Britain’s first Indian-origin prime minister Rishi Sunak is no stranger to controversies. Even after his major victory, critics continued to curse him for his immense wealth and for allegedly alienating from the plight of the common man. Sunak officially became Prime Minister of the UK on Tuesday (October 25) and made his first public speech at 10 Downing Street, taking over from Liz Truss. Sunak and his wife have become the richest couple ever to occupy 10 Downing Street. Here are some of Sunak’s past controversies.
Indian citizenship of Rishi’s wife
Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy was the center of controversy when it was revealed that she avoided paying taxes in the UK as she had Indian citizenship. It meant Akshata Murthy, daughter of Infosys founder Narayan Murthyearned a large international income, but did not pay any taxes on the country in which she was living. This news caused outrage among British citizens. Rishi tried to justify his wife’s action by arguing that she wanted to keep Indian citizenship if she had to go back and take care of her parents. In the end, Murthy had to acknowledge public anger and said she would pay UK taxes on her global income.
green card dispute
Rishi Sunak had a green card until last year, when he was chancellor in the UK. A green card allows a person to live and work in the US permanently. This raised questions as to whether Sunak was getting tax benefits by holding a green card.
I will connect my country with action, not words.
I will work day and night to deliver for you.
Watch my speech from Downing Street pic.twitter.com/diOBuwBqXc— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) 25 October 2022
Russia advantage
The West has been outwardly critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Britain has also taken this stand against Putin’s war against Ukraine. Similarly, when Sunak was chancellor, he was urging British companies to cease operations in Russia as an economic consequence. But later it was found that his wife’s family company Infosys continued to operate in Russia and continued to increase profit dividend.
I stand here before you to reach out and form a government that represents the best traditions of my party, to put our needs above politics, to lead our country in the future. Together we can achieve incredible things: British PM #sage sunak at 10 Downing Street pic.twitter.com/ElycCq2F2d
— ANI (@ANI) 25 October 2022
no-working class friends
Rishi is infamous for a comment he made in a BBC documentary series ‘Middle Classes: Their Rise and Sprawl’. He was 21 when he was featured in the film. Speaking about his friends, he had said, “I have friends who are elite, I have friends from upper class, I have friends who are, you know, working class.” Soon after he said, “Well, not the working class.” This statement did not go down well with the British as they had taken over the country at a time when many were struggling to make ends meet.