Role of UK-India ties in helping Sunak succeed
‘LIVING BRIDGE’ TO THE FORE AS MODI HAILS NEW PRIME MINISTER
RISHI SUNAK should relax and enjoy being prime minister.
There is no need for him to keep repeating how much he loves Britain, because that should be taken for granted. He should also ignore what “Jerry” told Sangita Myska on LBC that Rishi “isn’t even British” and that, unlike him, “Boris loves England”.
Incidentally, he should make it up with Boris Johnson who, let’s not forget, made him chancellor in February 2020.
To be sure, Labour party leaders will keep attacking Rishi for his wealth, but he wasn’t born to privilege. It’s the old story of British Asian parents sacrificing everything for their children’s education.
The problem with the Labour party is that it does not much care for successful British Asians. What it especially hates are successful Conservative British Asians who are only “superficially” brown.
Of course, the economy will be the new prime minister’s top priority, and here India should help him by quickly concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Britain.
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted: “Warmest congratulations @Rishi Sunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the ‘living bridge’ of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.”
And in the development of relations with India, King Charles can also help him because he knows the country better than any politician. There are captains of industry such as Lord Karan Bilimoria, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Nikhil Rathi and hundreds of others who can also pitch in.
India is already the fourth-biggest investor in the UK, so the groundwork has been laid for more Indian companies to invest in the UK and create thousands more jobs in this country. It is one of the largest economies in the world, so British Indians do have a role to play in ensuring that UK-India trade flourishes.
Rishi has made it clear that he is batting for Britain and that the relationship must be a “two-way” affair.
What Rishi must do is inspire a mood of optimism in the British people, especially the young. There is no need for him to be defensive about Infosys, now one of the world’s biggest and most successful IT companies.
His father-in-law, NR Narayana Murthy, was among a small group of people who started it from nothing. Rishi should tell aspiring entrepreneurs: “We have the talent – we should have thousands of such companies in this country.”
What is particularly encouraging is the wealth of scientific talent that exists in the UK. We witnessed the development of vaccines at Oxford University (Rishi’s alma mater, incidentally) during the pandemic.
Another strength is the richness of British culture, which we, at Eastern Eye, are aware of because of the evolution of our Arts Culture Theatre Awards (ACTA) – which this year had to be postponed from September because of the death of the Queen.
There is a government announcement from November 2018: “The UK’s roaring creative industries made a record contribution to the economy in 2017, smashing through the £100 billion mark.”
My prediction – given a fair wind, there is every reason to think Rishi can beat Sir Keir Starmer at the next election.
By the way, in the heat of the leadership battle this summer, a lot of silly comments were made. Rishi said: “I want to take on this lefty woke culture that seems to want to cancel our history, our values and our women.”
Rishi, can you see me after class? It’s going to be six of the best, I’m afraid.