UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, by his own account, is a 'proud British Hindu'. Sunak has expressly embraced his Indian and Hindu heritage. At the same time, Sunak's moment of reckoning as a person of darker skin tone residing and working in 10, Downing Street – a former powerhouse of colonialism – has been widely celebrated by the people of former British colonies, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.&nbsp;

The UK Prime Minister also holds a unique cross-sectional attribute as British person of colour of 'double-migrant' heritage, whose ancestors came to Britain from imperial India via Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The exhibition and celebration of one's heritage, such as lighting diyas on Diwali or visiting temples, is an obvious attribute of cultural rootedness. But an absolute absence of addressal of some tough questions on the same heritage, such as 'Who caused the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?', reflects a perilous state of imperial ignorance in Sunak’s leadership.

That it were the British who committed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre from inception to nadir is a fact rather than a contested assertion. That an official count of dead, widely held false, from that bloodied Amritsar ground showed 379 Indians killed, is a fact at the face of brutish smugness of the Raj.

ALSO WATCH&nbsp;|&nbsp;Britain refuses to apologise for Jallianwala Bagh massacre

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/britain-refuses-to-apologise-for-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-209996/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

As my colleague Prisha details <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-what-happened-to-general-dyer-the-butcher-of-jallianwala-bagh-581900">here</a>, General Reginald Dyer, the British Army officer who ordered the massacre, had 'made up [his] mind that [he] would shoot all men to death if they were going to continue the meeting at Jallianwala Bagh', located a short walk away from holiest Sikh shrine of Golden Temple in Amritsar in North India.

If Sunak, as a person of colour in the Downing Street himself, cannot issue a clear and unequivocal apology for a British imperial crime as staggeringly monumental as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the case for British 'historical amnesia' remains a proven one.&nbsp;

<h2>Why apologise now, since so much time has passed?</h2>

On a&nbsp;hot noon of 13th April, the Lee-Enfield rifles of General Dyer’s troops penetrated the Indian psyche to the point that even 104 years later, the colonial wounds from that tragedy have not become scars, which often&nbsp;fade away with passage of time. Sunak, with an apologetic atonement, can attempt to initiate the making of India’s Jalllianwala Bagh wound, an imperial scar of history.

Every day, over 150,000 people visit the Golden Temple shrine, passing through the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. An apology would not undo the generational trauma hundreds of thousands Indians encounter in Amritsar every day. But it will definitely have a cleansing effect on the collective Indian psyche which continues to face colonial horrors of the past in the remnants of British loot, signs of subjugation, racism and killings scattered all over the country every day.&nbsp;

It would constitute a step towards atonement against a nation's colonial crimes. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre symbolises two centuries of horrors Indians faced under British rule. A British Prime Minister of colour showing moral courage to deliver an unequivocal apology for the same would go a long way for over a billion people still overcoming generational trauma of colonialism.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, by his own account, is a 'proud British Hindu'. Sunak has expressly embraced his Indian and Hindu heritage. At the same time, Sunak's moment of reckoning as a person of darker skin tone residing and working in 10, Downing Street – a former powerhouse of colonialism – has been widely celebrated by the people of former British colonies, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, by his own account, is a 'proud British Hindu'. Sunak has expressly embraced his Indian and Hindu heritage. At the same time, Sunak's moment of reckoning as a person of darker skin tone residing and working in 10, Downing Street – a former powerhouse of colonialism – has been widely celebrated by the people of former British colonies, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The UK Prime Minister also holds a unique cross-sectional attribute as British person of colour of 'double-migrant' heritage, whose ancestors came to Britain from imperial India via Africa. The exhibition and celebration of one's heritage, such as lighting diyas on Diwali or visiting temples, is an obvious attribute of cultural rootedness. But an absolute absence of addressal of some tough questions on the same heritage, such as 'Who caused the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?', reflects a perilous state of imperial ignorance in Sunak’s leadership. That it were the British who committed the Jallianwala Bagh massacre from inception to nadir is a fact rather than a contested assertion. That an official count of dead, widely held false, from that bloodied Amritsar ground showed 379 Indians killed, is a fact at the face of brutish smugness of the Raj. ALSO WATCH | Britain refuses to apologise for Jallianwala Bagh massacre × As my colleague Prisha details here, General Reginald Dyer, the British Army officer who ordered the massacre, had 'made up [his] mind that [he] would shoot all men to death if they were going to continue the meeting at Jallianwala Bagh', located a short walk away from holiest Sikh shrine of Golden Temple in Amritsar in North India. If Sunak, as a person of colour in the Downing Street himself, cannot issue a clear and unequivocal apology for a British imperial crime as staggeringly monumental as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the case for British 'historical amnesia' remains a proven one. Why apologise now, since so much time has passed? On a hot noon of 13th April, the Lee-Enfield rifles of General Dyer’s troops penetrated the Indian psyche to the point that even 104 years later, the colonial wounds from that tragedy have not become scars, which often fade away with passage of time. Sunak, with an apologetic atonement, can attempt to initiate the making of India’s Jalllianwala Bagh wound, an imperial scar of history. Every day, over 150,000 people visit the Golden Temple shrine, passing through the site of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. An apology would not undo the generational trauma hundreds of thousands Indians encounter in Amritsar every day. But it will definitely have a cleansing effect on the collective Indian psyche which continues to face colonial horrors of the past in the remnants of British loot, signs of subjugation, racism and killings scattered all over the country every day. It would constitute a step towards atonement against a nation's colonial crimes. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre symbolises two centuries of horrors Indians faced under British rule. A British Prime Minister of colour showing moral courage to deliver an unequivocal apology for the same would go a long way for over a billion people still overcoming generational trauma of colonialism. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rishi Sunak, the 'proud British', are you sorry for Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

UK's Labour party has targeted Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty in its latest advertisement. The ad accuses Sunak of letting his family benefit from a tax loophole. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: UK's Labour Party targets Rishi Sunak's wife

United States President Joe Biden has reached Northern Ireland, starting his four-day visit to the island, where he will extend his support for the country's peace and will celebrate his Irish roots.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted the US president at Belfast international airport on Tuesday night. The visit is likely to include economic announcements and events related to Biden’s Irish and Catholic heritage.

While addressing reporters before taking off in Air Force One, Biden said that he wished to safeguard the Good Friday agreement, which the two countries had signed 25 years ago this week, and extend support to Sunak’s post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-biden-calls-judges-abortion-drug-block-out-of-bounds-581506">US President Biden calls judge's abortion drug block 'out of bounds'</a>

Speaking about his priorities during the trip, Biden said, “Make sure the Irish accords and Windsor agreements stay in place. Keep the peace and that’s the main thing. It looks like we’re going to keep our fingers crossed.”

