Rishi Sunak, the first British Prime Minister of Indian descent, has expressed his excitement about returning to a country close to his heart after more than three years.
Mr. Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty received a warm welcome in India for the G20 leaders’ summit this morning, as traditional Indian festivities greeted them at Indira Gandhi Airport.
Mr. Sunak told reporters: “It is obviously special. I saw somewhere that I was referred to as India’s son-in-law, which I hope was meant affectionately.
“I’m excited to be back. It is nice to have Akshata with me as well.”
The G-20 summit, which is set to address migration, the global economy, the Ukraine conflict, and climate change, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Sunak has addressed Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the Black Sea grain blockade, aiming to hold his Russian counterpart accountable for suffering caused.
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Mr. Sunak is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit, potentially discussing progress on a UK-India free trade agreement.
The previous target for this agreement, set by Boris Johnson and later reaffirmed by Liz Truss, has been missed by almost a year, with speculation about visa issues as a possible obstacle.
‘Loyalty’ To UK Interests Questioned
In light of these developments, Ben Habib, a successful businessman and former MEP, raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest during Mr. Sunak’s visit to India.Speaking to The Epoch Times via email, he questioned Mr. Sunak’s wife’s non-dom tax status and her choice to settle in India, raising questions about their “loyalty” to UK interests.
Additionally, he pointed out the controversy surrounding Mr. Sunak’s father-in-law’s company, Infosys, which stood in violation of sanctions on Russia yet benefited from them.
While Mr. Sunak has declared himself the “son-in-law” of India, others like Mr. Habib are concerned about potential special favours being granted in the new Indian trade deal, due to these perceived conflicts of interest.
Mr. Habib said: “In April last year his exceptionally rich wife, Akshata Murty, hit the headlines over her non-dom tax status.
“That status potentially obviated the need for her to pay substantial UK taxes on her shares in Infosys, an Indian software giant founded by her billionaire father. Me. Sunak was at pains to say she had in fact paid all her British taxes.”
He continued: “The other aspect of being a non-dom is declaring that you wish eventually to settle in another country. In her case, not surprisingly, she chose India. So what was her true intention?”
The G-20 summit brings together leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies, including the European Union, China, the United States, Brazil, and Russia. Mr. Sunak’s focus during the summit will be on addressing Russia’s actions in Ukraine and its impact on global food supplies.
Mr. Habib added that while Mr. Sunak’s comments about India upon landing were a “sweet sentiment,” they were, “not one that should be held by a British prime minister.”
Visa Increase Denied
During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman was reported to have expressed concerns over India’s reported desire for relaxed immigration controls.The prime minister’s spokesperson declined to comment on Cabinet discussions but emphasised the government’s commitment to reducing net migration.
They stated that there were no plans to alter immigration policy for a free trade agreement, including student visas. The Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, has denied that India would be requesting additional visas for Indian migrants.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended the summit in person, but his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to be present. Mr. Sunak emphasised the need to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine and its grain blockade, which has caused suffering in Ukraine and vulnerable countries worldwide.
Sunak To “Pressure” Moscow
He told reporters: “One of the priorities I have being here is to highlight the impact of Russia’s war on millions of vulnerable people around the world. And that’s the impact of food prices.”He emphasised that he would use the summit to “put pressure” on Moscow.
While there is no set moment for Mr. Sunak to meet Lavrov, there are also no predetermined plans for Sunak to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. However, the possibility of a short interaction between them has not been ruled out.
Mr. Sunak also criticised Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain initiative, which would have enabled grain shipments from southern Ukrainian ports without fear of attack.
Mr. Putin has stated that the deal, facilitated by Turkey and the United Nations, won’t be reinstated until the West fulfils Moscow’s demands on its agricultural exports.
During his stay in India, Mr. Sunak’s itinerary includes visits to significant Indian cultural and religious sites.
The prime minister is a practising Hindu and a trip to a well-known Hindu temple has been scheduled, among other events.
