Shillong, September 6: As Britain’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, prepares for his first official visit to India during the upcoming G20 summit, his relatives are orchestrating an extravagant banquet in New Delhi to welcome him to his ancestral homeland.
According to The Telegraph, Sunak’s family members will host a grand feast adorned with flower bouquets and a continuous celebration featuring Punjabi music. This event is scheduled to take place either on Thursday or Friday.
Gautam Dev Sood, Sunak’s maternal uncle, shared that all family members have been summoned to gather in New Delhi to mark the Prime Minister’s arrival, with his wife Akshata Murthy likely accompanying him during the three-day trip.
The banquet’s menu will showcase a blend of North and South Indian cuisines, complete with floral arrangements and beverages for the dinner. Sood expressed their deep honor at the Prime Minister’s visit to his ancestral homeland.
Subhash Berry, Sunak’s paternal uncle, disclosed, “We can’t divulge exact details, but a plan is in place to welcome the Prime Minister. We are gearing up for a night of non-stop dancing, mostly to the lively beats of traditional Punjabi music, although I imagine we might also groove to a few English tunes along the way.”
However, due to a packed schedule of meetings with world leaders from Friday to Sunday, Sunak himself is not expected to attend the event, which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday or Friday evening, as reported by the newspaper.
Born to Indian parents in Southampton with roots in Punjab, the 42-year-old Prime Minister is the first individual of Indian origin to hold this esteemed office in the UK.
Sunak has consistently emphasized India’s crucial role as a partner across all aspects of bilateral cooperation with the UK, which he is eager to strengthen. Nonetheless, he recently ruled out the possibility of a “quick-fix” trade deal with India, citing disagreements regarding New Delhi’s demands for increased migration rights for Indians.
Multiple sources close to the negotiations revealed that Sunak rejected the idea of an “early harvest” deal, which could have reduced tariffs on items like whiskey but would not have addressed more intricate matters like professional services.
This decision has seemingly postponed the possibility of a deal being reached this week, before Sunak’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Indian capital over the weekend. Many now believe that a deal is unlikely until both countries hold elections in 2024, although some within the government remain hopeful that an agreement could be reached later this year.