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and the King’s personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell were also part of the welcoming party.

Biden and Sunak met briefly before the US president was driven away in an armoured car amid a light snowfall.

The US entourage, which included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and newly-appointed economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Joseph Kennedy III, was preceded by heavy security on both sides of the border.

The streets of central Belfast were sealed by dozens of US secret service and police vehicles on Tuesday. Security officials lifted and checked manhole covers and&nbsp;hotel rooms were inspected by sniffer dogs as part of the £7 million security operation – in which 300 extra police personnel from the British mainland were also engaged.

Four suspected pipe bombs were recovered by the police from a cemetery in Derry where an Easter Monday commemoration was staged by the Republicans that led to petrol bomb attacks on police.

WATCH | Joe Biden aims to 'keep the peace' as he flies to Belfast

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-aims-to-keep-the-peace-as-he-flies-to-belfast-581493/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Police Service of Northern Ireland assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton said that the discovery of pipe bombs was a “sinister and worrying development”.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland stated that this was a clear indication of intent to harm police officers. Biden and Sunak will again hold talks on Wednesday after which the US president will give a speech at Ulster University in Belfast, which is his only public engagement in Northern Ireland before he heads south for three days of pilgrimage in Ireland.

On Tuesday, Downing Street denied a report published by the New York Times that the White House had scaled back the meeting of Biden with Sunak from a bilateral event to a low-key meeting. “I wouldn’t characterise it as that. We continue to have an incredibly positive working relationships with the president and the US government,” a spokesperson said.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

United States President Joe Biden has reached Northern Ireland, starting his four-day visit to the island, where he will extend his support for the country's peace and will celebrate his Irish roots.

United States President Joe Biden has reached Northern Ireland, starting his four-day visit to the island, where he will extend his support for the country's peace and will celebrate his Irish roots. United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted the US president at Belfast international airport on Tuesday night. The visit is likely to include economic announcements and events related to Biden’s Irish and Catholic heritage. While addressing reporters before taking off in Air Force One, Biden said that he wished to safeguard the Good Friday agreement, which the two countries had signed 25 years ago this week, and extend support to Sunak’s post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. ALSO READ | US President Biden calls judge's abortion drug block 'out of bounds' Speaking about his priorities during the trip, Biden said, “Make sure the Irish accords and Windsor agreements stay in place. Keep the peace and that’s the main thing. It looks like we’re going to keep our fingers crossed.” Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and the King’s personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell were also part of the welcoming party. Biden and Sunak met briefly before the US president was driven away in an armoured car amid a light snowfall. The US entourage, which included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and newly-appointed economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Joseph Kennedy III, was preceded by heavy security on both sides of the border. The streets of central Belfast were sealed by dozens of US secret service and police vehicles on Tuesday. Security officials lifted and checked manhole covers and hotel rooms were inspected by sniffer dogs as part of the £7 million security operation – in which 300 extra police personnel from the British mainland were also engaged. Four suspected pipe bombs were recovered by the police from a cemetery in Derry where an Easter Monday commemoration was staged by the Republicans that led to petrol bomb attacks on police. WATCH | Joe Biden aims to 'keep the peace' as he flies to Belfast Police Service of Northern Ireland assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton said that the discovery of pipe bombs was a “sinister and worrying development”. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland stated that this was a clear indication of intent to harm police officers. Biden and Sunak will again hold talks on Wednesday after which the US president will give a speech at Ulster University in Belfast, which is his only public engagement in Northern Ireland before he heads south for three days of pilgrimage in Ireland. On Tuesday, Downing Street denied a report published by the New York Times that the White House had scaled back the meeting of Biden with Sunak from a bilateral event to a low-key meeting. “I wouldn’t characterise it as that. We continue to have an incredibly positive working relationships with the president and the US government,” a spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Joe Biden lands in Northern Ireland, to mark 25 years of Good Friday Agreement

US President Joe Biden kicked off his public schedule in Northern Ireland on Wednesday after arriving in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Biden began his visit by meeting UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

US President Joe Biden meets UK PM Rishi Sunak in Northern Ireland

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Belfast to begin a historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. President Biden and UK PM Rishi Sunak will hold a bilateral meeting today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Belfast: US Pres Joe Biden in Northern Ireland to mark Peace Deal anniversary | World News | WION

The UK Labor Party has stepped up its campaign against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The main opposition party has run a number of ads criticising Sunak's wife, Akshata Murthy, while the latest ad from ABS questions the CNX wife's use of non-domicile status to reduce her tax bill.

UK: PM Rishi Sunak's wife accused of avoiding taxes under non-domicile status

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Lady Akshata Murty reacted with after Akshata's mother Sudha Murty was conferred 'Padma Bhushan' at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Padma Bhushan is third-highest civilian award in India. Sudha Murty, an author and philanthropist was accopanied by her daughter when she received the award at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

After the award ceremony, Akshata Murty took to social media to express her joy. &nbsp;Her husband, Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, replied to his wife’s post with the words “a proud day”.

“Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India,” Akshata Murty posted on Twitter on Thursday after her 72-year-old mother got the award.

“On #IWD [International Women’s Day] last month, I reflected on my mother’s extraordinary journey, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me,” Akshata writes.

“Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need – many in the most remote parts of India – after natural disasters have destroyed their lives,” she writes.

The First Lady said her mother’s example has helped put “volunteering, learning and listening” at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street.

“My mother doesn’t live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me – hard work, humility, selflessness – mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday,” she added.

Her brother, Rohan Murty, similarly praised his mother as a “positive force” in their lives in his social media post.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Lady Akshata Murty reacted with after Akshata's mother Sudha Murty was conferred 'Padma Bhushan' at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Lady Akshata Murty reacted with after Akshata's mother Sudha Murty was conferred 'Padma Bhushan' at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Padma Bhushan is third-highest civilian award in India. Sudha Murty, an author and philanthropist was accopanied by her daughter when she received the award at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. After the award ceremony, Akshata Murty took to social media to express her joy. Her husband, Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, replied to his wife’s post with the words “a proud day”. “Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India,” Akshata Murty posted on Twitter on Thursday after her 72-year-old mother got the award. “On #IWD [International Women’s Day] last month, I reflected on my mother’s extraordinary journey, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me,” Akshata writes. “Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need – many in the most remote parts of India – after natural disasters have destroyed their lives,” she writes. The First Lady said her mother’s example has helped put “volunteering, learning and listening” at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street. “My mother doesn’t live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me – hard work, humility, selflessness – mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday,” she added. Her brother, Rohan Murty, similarly praised his mother as a “positive force” in their lives in his social media post. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK PM Sunak, First Lady Akshata express joy after Sudha Murty's Padma Vibhushan

The UK government has announced its latest plan to better protect England's water supplies amid long-running accusations that privatised water firms have been pumping raw sewage into rivers and onto seashores, often polluting the potable sources of water.

