UK PM Boris Johnson thanks PM Modi for his grand welcome at Gujarat; Says ‘I felt like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan’

New Delhi: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on a two-day visit to India. On the first day, the UK PM visited Gujarat and made a tour of the JCB factory, the Sabarmati Ashram amongst others, and held talks on vital issues. Later on Friday, Johnson thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the grand welcome at the latter’s home state on Thursday.

“I thank PM Narendra Modi and the people of India for the grand welcome. I felt like Sachin Tendulkar upon my arrival and also like Amitabh Bachchan when I saw hoardings everywhere,” he addressed Modi, referring him as his “khaas dost” (special friend).

Notably, Johnson spent his first day in India at Gujarat with dancers and giant billboards lining his paths from the airports and back.

On Friday, he held detailed talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering close partnership and stepping up security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

“They (People of Gujarat) put on a fantastic welcome for us. It was absolutely extraordinary. I have never seen such a joyful reception,” the British PM said this morning.

“I would have not gotten the same reception anywhere else in the world. It was amazing to see your (PM Modi’s) home state for the first time,” Mr Johnson said.

The British PM earlier today laid a wreath at Raj Ghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Johnson was received by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar at Delhi airport on Thursday.