Britain’s prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak said he wants to make UK-India relations a two-way exchange to aid in education and business.
He was speaking at a campaign event organized by the Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) diaspora in north London on Monday. The former chancellor began his address to the British Indian gathering at large with a mix of traditional greetings including Namaste, Salaam, Khem Cho and Kidda.
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He even used Hindi to say, “Aap sab mere family ho (You all are my family).”
“We are a living bridge between the two countries,” he said in response to a question from CFIN co-chair Reena Ranger about bilateral ties.
“We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and work in India, but really we need to look at that relationship differently because there is a huge amount that we can learn from India here in the UK. can,” he said. Told.
“I want to make sure that it is easy for our students to travel and learn in India too, that it is also easy for our companies and Indian companies to work together because it is not just a one-way relationship, it is a two-way relationship. And that’s the kind of change I want to bring to that relationship,” he said.
On China, the former minister reiterated his stance on the need to be “very strong” in defending against Britain’s aggression.
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“China and the Chinese Communist Party represent the biggest threat to our economic and thus national security that this country has faced for a long time and we need to survive for it,” he said.
“There is no doubt that as your prime minister, I will do whatever it takes to keep you, your family and our country safe because that is the first duty of a conservative prime minister,” he said.
After drumming and applause at the Dhamecha Lohana Center in Harrow, the former minister spoke briefly and then interacted with hundreds of Tory members who lined up to shake hands with him.
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Elders in the crowd showered blessings on him, others patted his back and eight-year-old Tanish Sahu got a special picture as Sunak held him in his arms.
Amita Mishra, Trustee of Shree Jagannath Society UK handed over a set of gold-plated deities from India.
“We are working on building a Jagannath temple in London and this gift is a special blessing from India,” said Mishra, who was accompanied by a pandit who handed over victory verses from the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ to the deities. Near Sunak on the stage.
In contrast, a British Sikh Tory member in the crowd waited for hours to receive a special bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey signed by Sunak, despite both he and the former chancellor being teetotalers.
“I don’t drink alcohol but it’s a special gift I got on my birthday and now it’s historic with this signature,” he said.
At this gathering, his self-proclaimed underdog status as the running back candidate in all polls seemed irrelevant as he glided through the crowd like a rockstar and lashed out at the remarks of “See you at No. 10 Downing Street”. Responded politely: “That’s the plan, I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
Most of the people in the room admitted that they had already cast their online ballots in favor of Sunak and came to hear him only once in this latest election.
A skeptical British Indian investment banker said he was still undecided as he did not fully support handling of the bounce back loan scheme craze launched in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, which has been “misused” by many. has gone.
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But he also acknowledged that his vote could eventually go to Sunak as he was not completely convinced by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, a rival of the leadership.
But the majority seemed convinced that Sunak’s Indian origin and ethnic minority background had no role in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader and British prime minister.
“This country is not racist. For Sage to reach this level, it proves that merit is valued,” said Lord Dolar Popat, a veteran Tory colleague.
,with PTI input,
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