British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was scheduled to be the chief guest at annual parade to mark the India’s 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, in a video message extended his greetings to Indians, reported PTI.
He called off his visit after a new and deadlier variant of coronavirus was reported in the UK at the end of last year.
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In his video message, the UK PM reiterated his plan to visit India in the coming months. “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.
He added that both India and UK 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,” he said.