<h2>What is Rishi Sunak's 'Plan for Water'?</h2>

The plan is aimed at cleaning Britain's sources of potable water and ensuring a "plentiful supply for the future". It follows months of criticism over the release of untreated wastewater into Britain's waterways. Last year, it led to the closure of some beaches at the height of one of the hottest seasons witnessed by people in the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government is faced with multiple newspaper campaigns and rising public anger over the issue.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eating-drinking-and-breathing-for-years-scientists-find-microplastics-everywhere-493992">Eating, drinking and breathing for years: Scientists find microplastics everywhere</a>

Under the plan, the government will seek more investment from water companies and firm commitments to protect natural waters alongside stronger regulation. The government will also&nbsp;ban wet wipes containing plastic which often block sewers when flushed down the toilet.

<h2>UK's 'Plan for Water': Political tussle follows</h2>

While announcing the new plan in a speech in London, the UK Environment Secretary Therese Coffey vowed to "coordinate community by community on how to tackle pollution from every source".

"There will be nowhere to hide for those who continue to pollute our rivers, with support for those who want to do the right thing," she said.

In many parts of Britain, the sewage system installed belongs to the centuries-old Victorian era.&nbsp;Coffey cautioned that there would be no quick fix to re-plumb the entire sewage system.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Plastic wet wipes ban planned in England | WION Climate Tracker

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/plastic-wet-wipes-ban-planned-in-england-wion-climate-tracker-579365/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Achieving the gold standard for ecological status would mean taking us back to the natural state of our rivers from the year 1840," she said.

"That is neither practical nor desirable in many circumstances."

The principal opposition&nbsp;Labour party has accused&nbsp;the government of lacking new measures to tackle years of water pollution.

"This announcement is nothing more than a shuffling of the deck chairs and a reheating of old, failed measures that simply give the green light for sewage dumping to continue for decades to come," said Jim McMahon, Labour environment spokesman.

"This is the third sham of a Tory water plan since the summer. There's nothing in it that tells us how, if or when they will end the Tory sewage scandal."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The UK government has announced its latest plan to better protect England's water supplies amid long-running accusations that privatised water firms have been pumping raw sewage into rivers and onto seashores, often polluting the potable sources of water.

The UK government has announced its latest plan to better protect England's water supplies amid long-running accusations that privatised water firms have been pumping raw sewage into rivers and onto seashores, often polluting the potable sources of water. What is Rishi Sunak's 'Plan for Water'? The plan is aimed at cleaning Britain's sources of potable water and ensuring a "plentiful supply for the future". It follows months of criticism over the release of untreated wastewater into Britain's waterways. Last year, it led to the closure of some beaches at the height of one of the hottest seasons witnessed by people in the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government is faced with multiple newspaper campaigns and rising public anger over the issue. ALSO READ | Eating, drinking and breathing for years: Scientists find microplastics everywhere Under the plan, the government will seek more investment from water companies and firm commitments to protect natural waters alongside stronger regulation. The government will also ban wet wipes containing plastic which often block sewers when flushed down the toilet. UK's 'Plan for Water': Political tussle follows While announcing the new plan in a speech in London, the UK Environment Secretary Therese Coffey vowed to "coordinate community by community on how to tackle pollution from every source". "There will be nowhere to hide for those who continue to pollute our rivers, with support for those who want to do the right thing," she said. In many parts of Britain, the sewage system installed belongs to the centuries-old Victorian era. Coffey cautioned that there would be no quick fix to re-plumb the entire sewage system. ALSO WATCH | Plastic wet wipes ban planned in England | WION Climate Tracker × "Achieving the gold standard for ecological status would mean taking us back to the natural state of our rivers from the year 1840," she said. "That is neither practical nor desirable in many circumstances." The principal opposition Labour party has accused the government of lacking new measures to tackle years of water pollution. "This announcement is nothing more than a shuffling of the deck chairs and a reheating of old, failed measures that simply give the green light for sewage dumping to continue for decades to come," said Jim McMahon, Labour environment spokesman. "This is the third sham of a Tory water plan since the summer. There's nothing in it that tells us how, if or when they will end the Tory sewage scandal." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rishi Sunak's 'Plan for Water' to ban plastic wet wipes in Britain

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's popularity rose within the Conservative Party by 7.4% to 43.7%. Northern Ireland deal and submarine deal gave Sunak the boost.

UK PM Rishi Sunak's net satisfaction rating rises by 7.4%

A strong shot in the arm for the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after a long absence in the UK's news is now for you. Improvement in Sunak's standing among conservatives follows a number of recent actions and significant political achievements.

UK PM Rishi Sunak's popularity rising within the conservative party

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on the defensive after it emerged that Akshata Murthy, his wife,&nbsp;has shares in a childcare agency which may benefit from a new policy announced in the recent budget.

The agency, named Koru Kids, lists UK PM's billionaire wife as a shareholder, may benefit from a scheme announced by UK finance minister Jeremy Hunt. The policy offers 1200 pounds to individuals who train to become child-minders through an agency, as reported by The Guardian.

Appearing before the liaison committee this week, Sunak did not mention his wife's interest when speaking about the childcare changes.

"No, all my disclosures are declared in the normal way," he told Labour MP Catherine McKinnell when she asked him whether he had anything to declare.

UK's public register of ministerial interests was last updated in June 2022. It only mentions that Akshata owns Catamaran Ventures UK Ltd, a venture capital investment company.

Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat chief whip, wrote to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial interests, highlighting the provision in the code that requires ministers to avoid conflicts between their public duties and private interests.

"The Prime Minister's family does appear to have a relevant financial interest in Koru Kids - which has benefited from a recent change to government policy. There is a clear question as to whether articles 7.1 and 7.7 of the ministerial code have been breached," The Guardian quoted Chamberlain as saying.

"Rishi Sunak must explain why he failed to come clean when asked about the shares his family held in a company now set to financially benefit from a childcare policy announced in his budget," Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said.

