Foreign Minister Jaishankar. (file photo)
During his four-day visit to Britain, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar celebrated Diwali by offering prayers at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple (Nesden Temple) in London. After this, while talking to the media, he said that India is the fastest growing big economy today. He said that India is the fastest growing big economy today, it has leadership, foresight and good governance.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Sunday met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy at 10 Downing Street and wished them Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Diwali, and also gave them an idol of Lord Ganesha and a cricket bat signed by Indian batsman Virat Kohli. Gave as a gift.
Meeting with PM Sunak and his wife Akshata
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar wrote on Instagram about his meeting with the UK PM that it was a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the day of Diwali. Best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and Britain are actively engaged in reimagining relations for contemporary times. Thanks to PM Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy for their warm welcome and grand hospitality.
Worship at Shri Swaminarayan Temple
Let us tell you that BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple is the first authentic and traditionally built Hindu temple in Europe. On his visit to the temple, the External Affairs Minister and his wife Kyoko Jaishankar performed puja.
#WATCH | United Kingdom: “…The image of India – a large part of it is what happens in Bharat by all of us but a large part of it is what all you do in your everyday life…Whenever PM Modi goes out he will never miss a chance to express gratitude to Mother India…We had a very pic.twitter.com/WIanmb9ALe
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2023
Discussion on relations between Britain and India
Jaishankar’s visit to the Neasden temple on Diwali highlighted the importance of cultural ties as part of bilateral ties. The visit furthered shared political and economic interests. The Foreign Minister said, Happy Diwali to all of you. There can be no greater happiness than being among one’s people on such an auspicious occasion. I am here on a visit to the UK and it is natural that on an occasion like Diwali I would look for an opportunity to come and be with members of my community.
The Foreign Minister said that we all know that the Modi government works 24 hours every day. He said that on the day of Diwali, I have come after a long meeting with Rishi Sunak. We had the opportunity to discuss our relations with Britain and India. I am proof of how much India’s image has changed.
The journey will end on 15th November
Actually S Jaishankar is currently on an official visit to UK. He reached Britain on Saturday and will end his journey on November 15. He is scheduled to meet many other dignitaries during his visit. India and the UK have a growing bilateral partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said in a release, noting that the two countries had launched a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021. The Ministry of External Affairs said, India and Britain share a warm and prosperous relationship. It was launched in 2021 with the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
beneficial for both countries
It said, the roadmap is a commitment to a partnership that will prove beneficial for both countries. The visit of the Foreign Minister will give new impetus to the friendly relations between the two countries. It is noteworthy that India and Britain are negotiating a free trade agreement. Negotiations for an FTA between India and Britain began in 2022 and the 12th round of talks took place from August 8-31 this year.
