SUNAK BETS ON ISLAMIC SCARE VOTE

AT last, the Empire strikes back. Britain’s current Captain Kirk— Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who could be easily mistaken for a Bengali bhadralok or a Gujarati barrister of the 1900s—is betting on ‘Agli Baar, Sunak sarkar” by policing its flawed immigration policy.

- PRABHU CHAWLA

Xenophobia is the first refuge of the punitive patriot: to defend the British way of life, Sunak has introduced legislation to ban and deport the “new boat people”. The new law will apply retrospectively. Illegals from war torn Middle Eastern countries crossing the Channel have been entering the UK and turning England into a non-Christian nation. Official data released late last year claimed that less than half of the British population called themselves Christians. Sunak’s legislation hopes to change his nation’s altered religious and social contours. The time tested formula of invoking nationalism and identity politics to rally voters is as original as fish and chips.

The economic policies of Britain’s new White Knight with dark skin isn’t showing results. His leadership over the Conservative Party, dominated by whites, is shaky. His betrayal of one time mentor and the then-PM Boris Johnson still rankles among loyalists. Tech mogul Narayana Murthy’s powerful son-in-law also knows that opinion polls and social influencers identify immigration as one of the top three issues for voters. If Sunak is courting a midterm mandate, speaking the nationalist lingo could redeem his dim prospects. Is he inspired by the Modi Model? The BJP’s power run is thanks to Narendra Modi’s charisma and focus on Hindu identity coupled with economic growth. Sunak is also inspired by the European trend of the extreme right parties winning elections on the platform of protecting national cultural and religious character.