UK Deputy PM Lammy Celebrates Sunak's Indian Heritage in New Delhi Dialogue
In a significant diplomatic engagement in New Delhi, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy warmly acknowledged former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's deep Indian connections, describing him as "a great son of India" during a fireside chat at the British High Commission. The event highlighted the personal bonds and shared heritage between the two political figures, transcending their different party affiliations in the United Kingdom.
Sunak's Witty Correction and Lammy's Personal Heritage
While introducing Sunak to the audience, Lammy stated, "I know that former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not just a great son of the United Kingdom, he is also a great son of India." Sunak promptly interjected with a humorous correction, saying, "Son-in-law," which elicited laughter from the attendees, referencing his marriage to Akshata Murty, daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy.
Lammy also took the opportunity to share details about his own Indian ancestry, revealing, "I just want to establish my heritage too, because my great-grandmother on my mother's side was from Calcutta." This personal connection added a layer of cultural resonance to the discussions about strengthening UK-India relations.
Cross-Party Cooperation and Shared Goals
Emphasizing their ability to collaborate despite political differences, Lammy noted, "Whilst we are on different sides of the political aisle, we can work together and have been friends for many years." He highlighted a specific area of joint effort, saying it had been "one of the great pleasures in recent years to join former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on our shared goal to do much better both in the United Kingdom and globally on prostate cancer, and it's a pleasure to work with him on that cross-party issue."
Context of UK-India Strategic Partnership
Lammy's remarks came amid broader discussions focused on enhancing UK-India relations, with potential areas of cooperation including:
- Trade and economic partnerships to boost bilateral exchanges
- Technological collaboration in emerging fields like artificial intelligence
- Security cooperation to address regional and global challenges
Both countries are actively exploring ways to deepen their strategic partnership, building on historical ties and contemporary shared interests.
Sunak's Vision for AI Leadership in India
Earlier at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Sunak positioned India as the ideal venue for shaping the future of artificial intelligence globally. He asserted, "There is no better place to discuss this AI transformation than India," praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in hosting the summit.
Sunak elaborated on the summit's purpose, stating, "We do need a regular forum, where we can all meet and discuss this technology, and that is what this Summit provides under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. This summit will deliver impact; it will show us how we can make AI work, not just for the developed world but for the developing world too." He emphasized that the discussions would demonstrate how artificial intelligence could improve health and education "in every corner of the globe" while enhancing human dignity through technological advancement.
The combined events in New Delhi underscore the growing importance of India-UK relations, blending personal heritage with professional collaboration across political boundaries and focusing on forward-looking initiatives in technology and global health.
