According to his father-in-law, Indian billionaire N.R. Narayana Murthy, the creator of software behemoth Infosys, Rishi Sunak would do his best for Britain when he assumes the position of prime minister on Tuesday.
The 42-year-old, a practising Hindu with Indian ancestry, will be the first person of colour to serve as prime minister of Britain and the nation’s youngest head of state in modern times.
Indians were thrilled by Sunak’s promotion to the position on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his hope that bilateral relations will continue to strengthen.
Congratulations to Rishi, added Murthy, who Forbes estimates to be worth $4.5 billion. “We’re happy for him and hope he succeeds. We have faith that he will put the interests of the British people first.
Sunak’s promotion was praised as a “historic and extraordinary performance” by numerous Indian leaders, and he trended on Twitter in India late on Monday.
Indian-born Akshata Murthy, Sunak’s wife, has a 0.93 percent share in Infosys, which is worth roughly $721 million. The couple’s riches has caused controversy among British citizens.
She had been using her “non-domiciled” status, which is granted to foreign nationals who do not consider Britain to be their permanent home, to avoid paying British tax on her overseas income, which had hampered Sunak before his prior competition for the top position.
Later, according to his wife, she would begin paying British tax on her worldwide income.