Sunak's spokesperson said,"He has followed the process in terms of declaring his interests as set out in the ministerial code". The spokesperson was quoted by IANS.

According to BBC, the new scheme could drive up the number of childminders entering the profession and generate more business for companies such as Koru Kids, which is listed as one of six childminder agencies on the government's website.

The agency welcomed the government's reforms on its website and said "the new incentives open to childminders are great". The website says new childminders would get a bonus of 1,200 pounds if they "come through an agency like Koru Kids who offer community, training and ongoing support".

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on the defensive after it emerged that Akshata Murthy, his wife, has shares in a childcare agency which may benefit from a new policy announced in the recent budget.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on the defensive after it emerged that Akshata Murthy, his wife, has shares in a childcare agency which may benefit from a new policy announced in the recent budget. The agency, named Koru Kids, lists UK PM's billionaire wife as a shareholder, may benefit from a scheme announced by UK finance minister Jeremy Hunt. The policy offers 1200 pounds to individuals who train to become child-minders through an agency, as reported by The Guardian. Appearing before the liaison committee this week, Sunak did not mention his wife's interest when speaking about the childcare changes. "No, all my disclosures are declared in the normal way," he told Labour MP Catherine McKinnell when she asked him whether he had anything to declare. UK's public register of ministerial interests was last updated in June 2022. It only mentions that Akshata owns Catamaran Ventures UK Ltd, a venture capital investment company. Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat chief whip, wrote to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial interests, highlighting the provision in the code that requires ministers to avoid conflicts between their public duties and private interests. "The Prime Minister's family does appear to have a relevant financial interest in Koru Kids - which has benefited from a recent change to government policy. There is a clear question as to whether articles 7.1 and 7.7 of the ministerial code have been breached," The Guardian quoted Chamberlain as saying. "Rishi Sunak must explain why he failed to come clean when asked about the shares his family held in a company now set to financially benefit from a childcare policy announced in his budget," Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said. Sunak's spokesperson said,"He has followed the process in terms of declaring his interests as set out in the ministerial code". The spokesperson was quoted by IANS. According to BBC, the new scheme could drive up the number of childminders entering the profession and generate more business for companies such as Koru Kids, which is listed as one of six childminder agencies on the government's website. The agency welcomed the government's reforms on its website and said "the new incentives open to childminders are great". The website says new childminders would get a bonus of 1,200 pounds if they "come through an agency like Koru Kids who offer community, training and ongoing support". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Sunak faces questions as wife's firm may benefit from UK policy

Rishi Sunak is to unveil new steps to target grooming gangs on Monday, declaring that “political correctness” would not go in the way of a crackdown, while his home secretary was accused of “dog whistle” rhetoric over child sexual exploitation.

UK PM Rishi Sunak to launch crackdown on grooming gangs

The British government is set to spend over $9.8 million (£8 million) supplying free portraits of King Charles III to public council offices, courts, schools, police forces, fire and rescue services.

The British government is set to spend over $9.8 million (£8 million) supplying free portraits of King Charles III to public council offices, courts, schools, police forces, fire and rescue services. The scheme has been unveiled to celebrate the reign of the new king who took charge after the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year. The Cabinet Office justified the decision to spend the money on the exercise saying the posters would serve as a 'visible reminder' to the public about the splendour of their new king. "We have entered a new reign in our history. Now, as we unite in preparing for the splendour of the King's Coronation, these new portraits will serve as a visible reminder in buildings up and down the country of the nation's ultimate public servant," said Oliver Dowden, Cabinet Office minister. The scheme will kick in after the king's coronation is scheduled to take place later this year. After the official posters are released by Buckingham Palace, the eligible public authorities will be offered the opportunity to request the free framed portrait. WATCH | WION Dispatch: Video shows Rishi Sunak in a moving car without his seat belt on The move to spend 'extravagant' sums of money on the posters attracted instant backlash with anti-monarchist groups opening up a front. “At a time when a majority of local councils are raising taxes and cutting public services, when schools and hospitals are struggling, to spend even £1 on this nonsense would be £1 too much,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchist group Republic. “Surely if anyone really wants an official portrait he can stump up the cost. The government has lost the plot if they think people want their money spent on pictures of Charles.” Ordinary Britons are currently facing one of the worst cost-of-living-crisis. The annual rate of inflation reached 11.1 per cent in October 2022, a 41-year high, before easing down. However, since January, it has been on another upswing with the rate standing at 10.4 per cent in February. In recent months, the Tories have come under heavy scrutiny for their use of the taxpayers' money. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been one of the worst offenders with his spending becoming the subject of routine controversy. A government report published on Friday stated that Sunak spent as much as $617,249 (£500,000) in under a fortnight on private jet trips last year. The numbers were released by the cabinet office and detailed that Sunak spent £108,000 on a jet to travel to and from the COP27 summit in Egypt last year. A week later, the 10, Downing Street resident jetted off to the southeast Asian country of Indonesia to attend the G20 summit in Bali. The total cost of the round trip came about to £340,000. ALSO READ | UK PM Rishi Sunak splurged over $600,000 on private jets in less than a fortnight Recently, it was reported that Sunak got the local electricity grid upgraded for his $4,80,000 (£400,000) private heating swimming pool in the North Yorkshire home. The Labour Party earlier this year announced it was launching a campaign targetting the Conservatives for indiscriminate spending of taxpayers' money on luxury travel and hotels. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

‘Wasteful’, say Britons as Tories plan to spend $9.8 million on free portraits of King Charles III

