Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Sunak visits Swaminarayan Temple in Kenton

Sunak visits Swaminarayan Temple in Kenton

Prime minister Rishi Sunak visited the Sri Kutchh Satsang Swaminarayan Temple in Kenton, northwest London, on Sunday with former MP Bob Blackman and other leaders.

Swami Shri Madhavapriyadas and Santavallabhdas honoured Sunak with garlands, as he accepted an invitation to the 'Vadtal Sri Lakshminarayan Dev Bicentenary Mahotsav.'


Sunak received a statue of Sarangpur Kashtabhanjandev from the temple leaders and said, "I will place this idol in front of me while reciting Hanuman Chalisa."

Sunak said the Conservative Party follows the values of religion. (Photo credit: The Conservative Party/Flickr) Sunak said the Conservative Party follows the values of religion. (Photo credit: The Conservative Party/Flickr)

He participated in aarti to Sri Ghanshyam Maharaj and received blessings from Swami Madhava Priyadas and other saints.

Sunak expressed gratitude, saying, “It is our good fortune to receive the warm welcome and blessings of the saints. We feel blessed. I was brought up in a temple environment. Bob Blackman always speaks proudly about the Harrow Temple community. Our Conservative Party follows the values of religion. Bob is your representative. We are here to serve, and I will continue to serve you. Our Conservative Party needs a sensible MP like Bob Blackman in office.”

Swami Madhavapriyadas called Sunak the pride of the UK and India. "Thousands of Indian brothers and sisters in the UK love you. Under your leadership, the relationship between India and Great Britain has grown stronger and will continue to do so,” he said.

Sunak participated in aarti to Sri Ghanshyam Maharaj. Sunak participated in aarti to Sri Ghanshyam Maharaj. ((Photo credit: The Conservative Party/Flickr)

Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East until parliament was dissolved, introduced the temple leaders and volunteers to Sunak.

Temple leaders and committee members welcomed the prime minister. Councillor Kanti Dhanji Rabadia, councillor Nitesh Hirani, and other leaders were also present.

“We are fortunate to have the first Hindu prime minister in the UK. He works hard for us as common servants of the country. Council members of Harrow also work hard for your well-being and safety. We hope for your cooperation,” Blackman said.

More For You

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less
illegal-migrants-getty

According to government data, over 36,800 people crossed the Channel in 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Labour government reports highest illegal migrant removals since 2018

THE LABOUR government announced on Thursday that it had removed 16,400 illegal migrants since taking office in July, the fastest rate of removals since 2018.

On taking office, prime minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous Conservative government's scheme to send migrants who arrive illegally to Rwanda, instead setting up a Border Security Command to crack down on illegal migration – a huge political issue in Britain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

Shafaz Khan (L), Choudhry Rashied (Photo: Home Office)

Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

TWO London-based men have been sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after being convicted of breaching UK immigration law by trying to smuggle four Indian migrants in a hidden van compartment disguised by a stack of dirty tyres.

According to the UK Home Office, British nationals Shafaz Khan and Choudhry Rashied, who operated under the alias ‘Manzar Mian Attique’, hid the group of migrants behind the tyres in a “purpose built” hidden space in the vehicle.

Keep ReadingShow less