New Delhi: In a first-of-its-kind move, Indians in the United Kingdom are promoting Prime Minister Boris Johnson through a video released in support of him ahead of the country’s elections scheduled on 12 December.
The video being widely shared on social media features a song sung in Hindi, and it says Johnson will solve all the issues plaguing Britain, including Brexit, while calling opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn a “liar”.
Ok who made this Hindi video to vote for #BorisJohnson ???
Pls confess
I wanna buy you a drink pic.twitter.com/wskQed0Zpd
— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) December 8, 2019
With the lyrics, “Boris ko hamein jitana hai, Is desh ko aj bachana hai…,” the 1.40-minute video is going viral.
It is, however, not known as to who created the video, which shows Johnson holding hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also features Ruchi Ghanashyam, India’s High Commissioner to the UK, multiple times.
“He (Johnson) will promote industry, education and ensure the security of the country while saving the NHS (National Health Service),” goes the lyrics of the song.
One of the major challenges the UK faces ahead of its elections is the NHS programme, which is beset with cash and staff crunch.
The song also goes on to say that Corbyn is a “destructor” and that “this (Labour Party) people have to be chased out to make Boris the Prime Minister (of UK)”.
UK will be holding its first December election in almost a century, which is aimed at breaking the deadlock over Brexit. The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union on 31 January 2020.
Johnson’s attempt to woo Indian diaspora
Last week, Johnson, who came to power in July this year overthrowing Theresa May, visited the Swaminarayan Temple in London with his partner Carrie Symonds, who wore a saree, in an attempt to woo the 1.5-million strong Indian diaspora.
“I know Prime Minister Modi is building a new India. And, we in the UK government will support him fully in his endeavour…There can be no place for racism or anti-India sentiment of any kind in this country,” Johnson said Sunday.
When he came to power, Johnson was hailed for appointing three officials of Indian origin in his cabinet — Priti Patel as the Home Secretary, Alok Sharma as the International Development Secretary and Rishi Sunak as the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
India-UK ties, however, took a downhill after the Modi government’s move to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Massive protests — mostly led by Labour Party members and Pakistani expats — were organised in front of the Indian High Commission in London. During one such protest, protesters also vandalised the building.
Pro-Khalistan supporters were also seen protesting in front of the Indian High Commission, seeking Referendum 2020, which has been promoted by separatist Sikhs for the creation of Khalistan.
(Edited by Debalina Dey)
Also read: It’s all about Brexit in UK’s pre-Christmas general elections
Vote bank politics at its best, started initially by Corbyn as he wooed community of Pakistani origin. While Corbyn’s vote bank politics is constrained by the fact that he cannot put a ‘muslim’ face to represent him in public appearances, Boris is not limited in his options, as he sends young Rishi Sunak as the Conservative spokesperson on prime time TV. It is Corbyn’s extreme, hypocrisy filled politics that might sway many liberal, labour supporters of Indian origin in favour of Boris Johnson.