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spent as much as $617,249 (£500,000) in under a fortnight on private jet trips, government data has shown. No sooner was the data released, opposition parties cornered Sunak saying he remains out of touch while ordinary Britons face a grave cost-of-living crisis.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spent as much as $617,249 (£500,000) in under a fortnight on private jet trips, government data has shown. No sooner was the data released, opposition parties cornered Sunak saying he remains out of touch while ordinary Britons face a grave cost-of-living crisis. The numbers were released by the cabinet office and detailed that Sunak spent £108,000 on a jet to travel to and from the COP27 summit in Egypt last year. A week later, the 10, Downing Street resident jetted off to the southeast Asian country of Indonesia to attend the G20 summit in Bali. The total cost of the round trip came about to £340,000. In early December 2022, Sunak embarked on a day trip to Latvia and Estonia where the cost of the jet came down to £62,000. The data showed that another £20,000 was spent on Sunak's accommodation, meals and visas - throughout the mentioned trips. The Liberal Democrats slammed Sunak for the spending and said, "This is a shocking waste of taxpayer’s money at a time when most people are struggling to pay their bills or put food on the table. Yet again this Conservative government is completely out of touch." This is a shocking waste of taxpayer’s money at a time when most people are struggling to pay their bills or put food on the table. Yet again this Conservative government is completely out of touch. pic.twitter.com/3BvtyLdhj8 — Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) March 31, 2023 × Meanwhile, the party's energy and climate spokesperson Wera Hobhouse tweeted, "They can pretend to care about a greener future with their so-called ‘Green Day’, but in reality they do not care." WATCH | WION Dispatch: Video shows Rishi Sunak in a moving car without his seat belt on The release of the report comes days after it was revealed that Sunak's capital gains income between 2019 and 2022 stood at £3.8 million while the investment income breached the £600,000 mark. Notably, this is not the first instance when PM Sunak has come under the scanner for his extravagant expenditures. Recently, it was reported that Sunak got the local electricity grid upgraded for his $4,80,000 (£400,000) private heating swimming pool in the North Yorkshire home. ALSO READ | Sunak FINALLY publishes tax returns, comes under instant scrutiny from opposition The Labour Party earlier this year announced it was launching a campaign targetting the Conservatives for indiscriminate spending of taxpayers' money on luxury travel and hotels. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK PM Rishi Sunak splurged over $600,000 on private jets in less than a fortnight

UK PM Rishi Sunak has reportedly splashed more than $600,000 of taxpayers' money on private jets hiring in a matter of weeks. Sunak spent the money on three trips in November.

Labour leader Starmer criticises Sunak's spending on private jets

UK PM Rishi Sunak has reportedly spent more than $600,000 of taxpayers' money on private jets in just two weeks. Sunak spent the money on three trips in November.

Rishi Sunak spends more than $600,000 on private jet

Boris Johnson would accept a finding by MPs that he “recklessly” misled Parliament as he desperately tries to escape a by-election, it was claimed on Thursday night. The Partygate Prime Minister is under investigation by the Commons Privileges Committee which is probing allegations he deliberately or recklessly gave false information to MPs over lockdown-busting.

UK: Boris Johnson could admit he 'misled' Parliament in bid to escape a by-election

Environmental activists have&nbsp;lined up outside Rishi Sunak's home while donning swimwear, flip-flops, and diving gear&nbsp;— to take a dip in his heated private pool.&nbsp;

Greenpeace protesters lined up outside the PM's Grade-II listed manor residence in Richmond, Yorkshire to show their displeasure with the energy-draining pool, reported the Mirror.&nbsp;

Last month's revelation that Sunak's new heated private pool, which cost £4,00,000 (US$4,93,492)&nbsp;would require an upgrade to the local electricity infrastructure.&nbsp;

The UK's richest Prime Minister has "failed to upgrade our outdated national grid, which remains unable to deliver the green energy revolution for the rest of us that would lower bills and help tackle the climate crisis," the protesters asserted. They said they wanted to draw attention to his "hypocrisy."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨OUR POOL PARTY AT RISHI SUNAK’S: Tomorrow 11am / 11:00 BST, Twitter 🚨
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenpeaceUK/status/1641130624428785675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A smart grid, according to Ofgem (The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, supporting the Gas and Electricity Markets&nbsp;Authority), may save up to £4.7 billion (US$5.8 billion)&nbsp;annually by the end of this decade, which might help lower energy prices.&nbsp;

According to information provided to lawmakers earlier this month, around 350 public swimming pools have had to close or reduce their operating hours due to rising energy costs.&nbsp;

Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, who spoke to the Mirror said, “We're queuing up for the Prime Minister's heated pool because a better electricity grid should be a public good, not the private luxury of millionaires.”

“While Sunak will enjoy doing lengths in his warm pool, the rest of us are stuck with an outdated power network, not fit for purpose, that’s blocking the roll-out of more cheap and clean renewables,” he added.

Greenpeace is pushing the government to pay attention to the energy experts who have warned that if the outdated grid isn't upgraded, they won't be able to roll out renewable energy sources at the rate required to address the rising cost of energy and climate crisis.&nbsp;

Household costs may soar if the government delays its goal of getting rid of harmful fossil fuels from the power grid by 2035, a Whitehall budget watchdog said earlier this month. 
 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Environmental activists have lined up outside Rishi Sunak's home while donning swimwear, flip-flops, and diving gear — to take a dip in his heated private pool. Greenpeace protesters lined up outside the PM's Grade-II listed manor residence in Richmond, Yorkshire to show their displeasure with the energy-draining pool, reported the Mirror.

Environmental activists have lined up outside Rishi Sunak's home while donning swimwear, flip-flops, and diving gear — to take a dip in his heated private pool. Greenpeace protesters lined up outside the PM's Grade-II listed manor residence in Richmond, Yorkshire to show their displeasure with the energy-draining pool, reported the Mirror. Last month's revelation that Sunak's new heated private pool, which cost £4,00,000 (US$4,93,492) would require an upgrade to the local electricity infrastructure. The UK's richest Prime Minister has "failed to upgrade our outdated national grid, which remains unable to deliver the green energy revolution for the rest of us that would lower bills and help tackle the climate crisis," the protesters asserted. They said they wanted to draw attention to his "hypocrisy." 🚨OUR POOL PARTY AT RISHI SUNAK’S: Tomorrow 11am / 11:00 BST, Twitter 🚨 — Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) March 29, 2023 × A smart grid, according to Ofgem (The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, supporting the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority), may save up to £4.7 billion (US$5.8 billion) annually by the end of this decade, which might help lower energy prices. According to information provided to lawmakers earlier this month, around 350 public swimming pools have had to close or reduce their operating hours due to rising energy costs. Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, who spoke to the Mirror said, “We're queuing up for the Prime Minister's heated pool because a better electricity grid should be a public good, not the private luxury of millionaires.” “While Sunak will enjoy doing lengths in his warm pool, the rest of us are stuck with an outdated power network, not fit for purpose, that’s blocking the roll-out of more cheap and clean renewables,” he added. Greenpeace is pushing the government to pay attention to the energy experts who have warned that if the outdated grid isn't upgraded, they won't be able to roll out renewable energy sources at the rate required to address the rising cost of energy and climate crisis. Household costs may soar if the government delays its goal of getting rid of harmful fossil fuels from the power grid by 2035, a Whitehall budget watchdog said earlier this month. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pool party at Sunak's? Greenpeace activists gather outside UK PM's home in protest of his energy-draining pool

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's new swimming pool back in the news. Now, Greenpeace activists in swimsuits' 'high voltage' demonstrations outside Rishi Sunak's luxury manor.

