New Delhi: As Rishi Sunak took over as Britain’s first Indian-origin prime minister on Tuesday, a political ruckus broke out in India, with the opposition taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its “majority” politics and the ruling party That’s how “Italian” origins” Sonia Gandhi made way for a Sikh prime minister, Manmohan Singh.
Sunak was born to Indian immigrants who came to the UK from Kenya and Tanzania in the 1960s. His grandparents originated from British India but his birthplace Gujranwala is now in Pakistan.
After graduating from Oxford University, he went to Stanford University in the US, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, whose father NR Narayana Murthy is the founder of IT giant Infosys.
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, Sunak and US Vice President Kamala Harris To say that “India and the parties practicing majoritarianism have to learn a lesson”.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor went a step ahead, emphasizing That the British had done something “very rare in the world” by placing a “visible minority” in the most powerful office.
BJP replied what is Tharoor? Means “visible minority”, Others cited the example of Manmohan Singh to ask whether Sikhs could be considered a “visible minority”.
Outgoing Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her Italian origin were also brought up in the debate. “…the election is being won by Sonia Gandhi, a female leader of Italian origin and Roman Catholicism, who is at that time a Sikh for Manmohan Singh to be sworn in as prime minister by a Muslim President Abdul Kalam. 81% were Hindu. ST (Shashi Tharoor’s) politics is often detracted from his glitzy talk,” said BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted,
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Sunak for his new role. Hearty congratulations @RishiSunak! As soon as you become Prime Minister of the UK, I look forward to working together on global issues and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes for the ‘living bridge’ of the Indians of Britain, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.” tweeted,
It was not just the Congress that targeted the BJP in the form of Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. “Proud moment that the UK will have its first Indian-origin PM. While the whole of India rightly celebrates, it would be good for us to remember that while the UK has accepted an ethnic minority member as its PM, we are still bound by divisive and discriminatory laws like the NRC and CAA. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief tweeted,
BJP MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Mufti for her remarks and asked if she would be okay with a minority community leader as the head of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Saw Mehbooba Mufti’s tweet on the rights of minorities in India after Rishi Sunak’s election as UK PM. @MehboobaMufti Yes! Will you accept the minority in J&K as the chief minister of the state? please be clear enough to answer [sic]”Offering Asked,
The PDP and the BJP formed a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015, with PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed taking over as chief minister. He was replaced by his daughter Mehbooba Mufti after his death in 2016. Two years later, the BJP pulled out of the government.
“After the election of Rishi Sunak as UK PM, some leaders have become hyperactive against majoritarianism. APJ Abdul Kalam’s extraordinary presidency, gently reminding him of Manmohan Singh as prime minister for 10 years. Draupadi Murmu, an eminent tribal leader, is now our President. Rishi Sunak, a capable leader of Indian origin, is becoming the Prime Minister of Britain. We all need to commend him for this extraordinary success. It is sad that some Indian politicians are unfortunately trying to make a political brownie point on this occasion. [sic]The BJP leader said.
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Different views in Congress?
However, Congress’ communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh tried to distance the Congress from Chidambaram and Tharoor’s stand.
Ramesh said at the AICC headquarters that it is amusing that India now has to take lessons from the British in dealing with diversities.
“Over the years, India has been an example of how to handle diversity. But in the last eight years we have seen something else. I do not believe that we need to take lessons from any other country. Our society in itself is an example of unity in diversity.
Ramesh said that Zakir Hussain, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Abdul Kalam have been the heads of state of India in the past. “If I continue I can also give the example of Barkatullah Khan who was the CM of Rajasthan. AR Antulay has also been the CM. So, ask the people who have commented. I will not comment on what any other leader has said.
“Abdul Kalam became the President when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the PM. There is a difference of heaven and hell in the view of Vajpayee and that of Narendra Modi because Vajpayee was a product of the Nehru era. I still believe that Vajpayee was very much inspired by Nehru’s vision. But Narendra Modi is only trying to figure out how to erase Nehru’s legacy.
(Edited by Tony Rae)
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