UK PM Candidate Rishi Sunak And Wife Akshata Murthy Perform 'Gau Pooja' In London

Britain’s prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak performed ‘gau pooja’ (worship of cow) in London. The 42-year-old politician was accompanied by his wife Akshata Murthy.

In the viral video, Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy can be seen standing inside an enclosure with the cow performing the ‘gau pooja’. Sunak held a brass vessel in his hand as the priest told the couple about the entire ritual. The couple then perform the 'aarti' of the cow and continued the 'gau pooja'.

The Indian-origin Member of Parliament of Richmond (Yorks) also recently visited Bhaktivedanta Manor in London to celebrate Janmashtami. Sunak said the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita gave him the strength to carry on despite challenging times.

Sunak became the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, October 24. The 42-year-old is also the first person of colour to serve as Prime Minister.

Sunak became the Prime Minister less than two months after he lost to Liz Truss in the election race. Truss will step down today, October 25 and Sunak will become the Prime Minister. He will ask King Charles III for symbolic permission to form a government.

Rishi Sunak Gau Pooja

Sunak took his oath as a member of the parliament in the House of Commons holding the Bhagavad Gita. He swore his allegiance to the crown and since there is no restriction on which sacred text the MP may use to take the oath, he took his oath holding the Hindu scripture. Sunak has also often spoken about his Indian heritage and said he is a practising Hindu.

Sunak was born in the United Kingdom to an Indian family and said he wants to change the relationship between the UK and India to make it more of a two-way exchange. While campaigning for the post of Prime Minister, Sunak said, “We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and do things in India, but actually we need to look at that relationship differently.”

Sunak added that people in the UK could learn from India and wanted to make it easier for UK students to travel to India and learn. He said, “it’s not just a one-way relationship, it’s a two-way relationship, and that’s the type of change I want to bring to that relationship”.

The Member of Parliament has gained the support of Hindu communities and associations based out of India. The United States group Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) endorsed Sunak and some UK residents organised a havan praying for Sunak’s success.

The Prime Ministerial elections closed on September 2, 2022, and the new Tory leader and Prime Minister to succeed Boris Johnson will be confirmed on September 5. The results will be announced today at 5 PM and either Sunak or Liz Truss will be named the next UK Prime Minister.

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