UK: Climate activists stage pool party at Rishi Sunak's residence | World News | WION

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has defended his government's plans to detain children arriving in the United Kingdom in small boats further claiming that excluding them from the legislation would incentivize criminal gangs to bring them to the UK.

UK: PM Rishi Sunak defends detention of kids in new illegal migration bill

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended detaining child migrants as part of the new immigration bill. He claimed that leaving them out of the new migrant legislation would be an incentive for criminal gangs to bring them to the UK in small boats.

The House of Commons is currently debating the Illegal Migration Bill under which migrants and asylum seekers entering the country illegally via dangerous Channel crossings will be detained and removed swiftly. They won't be left with the option to challenge or appeal deportation. The bill covers families with children but lets those under 18 appeal the deportation. However, upon attaining the age of 18, they can be deported.

Commons Liaison Committee grilled Sunak on the matter of the detention of kids for over two hours.&nbsp;

Tory MP Caroline Nokes asked Sunak why children weren't exempt from the legislation. Responding to him, Sunak said, "The intention of this policy is not to detain children, but it's important that we don't inadvertently create a policy that incentivises people to bring children who wouldn't otherwise come here."

"Otherwise you create an incentive for a criminal gang to bring a child with them when they otherwise wouldn't be, and I don't think that is a good thing."

Sunak stressed that the kids won't be separated from their parents, and all of them will be housed together in "appropriate" facilities. Stressing that they have thought about the welfare of kids before preparing the bill, Sunak said, "A lot of thought [had] gone into getting [the bill] right."

&nbsp;"I think we've got a policy that does what we need it to do, which is treat people with decency, treats people humanely, safeguards children's welfare, but also achieve the objectives that we're trying to achieve, which is to break the cycle of these criminal gangs and stop people coming here who should have been coming here," Sunak said.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said "serious assurances" are needed to ensure we don't return to the "barbaric days" of detaining children in immigration centres indefinitely.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended detaining child migrants as part of the new immigration bill. He claimed that leaving them out of the new migrant legislation would be an incentive for criminal gangs to bring them to the UK in small boats.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended detaining child migrants as part of the new immigration bill. He claimed that leaving them out of the new migrant legislation would be an incentive for criminal gangs to bring them to the UK in small boats. The House of Commons is currently debating the Illegal Migration Bill under which migrants and asylum seekers entering the country illegally via dangerous Channel crossings will be detained and removed swiftly. They won't be left with the option to challenge or appeal deportation. The bill covers families with children but lets those under 18 appeal the deportation. However, upon attaining the age of 18, they can be deported. Commons Liaison Committee grilled Sunak on the matter of the detention of kids for over two hours. Tory MP Caroline Nokes asked Sunak why children weren't exempt from the legislation. Responding to him, Sunak said, "The intention of this policy is not to detain children, but it's important that we don't inadvertently create a policy that incentivises people to bring children who wouldn't otherwise come here." "Otherwise you create an incentive for a criminal gang to bring a child with them when they otherwise wouldn't be, and I don't think that is a good thing." Sunak stressed that the kids won't be separated from their parents, and all of them will be housed together in "appropriate" facilities. Stressing that they have thought about the welfare of kids before preparing the bill, Sunak said, "A lot of thought [had] gone into getting [the bill] right." "I think we've got a policy that does what we need it to do, which is treat people with decency, treats people humanely, safeguards children's welfare, but also achieve the objectives that we're trying to achieve, which is to break the cycle of these criminal gangs and stop people coming here who should have been coming here," Sunak said. Conservative MP Tim Loughton said "serious assurances" are needed to ensure we don't return to the "barbaric days" of detaining children in immigration centres indefinitely. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK PM Rishi Sunak defends detaining migrant kids entering country illegally

History is strange. Politics is stranger. What is right today may not be tomorrow. The peculiar thing in both history and politics is that few people pause to notice the ironies and strange twists in both.&nbsp;

As news emerged this week of the Scottish National Party electing Humza Yousaf as its leader, I was quick to note that the Urdu-speaking Yousaf, son of Pakistani immigrants, now heads the party that advocates an independent Scotland, free from the United Kingdom. That, I noted, is the perfect foil for Indian-origin Hindu Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister.&nbsp;

"Partition Karma haunts Britain, oceans away from the subcontinent," I said in a tweet. Except that what Indians call the Partition of India, the British refer to as the "formation" of Pakistan and India in 1947.&nbsp;

The UK and India have no doubt intertwined histories, but there are so many nuances lost in a simplistic reading of history that we often mistake the cause for effect.&nbsp;

When the Indian subcontinent was ruled by the British, nationalism as an idea itself was of European origin. That is probably why the British found it difficult to imagine the idea of a sprawling "India that is Bharat" with its roots in ancient civilisation being a nation-state in a modern sense despite vast differences in ecologies, cultures, religion and language. So they left the place in a political mess leaving the former natives to sort themselves out.&nbsp;

But here's an interesting twist: The East India Company that gave way to British government rule was essentially a plundering imperialist extension of a monarchy but caused events that transported contemporary European ideas of a multi-party democracy thanks to extensive interactions between British and Indian people and institutions that the British set up to govern India. India ushered in democracy under the Nehru-Gandhi family's elected rule but the family's own leadership style was often imperious. Britain is and was officially a monarchy but its political culture is decidedly liberal democratic.&nbsp;

Thus, Scottish folks like Yousaf are not called separatists the way Kashmiri hardliners are referred to in India.&nbsp;

One is also tempted to ask: Was Brexit an act of separatism of the UK from the European Union? Bharat is now officially called the Union of India but any political dissent of the Scottish kind would be viewed in India as something akin to sedition or treason, punishable by law.&nbsp;

We have the irony of modern India retaining colonial/imperial ideas within a robust democratic republic but the UK is not exactly cracking down on Scots who may want to separate from the UK.&nbsp;

What stands out for me, however, is the astonishing manner in which substantial parts of Europe and the US are welcoming South Asian-origin leaders into the higher echelons of national politics.&nbsp;

