VIDEO: Boris Johnson has a go at spinning wheel at Sabarmati Ashram in India

Gulf Today Report

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson began his visit to India with a trip to the Sabarmati Ashram, once the home of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi.

Johnson tried his hand at the "charkha" or spinning wheel that was once vital to the local textile industry.

The tool was advocated by Gandhi as a symbol of resistance against British colonial rule of India.

Johnson arrived in India touting job-creating investment but faces long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia.

Johnson started his visit to the home state of Modi by visiting Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram where he spent nearly 30 minutes.

He then met the city's billionaire Gautam Adani.

The meeting between the two took place at Adani Group headquarters located in Shantigram,  Ahmedabad.

Johnson received a traditional welcome. Many important issues including energy transition, climate action, aerospace and defense technology and development in the area of human capital, there have been discussions between Boris Johnson and Gautam Adani.

Boris Johnson thereafter inaugurated a new factory set up by a leading UK-based group to manufacture JCB machines at the Halol plant.