UK PM Rishi Sunak offers prayers at Delhi's Akshardham temple

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), offered prayers at Akshardham Temple on Sunday morning. Sunak left the Akshardham Temple grounds after praying to follow international leaders to Rajghat.

Sunak, who was accompanied by his wife Akshata Murthy, performed 'puja' during his visit to the temple.

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On Saturday, Sunak attended the G20 Summit here at the Bharat Mandapam and also attended the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. On Sunday morning, he was at the Rajghat here along with other dignitaries to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

Extensive security measures were put in place in and around the temple ahead of the UK Prime Minister's visit.

Rishi Sunak also expressed the hope that he will have time to visit a temple while in India for the G20 Summit. He has stated that he has "enormous respect" for Prime Minister Modi and is eager to assist him in making the G20 a huge success.

"I am a devout Hindu." That's how I was raised and still am. Hopefully, I'll be able to visit the Mandir when I'm here for the next several days. "We just had Rakshabandhan, so I have all my Rakhis from my sister and cousin," Rishi Sunak explained.

"I couldn't celebrate Janmashtami because I didn't have time." But, as I already stated, I hope to make amends if we visit a Mandir this time," he continued.


He went on to say that faith is very essential because it provides strength and resilience during times of adversity.

An Akshardham temple official previously told ANI that all preparations for the arrival of United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Narayana Murty on Sunday had been completed.

Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, arrived in Delhi on Friday. This is Rishi Sunak's first visit to India as Prime Minister after taking office in the United Kingdom in October of last year.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the United Kingdom share deep historical and cultural links. India's multidimensional bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2004.

(Inputs from ANI)