Leo Varadkar (Ireland), Antonio Costa (Portugal), and Rishi Sunak (UK) have gone on to become elected prime ministers of at least partially Indian descent. Kamala Harris, whose mother went to the same Delhi school as I did, is the US vice-president. Vivek Ramaswamy, of southern Indian origin, is now being promoted as a Republican candidate for the American presidency.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Humza Yousaf becomes first Minority Ethnic Leader of the Scottish National Party&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/humza-yousaf-becomes-first-minority-ethnic-leader-of-the-scottish-national-party-576620/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Democratic meritocracy apart ( As in "May The Best Candidate Win"), I also note that outsiders sometimes put in that extra effort to win respect in their adopted homelands. You may call it the Outlier Effect after Malcolm Gladwell's book (Outliers) that talks of how outsiders may have hidden advantages and cultural traits that encourage them to learn, work, and understand the world in a way that sets them apart for success in a culture. Here's where the South Asian footprint may be helping leaders of subcontinental descent in Europe or the US.&nbsp;

What we need to emphasise is that outliers as individuals making it big in a democracy should not be confused with colonial rulers using crafty conspiracies, biased laws and brute force to win power.&nbsp;

Hindu right-wing thinker Rajiv Malhotra refers to the British East India Company as "perhaps the first large-scale outsourcing company" under which many Indian princely states left governance in the hands of foreigners --- much like Fortune 500 companies of the US leaving technology management to Indian software service companies.&nbsp;

The British Raj was about the exercise of strongman authority and military power on the Indian people they called natives. Indian -origin PMs in Europe are those led into their hot seats in a wave of popular votes by fellow citizens.&nbsp;

Outlier individuals are not outsourcing experts. Democrats are not imperialists. But yesterday's imperialist countries are now advocating democracy all over.&nbsp;

Perhaps we need to ponder why Pakistan suffered under military rule and India struggled with democratic dynasties long after the British left the shores.&nbsp;

Is this because the British patronised monarchs in India or were patronised by them while they went the democratic way in their home country?&nbsp;

Is it possible that American multiculturalism has influenced Europe the way British citizens helped India evolve into a modern democracy?&nbsp;

No easy answers there. But I do know that Humza Yousaf cannot be a devout alcohol-banning Muslim in the land of Scotch. Just as Rishi Sunak, a devout Hindu, cannot ban beef in the UK. Adapting to a new culture, and ruling over another are two different things.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

History is strange. Politics is stranger. What is right today may not be tomorrow. The peculiar thing in both history and politics is that few people pause to notice the ironies and strange twists in both.

History is strange. Politics is stranger. What is right today may not be tomorrow. The peculiar thing in both history and politics is that few people pause to notice the ironies and strange twists in both. As news emerged this week of the Scottish National Party electing Humza Yousaf as its leader, I was quick to note that the Urdu-speaking Yousaf, son of Pakistani immigrants, now heads the party that advocates an independent Scotland, free from the United Kingdom. That, I noted, is the perfect foil for Indian-origin Hindu Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister. "Partition Karma haunts Britain, oceans away from the subcontinent," I said in a tweet. Except that what Indians call the Partition of India, the British refer to as the "formation" of Pakistan and India in 1947. The UK and India have no doubt intertwined histories, but there are so many nuances lost in a simplistic reading of history that we often mistake the cause for effect. When the Indian subcontinent was ruled by the British, nationalism as an idea itself was of European origin. That is probably why the British found it difficult to imagine the idea of a sprawling "India that is Bharat" with its roots in ancient civilisation being a nation-state in a modern sense despite vast differences in ecologies, cultures, religion and language. So they left the place in a political mess leaving the former natives to sort themselves out. But here's an interesting twist: The East India Company that gave way to British government rule was essentially a plundering imperialist extension of a monarchy but caused events that transported contemporary European ideas of a multi-party democracy thanks to extensive interactions between British and Indian people and institutions that the British set up to govern India. India ushered in democracy under the Nehru-Gandhi family's elected rule but the family's own leadership style was often imperious. Britain is and was officially a monarchy but its political culture is decidedly liberal democratic. Thus, Scottish folks like Yousaf are not called separatists the way Kashmiri hardliners are referred to in India. One is also tempted to ask: Was Brexit an act of separatism of the UK from the European Union? Bharat is now officially called the Union of India but any political dissent of the Scottish kind would be viewed in India as something akin to sedition or treason, punishable by law. We have the irony of modern India retaining colonial/imperial ideas within a robust democratic republic but the UK is not exactly cracking down on Scots who may want to separate from the UK. What stands out for me, however, is the astonishing manner in which substantial parts of Europe and the US are welcoming South Asian-origin leaders into the higher echelons of national politics. Leo Varadkar (Ireland), Antonio Costa (Portugal), and Rishi Sunak (UK) have gone on to become elected prime ministers of at least partially Indian descent. Kamala Harris, whose mother went to the same Delhi school as I did, is the US vice-president. Vivek Ramaswamy, of southern Indian origin, is now being promoted as a Republican candidate for the American presidency. WATCH | Humza Yousaf becomes first Minority Ethnic Leader of the Scottish National Party × Democratic meritocracy apart ( As in "May The Best Candidate Win"), I also note that outsiders sometimes put in that extra effort to win respect in their adopted homelands. You may call it the Outlier Effect after Malcolm Gladwell's book (Outliers) that talks of how outsiders may have hidden advantages and cultural traits that encourage them to learn, work, and understand the world in a way that sets them apart for success in a culture. Here's where the South Asian footprint may be helping leaders of subcontinental descent in Europe or the US. What we need to emphasise is that outliers as individuals making it big in a democracy should not be confused with colonial rulers using crafty conspiracies, biased laws and brute force to win power. Hindu right-wing thinker Rajiv Malhotra refers to the British East India Company as "perhaps the first large-scale outsourcing company" under which many Indian princely states left governance in the hands of foreigners --- much like Fortune 500 companies of the US leaving technology management to Indian software service companies. The British Raj was about the exercise of strongman authority and military power on the Indian people they called natives. Indian -origin PMs in Europe are those led into their hot seats in a wave of popular votes by fellow citizens. Outlier individuals are not outsourcing experts. Democrats are not imperialists. But yesterday's imperialist countries are now advocating democracy all over. Perhaps we need to ponder why Pakistan suffered under military rule and India struggled with democratic dynasties long after the British left the shores. Is this because the British patronised monarchs in India or were patronised by them while they went the democratic way in their home country? Is it possible that American multiculturalism has influenced Europe the way British citizens helped India evolve into a modern democracy? No easy answers there. But I do know that Humza Yousaf cannot be a devout alcohol-banning Muslim in the land of Scotch. Just as Rishi Sunak, a devout Hindu, cannot ban beef in the UK. Adapting to a new culture, and ruling over another are two different things. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Outsourcing to outliers: Muslim Scot, British Hindu leaders show chequered path from imperialism to democracy

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu at No. 10 Downing Street, on Friday (March 24). This comes as Netanyahu has been facing weeks of protests with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets across Israel over his proposed judicial overhaul. In fact, he could not escape demonstrators even after flying across the sea, as hundreds gathered outside 10 Downing Street prior to his meeting with Sunak.&nbsp;

During the meeting, Sunak stressed the importance of “upholding democratic values”, said the UK PM’s spokesperson after the talks. This comes as Israel is witnessing widespread protests over the proposed judicial overhaul by Netanyahu’s government which would supposedly be directed toward weakening the Israeli Supreme Court and giving more power to the ruling party, which typically holds a majority in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).&nbsp;

Prior to Netanyahu’s meeting with Sunak, he was greeted by hundreds of protesters outside No 10 Downing Street who held Israeli flags and shouted various chants including “Boosha!” which means “for shame” in Hebrew and “Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel!”, reported Reuters. 
 
