UK: Hindu Lawmakers Alok Sharma And Rishi Sunak Take Oath As MPs On Bhagwad Gita In House of Commons     

British Cabinet Minister Alok Sharma and chief secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak took oath as members of Parliament on Tuesday (17 December) holding the sacred Bhagwad Gita, reports Hindustan Times.

Sharma, who was born in India was elected for the fourth time from Reading West, while Sunak, son-in-law of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, was re-elected the third time from Richmond, Yorkshire constituency.

Holding a copy of Hindu’s holy book Gita, Sharma and Sunak said the standard words of the oath: “I (name of member) swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God”.

In UK, members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords take an oath of allegiance to the crown.

On Thursday (18 December), the House of Commons elected in the 12 December election has the most number of members of ethnic minority communities in British history, with 65 non-whites, including 15 of Indian origin.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson took the oath holding the Bible, he said, “I would say it is one of the best parliaments this country has ever produced with more female members than ever before, with more black and minority ethnic members than ever before,”.