British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled his Republic Day visit to India, hours after he announced a fresh lockdown in the United Kingdom over the new Covid-19 strain that affected thousands of people in the UK.
Johnson was to be the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi, which was also to be his first bilateral visit after the UK’s departure from the European Union in December. The British PM had accepted the invitation last month.
“The prime minister spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned,” read a statement from his Downing Street office.
“In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading, the Prime Minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus,” the statement read.
“The leaders underlined their shared commitment to the bilateral relationship, and to continuing to build on the close collaboration between our countries—including in response to the pandemic,” it added.
The UK government has announced a complete lockdown for England’s 56 million people, which could last until mid-February. The lockdown measures were taken amid a huge spurt in Covid cases which saw 80,000 fresh infections on one day in the end of December.
In the meantime, to the worry of the Indian government, 58 people have so far tested positive for the UK strain. On Tuesday, the Health Ministry announced 20 fresh infections. The numbers are expected to rise as genome sequencing goes on in full swing in 10 laboratories across the country and international travellers flying in over a 14-day period in December are traced and tested.
Johnson was supposed to be the second British Prime Minister to attend the Republic Day parade after John Major in 1993.
“The Prime Minister said that he hopes to be able to visit India in the first half of 2021, and ahead of the UK’s G7 Summit that Prime Minister Modi is due to attend as a guest,” the British PM’s office said.