Rajnath Singh Commences UK Visit by Paying Tribute at Gandhi Memorial

Rajnath Singh Commences UK Tour with Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Statue. Initiating his visit to the United Kingdom after a gap of 22 years, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid respects at the Mahatma Gandhi statue situated in Tavistock Square, central London, on Tuesday.

Accompanied by Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, and members of his delegation, Singh laid floral tributes at the memorial honouring the Father of the Nation, an artifact dating back to the 20th century.

This iconic sculpture of Gandhi, depicted in a meditative posture, serves as a site for commemorations of Gandhi Jayanti and Martyr’s Day by the diaspora.

Following this homage, Singh proceeded to Whitehall for an inspection of a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Horse Guards Parade. Subsequently, he engaged in a bilateral meeting with Grant Shapps, the UK’s Defence Secretary. Their discussions are anticipated to encompass a broad spectrum of defence, security, and industrial cooperation issues.

Later on the same day, Singh is scheduled to visit the Ambedkar Museum in north London to pay homage to Dr B R Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit rights activist and the architect of the Indian Constitution. He will also participate in prayers at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, also known as Neasden Temple in London.

Accompanied by senior officials from various divisions of the Ministry of Defence, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters, Department of Defence, and Department of Defence Production, Singh arrived in London on Monday night for a three-day visit. In addition to the meeting with Shapps, he is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold discussions with Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

On the following day, the Defence Minister is slated to engage with leaders from the defence industry at a roundtable event and later convene with representatives of the Indian community at a reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London.

According to Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy, and Diplomacy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, this visit aims to deepen military cooperation and foster defence industrial partnerships between India and the UK, building on past meetings and dialogues. Roy-Chaudhury also highlighted potential avenues for enhanced naval and maritime security cooperation, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, involving third countries like Oman and Kenya, where the UK maintains a military and naval presence, alongside increased involvement by the Indian Navy.

Singh’s previously planned visit to the UK in June 2022 was cancelled by the Indian side due to “protocol reasons.”