Cricket And Culture: Rishi Sunak Hosts Special Reception For UK-India Week
New Delhi, 29th June 2023: As part of the ongoing UK-India Week, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted a special reception at 10 Downing Street in London. The event saw the presence of a diverse group of political and business leaders, as well as prominent members of the Indian diaspora.
Highlighting the significance of UK-India Week, Sunak expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming events in India. He mentioned the G20 in New Delhi and eagerly anticipated being there, not just for the cultural delights but also to witness the cricket World Cup, emphasizing England’s serious approach to playing against India.
Referring to cricket again, Sunak humorously remarked how the English team had triumphed over a specially chosen British-India bowling attack, having already warmed up against the Australians. He also expressed his regret at being unable to attend the match in person.
Given his Indian heritage, Sunak is well aware of the relationship between the United Kingdom and India, which had experienced some strain due to recent controversies. These included the release of a controversial BBC documentary on Narendra Modi, an attack on the Indian foreign office in London, and tax raids on BBC offices in India. These events may have contributed to a delay in the trade pact negotiations between the two countries. Hence, the UK-India Week provided Sunak with a significant platform to emphasize his heritage and the strong bond shared between the two nations.
Notable personalities present at the event included Shankar Mahadevan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Vivek Oberoi.
In his speech, Sunak highlighted the close ties between the UK and India, celebrating the “living bridge” that connects the two nations and their thriving business links. He expressed a desire to strengthen these ties further, citing the immense potential recognized by Prime Minister Modi and himself. Sunak acknowledged the progress being made together and referred to the roadmap for 2023.
Before concluding his address, Sunak emphasized his Indian heritage as a Prime Minister of Indian heritage in Downing Street, urging everyone to aim higher and break boundaries in building the partnership between the two countries.
Sunak and Prime Minister Modi have previously met on multiple occasions during international events. Their most recent meeting took place in Hiroshima, Japan, during the G7 Summit. They also had a telephone conversation in April to review progress on bilateral issues, particularly in trade and the economy. During the discussion, Prime Minister Modi expressed his apprehensions regarding the safety of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom and emphasized the need for robust measures to counteract anti-India elements. He also addressed the issue of economic offenders seeking refuge in the UK and sought progress on their extradition. Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to Sunak to attend the G20 Summit in Delhi in September.
