Why Boris Johnson’s visit to Gujarat JCB bulldozer factory outraged India?

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on a two-day visit to India, during which he inaugurated the JCB factory near Vadodra, Gujarat, and jumped onto an excavator. 

This action has drawn sharp critique in India, where several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled states have deployed bulldozers to demolish properties of those accused of criminal offences before their guilt is determined in a court of law. 

Tensions peaked most recently in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, where religious clashes first erupted on April 16, between Bajrang Dal activists who’d organized a Ram Navami procession going past a mosque. 

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The BJP had written to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, run by the party itself, to punish the rioters. Even after the Supreme Court ordered the demolition to halt, bulldozers continued for nearly half an hour, with officials saying they’d not received a copy of the court order. CPM leader Brinda Karat also came to attention, standing in the way of a bulldozer’s path of demolition. 

Amnesty India slammed Johnson’s actions, saying “In the backdrop of Municipal Corporation of Delhi using JCB bulldozers to raze down shops of Muslims in Northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri yesterday, UK Prime Minister’s inauguration of a JCB factory in Gujarat is not only ignorant but his silence on the incident is deafening.” 

They added, “As Indian authorities clamp down on human rights daily, the UK government must not remain a mute bystander. It must bring human rights to the discussion table. India cannot wait another day for justice.” 

Johnson’s visit to the JCB factory is however more motivated by political ties closer home. The UK based JC Bamford Excavators has JCB India as one of its subsidiaries, and Johnson is close to one of the directors of the parent company. Anthony Paul Bamford, who sits on the board, is a member of the Conservative Party, to which Johnson belongs. Since 2001, Bamford has donated nearly 10 million pounds, as per The Telegraph. 

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Amnesty India’s criticism of Johnson’s stance comes at a time when the nation faces increased scrutiny over human rights violations targeting Muslims. The British PM tweeted, during this visit, “It’s fantastic to be in India, the world’s largest democracy”.

Notably, the US has already raised concerns about increasing human rights abuses in India, though State Secretary Antony Blinken’s comments come at a time after New Delhi refused to align itself completely with Washington and cut ties with Russia.