Rishi Sunak today called himself “India’s son-in-law” as he arrived for the G20 summit amid row over a post-Brexit trade deal.
The prime minister, whose wife Akshata is the daughter of an Indian billionaire, said the Asian country is “very near and dear to me” as he landed in New Delhi.
But despite the heat, Sunak faces tough discussions on trade when he meets counterpart Narendra Modi at the meeting of powerful nations.
Hopes that a bilateral deal would be finalized this week were undermined by tensions over visas.
Currently, Indian students are allowed to stay in Britain for two years after graduating, but Modi wants to enshrine that in an agreement after Home Secretary Suella Braverman suggested the rules could change.
Mr Sunak will also urge India to take a stronger stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and has slammed Vladimir Putin for refusing to attend and be held ‘accountable’ by other leaders.
Rishi Sunak, whose wife Akshata is the daughter of an Indian billionaire, said the Asian country is “very near and dear to me” as he landed in New Delhi
Mr Sunak and his wife were given a red carpet welcome as they stepped off the plane in New Delhi
The Prime Minister was greeted by India’s Foreign Minister after landing in the country
Mr Sunak faces tough debate on trade as he meets colleague Narendra Modi (pictured right) at meeting of powerful nations
London and New Delhi had a £36 billion trading relationship in 2022/23, but Mr Sunak is keen to strike an economy-boosting trade deal with the country of 1.4 billion.
Boris Johnson originally targeted a completion deadline of October 2022, but one of the hurdles to a trade pact was India’s push to grant more visas to work in Britain.
Downing Street said Britain will not change its immigration policy to reach a free trade deal, without Mr Sunak setting a target date for signing new trade terms. There is speculation about another visit later this year to finalize a deal.
Ahead of the trip, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: ‘This is a trade deal that focuses on trade and business. Immigration is a separate issue.
‘The only aspect of the movement of people covered by a free trade agreement is business mobility, a temporary movement of business people for specific purposes.
“I cannot elaborate on what has been discussed, but there are no plans to change our immigration policy to reach a free trade agreement.”
The spokesperson said the G20 was “not specifically designed as a free trade agreement moment,” with a focus on other geopolitical issues.
Leaders of the G20, which includes the European Union and countries such as China, the US, Brazil and Russia, began holding summits after the 2008 global financial crisis, creating a top-level forum to discuss international challenges.
At the Indian summit, Mr Sunak vowed to confront Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, despite the host country keeping open ties with Moscow since the conflict began in February last year.
Putin has chosen not to attend the meeting in New Delhi in person, but his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to attend.
Asked by reporters if he had a message for Mr Sunak at the G20, Mr Sunak said: ‘When it comes to Lavrov, the message is that the fact that Putin is not there shows his isolation in the global community.
“He wasn’t there last year, and this year he’s not there to take accountability for what he’s doing.
“He doesn’t want to be held accountable.”
China’s Xi Jinping is also staying away from India, thwarting Downing Street’s hopes for a face-to-face meeting.
Mr Sunak is the first British prime minister of Indian descent and was a regular visitor to the country before being promoted to chancellor by former No. 10 incumbent Boris Johnson shortly before the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
The MP for Richmond, Yorkshire, was born in Hampshire to Indian migrant parents – a pharmacist mother and a GP father.
The 43-year-old is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Indian IT giant Infosys and a major figure in the country.
The Prime Minister was asked by reporters traveling with him from London to the Indian capital what it meant to return to India as Prime Minister.
He said: ‘Of course it’s special. I am going to visit a country that is very near and dear to me.
‘I haven’t been back for a few years. I was supposed to go in 2020.
Mr Sunak will also urge India to take a stronger stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and has slammed Vladimir Putin for refusing to attend and be held ‘accountable’ by other leaders.
Rishi Sunak, whose wife Akshata is the daughter of an Indian billionaire, said the Asian country is “very near and dear to me” before landing in New Delhi. The Prime Minister is pictured with journalists on the plane
“We usually take our family every February for half the school year, and right before that I was appointed chancellor and then I couldn’t go with the rest of my family, so I haven’t been in a while.”
He continued: ‘It’s obviously special. I saw somewhere that I was referred to as India’s son-in-law, which I hope was meant affectionately.
“But look, I’m happy to be back. It’s nice to have Akshata with me too.’
The Prime Minister does not shy away from talking about his Indian heritage and love for cricket.
A devout Hindu, he has also spoken about his abstinence from beef on religious grounds.
In 2020, he told reporters: “I am British through and through, this is my home and my country, but my cultural heritage is Indian.”
During his stay in New Delhi, Mr Sunak will visit key Indian cultural and religious sites, while a trip to a Hindu temple is planned during his three-day stay.