G20 Summit: 'UK working closely with Indian government to tackle pro-Khalistan extremism,' says Rishi Sunak

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said his country is working “very closely” with the Indian government to particularly tackle pro-Khalistan extremism, adding that “it’s not right and I won’t tolerate it in UK.”

Sunak, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday afternoon, for the G20 Summit 2023 told ANI: “No form of extremism or violence like that is acceptable in the UK. And that’s why we are working very closely with the Indian government to particularly tackle ‘PKE’ Pro-Khalistan Extremism. I don’t think it’s right.”

“Our security minister recently was just in India talking to his counterparts. We have working groups together to share intelligence and information so that we can root out this kind of violent extremism. It’s not right and I won’t tolerate it in the UK,” Sunak said.

#WATCH | G-20 in India | On the Khalistan issue, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ANI says, “It’s a really important question and let me just say unequivocally that no form of extremism or violence like that is acceptable in the UK. And that’s why we are working very… pic.twitter.com/443p1vz1pS

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

'Make people aware of impact of Russia's illegal war'

Talking about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Sunak said: "One thing I will be doing is highlighting the devastating impact that Russia's illegal invasion is having on millions of people around the world, particularly on food prices."

"Russia recently pulled out of a Grain Deal that we are shipping grain from Ukraine to many poor countries around the world and now you have seen food prices go up. That is causing suffering for millions of people. It is not right. One of the things I will be doing is making people aware of the impact of Russia's illegal war," he said.

#WATCH | G-20 in India: On India's position on Russia and Ukraine, UK PM Rishi Sunak to ANI says, "Well, it's not for me to tell India what positions to take on international issues, but I know India rightly cares about the international rule of law, the UN Charter and respect… pic.twitter.com/DPBdc7iAR1

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

Sunak on FTA

The UK leader said both he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are "keen to seen a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries."

"Trade deals always take time, they need to work for both countries. Although we have made enormous progress there is still hard work to go," Sunak said.

#WATCH | G 20 in India | On Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under discussion between India and the UK, UK PM Rishi Sunak says, "Both Modi ji and I are keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries. Both of us think there is a good deal to be… pic.twitter.com/xV5WQwg3xm

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

India-UK bilateral ties

"I think the bilateral relationship is in good health and Prime Minister Modi and I are keen to deepen and broaden our relationship. The FTA is an obvious way for us to do that, which is why it remains our priority. And I said hard work to go, but I hope we can conclude a successful FTA. I think we can strengthen our security relationship as well. That's something that I've spoken to the Prime Minister about. And then something I'm particularly excited about is increasing the collaboration between our incredible researchers, our scientific community, our universities," Sunak said.

The British PM further said that the UK and India are two of the leading science technology superpowers of the world. "And I think if we work more closely together, we can create jobs, create new businesses, and help solve some of the world's most pressing problems," Sunak said.

#WATCH | G20 in India: On the roadmap for India-UK relations, UK PM Rishi Sunak to ANI says, "I think the bilateral relationship is in good health and Prime Minister Modi and I are keen to deepen and broaden our relationship. The FTA is an obvious way for us to do that, which is… pic.twitter.com/fSELg4t8nK

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

Sunak on his equation with PM Modi

Talking about his relations with his Indian counterpart, Sunak said: "I have enormous respect for Modiji, and he's been personally very warm and kind to me."

Sunak further said he would be "very keen to support" PM Modi in making sure that this G20 is an enormous success for India, "which I know it will be..."

#WATCH | G-20 in India: On equation with PM Modi, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ANI says, "I have enormous respect for Modi Ji, and he's been personally very warm and kind to me. And we're working very hard, as I said, on our shared ambition of concluding an… pic.twitter.com/1AVOTP6Ows

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

'India is a country I love dearly'

Sunak said India is a country that he "loves dearly" and a place "where my family is from".

"...It is personally incredibly special for me to be back in India... But I have come here in this role to represent the UK, to find ways to forge closer links with India and play a part in making sure that India has an incredibly successful G20." the UK PM said.

#WATCH | G 20 in India | On his connect with India and his roots here, UK PM Rishi Sunak says, "...It is personally incredibly special for me to be back in India. It's a country I love dearly, a country where my family are from. But I have come here in this role to represent the… pic.twitter.com/HTH6CBqfIY

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

'I am a proud Hindu'

Speaking about his connect with Hinduism, Sunak said, "I'm a proud Hindu, and that's how I was raised. That's how I am. Hopefully, I can visit a Mandir while I'm here for the next couple of days. We just had Raksha Bandhan, so from my sister and my cousins, I have all my rakhis, and I didn't have time to celebrate Janmashtami properly the other day. But hopefully, I said, I can make up for that if we visit a Mandir this time. But it's something that is important to me."

"I think faith is something that helps everybody who has faith in their lives, particularly when you have these stressful jobs like I do. Having faith to give you resilience, to give you strength, is important...," the UK PM said.

#WATCH | G-20 in India: On his connect with Hinduism, UK PM Rishi Sunak to ANI says, "I'm a proud Hindu, and that's how I was raised. That's how I am. Hopefully, I can visit a Mandir while I'm here for the next couple of days. We just had Raksha Bandhan, so from my sister and my… pic.twitter.com/U5RLdZX3vz

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

'G20 Summit 2023 theme is great'

Talking about the theme for G20 Summit 2023 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' Sunak said: "I think it is a great theme. When you say 'One Family', I am an example of the incredible living bridge that PM Modi described between the UK and India - almost 2 million like me in the UK of Indian origin. So, it is very special for me to be here as British Prime Minister in the country where my family are from."

#WATCH | G 20 in India | On G20 India's theme 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', UK PM Rishi Sunak says, "I think it is a great theme. When you say 'One Family', I am an example of the incredible living bridge that PM Modi described between the UK and India - almost 2 million like me in… pic.twitter.com/ALtze1jpPt

— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023

With inputs from ANI