The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it won't comment on Boris Johnson's resignation as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, saying these were the country's internal developments and that they are keeping a close watch.
"These are internal developments, we are keeping a close watch. PM Modi & PM Johnson enjoyed a close friendship. We have a multi-faceted partnership with the UK and we hope this will continue. We won't comment on leadership change," said MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
Johnson announced his resignation today and said he will remain in charge at 10 Downing Street until the process of electing a new leader is completed.
"I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world," the 58-year-old said.
He blamed the "herd insitinct" of his party as he delivered his resignation speech on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street.
"It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new Prime Minister," he said.
"I have agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week and I have today appointed a Cabinet to serve as I will until a new leader is in place," he said.
The outgoing leader reiterated he had been given an "incredible mandate" at the 2019 general election, which was "the reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person".
"I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to continue to do what we promised in 2019," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
