Daler Mehndi
'Pakistan should also lay claim on Rishi Sunak because his grandparents were from Gujranwala'
The 42-year-old was born in Southampton to Hindu-Punjabi parents but his grandparents were born and raised in the city of Gujranwala in Punjab province, Geo News reported. Sunak, in an odd way, is both an Indian and a Pakistani by heritage. He is a practising Hindu and takes his Commons oath on the Bhagavad Gita.
'Our Obama moment': UK Hindu temple leader on Sunak becoming PM
Rishi Sunak's grandfather Ramdas Sunak, who was from Gujranwala town (now in Pakistan), set up the Vedic Society Hindu Temple in Southampton in 1971. "It's like for the UK, it's the Barack Obama moment, where a non-white person becomes Prime Minister for the first time, also a person from Indian origin and Hindu which is another dimension and everyone is very proud," Sanjay Chandarana, president of the temple, told LBC News.
Biden says Sunak election 'groundbreaking milestone'
Biden, as most other world leaders, is still getting used to the Indian-descent Sunak's name. He called him "Rashi", which was a full vowel off Sunak's actual first name Rishi. But that slip mattered little to his audience - Indian Americans at a White House celebration of Diwali hosted by the President and First Lady Jill Biden with Vice-President Kamala Harris, the first Indian-American elected to that office.
When Rishi Sunak celebrated Diwali at 11 Downing Street, took oath on the 'Bhagavad Gita'
The timing is particularly significant in his case because Sunak will be the first practising Hindu to preside over a nation whose King is the defender of the Church of England. Sunak made history when he swore his oath to Parliament after the 2017 general elections with his hand on a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, as pointed out by 'The Guardian'.
Will work day in, day out for the British people: Rishi Sunak
In his first, brief public statement after being elevated, he said: "I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility; and I will work day in, day out to deliver for the British people." It will be the first time a non-white will occupy the position of head of government in the United Kingdom -- a major post in international affairs, since Britain is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as well as a constituent of the G7 -- the most industrialised countries in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian leaders congratulate Rishi Sunak for becoming UK PM
"Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! 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," Modi said in a tweet.
At 42, Sunak youngest to take UK PM office in over 200 years
The result of Monday's contest caps a spectacularly rapid rise to the pinnacle of British politics, CNN reported. Sunak was first elected as an MP in 2015 and spent two years on the backbenches, during which Brexit dominated the political agenda. Sunak supported leaving the EU during the 2016 referendum. He subsequently became a junior minister in former Prime Minister Theresa May's government.
Rishi Sunak set to become first Asian PM of UK
Rishi Sunak, who had thrown his hat in the ring again after Liz Truss's sudden resignation - barely a month and a half after she had pipped him in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson, was Monday the only contestant to replace her after rival Penny Mordaunt dropped out, due to lack of necessary support.
UK PM race: Priti Patel backs fellow Indian-origin Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak looks set to become UK's next prime minister after he got support of more than 170 members of the parliament -- much beyond the 100-mark required to bag the keys to 10 Downing Street. Penny Mordaunt, the only other candidate, is making a last ditch attempt to persuade Tory MPs for support. She has just 26 declarations.
Rishi Sunak firm favourite to become UK PM
Rishi Sunak closest rival, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, dramatically pulled out of the race on Sunday evening, saying he has enough support but decided that it was not the right thing to do, the BBC reported. Sunak praised Johnson, saying "we will always be grateful" for his actions during the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
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