Guwahati: Mehbooba Mufti, the head of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, used Tuesday to criticise the federal government as Rishi Sunak is now poised to become the first British prime minister of Indian descent.
The PDP leader claimed that while the UK has allowed a member of an ethnic minority as its prime minister, legislation like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) continue to divide and stifle India.
Taking to Twitter, Mufti said, “Proud moment that UK will have its first Indian origin PM. While all of India rightly celebrates, it would serve us well to remember that while the UK has accepted an ethnic minority member as its PM, we are still shackled by divisive and discriminatory laws like NRC and CAA.”
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT unit, took aim at Mufti by claiming that India didn’t need to study diversity and inclusivity from other nations.
“India, which has had three Muslim and one Sikh President, a Sikh PM for 10 years, minorities in top judicial positions and even the armed forces, need not learn about diversity and inclusivity from any other country. But Mehbooba must walk the talk and back a Hindu for J-K’s CM,” tweeted Malviya.
The Conservative Party in Britain named Rishi Sunak as its leader on Monday. Rishi Sunak will afterwards take office as the nation’s first leader of Asian descent.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi complimented Rishi Sunak and expressed his desire to collaborate closely with him on international matters.
“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,” PM Modi tweeted.
Sunak’s change of course was brought about by Liz Truss’s departure as prime minister following high-profile dismissals and resignations in her Cabinet as a result of a harshly criticised mini-budget that sent the value of the British pound plummeting.
After Truss’ brief tenure as British prime minister, Rishi Sunak and the late Boris Johnson were thought to be the front-runners for the position.
But Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the Conservative party leadership race despite claiming he had the required support. The former UK PM said he had come to the conclusion that “this would simply not be the right thing to do” as “you can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament.”
Sunak is born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa.