that inhabits it. You are giving back to our society through the great charitable work that you do. London and the UK are lucky to have you”.
The event, also attended by UK home secretary Priti Patel dressed in a sari, marked celebrations for what would have been the 98th birthday of guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the president of the Swaminarayan Sanstha.
