LONDON, April 21, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson headed to
India Wednesday touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get
his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against
Russia.

The visit to New Delhi and Modi's home state of Gujarat gives Johnson some
respite from a "partygate" controversy over his criminal violation of
pandemic lockdown rules.

He will miss a parliamentary vote on Thursday into whether he deliberately
misled the House of Commons in previously denying any Downing Street rule-
breaking -- normally a resigning matter.

The India trip has been twice postponed because of Covid flare-ups in each
country, and was briefly in doubt again this week when the vote was
announced, with opposition leaders insisting Johnson stand down.

But UK sources said it was seen as too important to put off again. Downing
Street said it would seal two-way investment deals worth more than œ1 billion
($1.3 billion), creating almost 11,000 jobs in Britain.

The visit will "deepen the strategic trade, defence and people-to-people ties
between our two countries", Johnson told parliament before flying out of
London.

Downing Street said the visit would yield new partnerships on defence,
artificial intelligence and green energy, along with investment deals in
areas including robotics, electric vehicles and satellite launches.

"Our powerhouse partnership is delivering jobs, growth and opportunities for
our people, and it will only go from strength to strength in the coming
years," Johnson added in a statement.

However, London acknowledges that it is some way off clinching a post-Brexit
trade deal with Modi's government, which wants more visas for Indians to work
or study in the UK.

- No lectures -

India meanwhile has refused openly to condemn the Kremlin for its invasion of
Ukraine, reliant as it is on Russian imports of energy, agricultural goods
and military hardware.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss came away from New Delhi empty-handed last month
when she pressed the Indians to do more against Russia, and Modi has also
given short shrift to appeals from US President Joe Biden.

Johnson's spokesman told reporters that Ukraine would feature in summit talks
on Friday. But he said the intention was not to "lecture" Modi but to
"broaden the (Western) coalition".

Johnson will tout the benefits of India moving more quickly towards renewable
energy, the spokesman said, although he was unable to say how the UK could
help achieve that in the near term as Russia launches a new offensive in
Ukraine.

Downing Street also denies that, given the war's impact on energy supplies,
it is soft-pedalling its commitment to net zero carbon emissions -- after
India joined with China to torpedo a stronger accord at the COP26 climate
summit held in Scotland last year.

Prior to meeting the Hindu nationalist Modi in New Delhi, Johnson will
Thursday visit Ahmedabad, the biggest city in Gujarat, which is the ancestral
home of around half the British-Indian population.

The UK also has a sizeable Sikh community, and its leaders have been
demanding that Johnson raise the case of Scotsman Jagtar Singh Johal, who has
been detained without trial in India for more than four years.