Similar scenes were witnessed in Germany, last week, when hundreds gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to protest the proposed bills.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-israel-thousands-protest-outside-parliament-as-it-holds-first-vote-on-proposed-judicial-reform-564087">Explained | Israel: Netanyahu govt's controversial legal plan passes first reading amid protests</a>

The readouts issued by both countries said how the leaders spoke about “strengthening the close partnership between the UK and Israel and challenges they share, including the threat posed by Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

However, the Israeli readout of the meeting did not mention anything about the judicial overhaul, as per Israeli media reports. The statement by the UK government said, “The prime minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.”&nbsp;

Furthermore, Sunak also expressed his solidarity with Israel “in the face of terrorist attacks in recent months. The UK would always stand with Israel and its ability to defend itself,” said the statement by the British government. Netanyahu also said that he invited Sunak to visit Israel in the near future, while the British readout said that the UK PM “looked forward to visiting Israel at the earliest opportunity.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-charles-france-visit-postponed-as-pension-protests-turn-violent-575344">King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent</a>

According to reports, the Israeli PM left Downing Street less than an hour after he arrived. The leaders in the meeting also discussed Iran's “destabilising activity” and that their governments “would continue to work closely together to push back against aggression and manage the risk of nuclear proliferation”, said the UK. While a statement by Netanyahu’s office about the topic said that the conversation centred around the Iranian nuclear threat and the Israeli PM thanked his British counterpart for his position on the issue but called for more pressure on Tehran.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu at No. 10 Downing Street, on Friday (March 24). This comes as Netanyahu has been facing weeks of protests with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets across Israel over his proposed judicial overhaul.

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu at No. 10 Downing Street, on Friday (March 24). This comes as Netanyahu has been facing weeks of protests with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets across Israel over his proposed judicial overhaul. In fact, he could not escape demonstrators even after flying across the sea, as hundreds gathered outside 10 Downing Street prior to his meeting with Sunak. During the meeting, Sunak stressed the importance of “upholding democratic values”, said the UK PM’s spokesperson after the talks. This comes as Israel is witnessing widespread protests over the proposed judicial overhaul by Netanyahu’s government which would supposedly be directed toward weakening the Israeli Supreme Court and giving more power to the ruling party, which typically holds a majority in the Knesset (Israeli parliament). Prior to Netanyahu’s meeting with Sunak, he was greeted by hundreds of protesters outside No 10 Downing Street who held Israeli flags and shouted various chants including “Boosha!” which means “for shame” in Hebrew and “Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel!”, reported Reuters. Similar scenes were witnessed in Germany, last week, when hundreds gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to protest the proposed bills. ALSO READ | Explained | Israel: Netanyahu govt's controversial legal plan passes first reading amid protests The readouts issued by both countries said how the leaders spoke about “strengthening the close partnership between the UK and Israel and challenges they share, including the threat posed by Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the Israeli readout of the meeting did not mention anything about the judicial overhaul, as per Israeli media reports. The statement by the UK government said, “The prime minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.” Furthermore, Sunak also expressed his solidarity with Israel “in the face of terrorist attacks in recent months. The UK would always stand with Israel and its ability to defend itself,” said the statement by the British government. Netanyahu also said that he invited Sunak to visit Israel in the near future, while the British readout said that the UK PM “looked forward to visiting Israel at the earliest opportunity.” ALSO READ | King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent According to reports, the Israeli PM left Downing Street less than an hour after he arrived. The leaders in the meeting also discussed Iran's “destabilising activity” and that their governments “would continue to work closely together to push back against aggression and manage the risk of nuclear proliferation”, said the UK. While a statement by Netanyahu’s office about the topic said that the conversation centred around the Iranian nuclear threat and the Israeli PM thanked his British counterpart for his position on the issue but called for more pressure on Tehran. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel’s Netanyahu meets Sunak at Downing Street amid protests; UK PM stresses on ‘democratic values’

British government is expected to announce within weeks, plans to move migrants out of hotels and into military bases, reported Sky News. The report said that previous suggestions of use of holiday camps and student halls are less likely to be followed up.

The government led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already signalled that it wants to discontinue use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.

“We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being placed on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country," a Home Office (interior ministry) spokesperson said.

“We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options."

The government unveiled details of a new law earlier this month. The law would bar entry of asylum seekers arriving in small boats across the channel. Some charities have said that the proposal could be impractical and would criminalise the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boat arrivals a key priority after the number of migrants arriving on the English south coast soared to 45,000 last year, up 500% in the last two years.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

British government is expected to announce within weeks, plans to move migrants out of hotels and into military bases, reported Sky News. The report said that previous suggestions of use of holiday camps and student halls are less likely to be followed up.

British government is expected to announce within weeks, plans to move migrants out of hotels and into military bases, reported Sky News. The report said that previous suggestions of use of holiday camps and student halls are less likely to be followed up. The government led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already signalled that it wants to discontinue use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers. “We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being placed on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country," a Home Office (interior ministry) spokesperson said. “We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options." The government unveiled details of a new law earlier this month. The law would bar entry of asylum seekers arriving in small boats across the channel. Some charities have said that the proposal could be impractical and would criminalise the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boat arrivals a key priority after the number of migrants arriving on the English south coast soared to 45,000 last year, up 500% in the last two years. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK may announce plan to house migrants on military bases soon, says report

rishi-sunak

Rishi Sunak, News on Rishi Sunak, stories on Rishi Sunak, articles on Rishi Sunak, Rishi Sunak stories at Wion, Rishi Sunak news, Rishi Sunak latest news

rishi sunak