Lok Sabha polls 2024: Taranjit Singh Sandhu, BJP's Amritsar candidate, proposes US consulate in Indian city

In a bid to bolster Amritsar's international standing and facilitate easier access for the Indian diaspora, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the -Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency-Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that he will push for the opening up of a US consulate in Amritsar. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal,Sandhu,said,"I have certainly spoken to Ambassador Garcetti, and I know he will positively recommend that. I've also spoken to DrJaishankar. He's also been positive about that. There are statistics which supportthat"

His proposal aims to streamline consular services for residents and diaspora members, eliminating the need for extensive travel to Delhi for documentation and visas.Sandhu, a former career diplomat whopreviouslyserved as India's ambassador to the United States and India's high commissioner to Sri Lanka, is keen to bring a wealth of experience and diplomatic acumen as he makes his political foray. He joined the BJPa few weeks ago in Delhi.

Responding to recent statements from Pakistan on India-Pakistan ties, Sandhu emphasised the importance of reciprocal actions and urged for the resumption of transit trade across the border. "It was not India which stopped the trade. So definitely, it's time that Pakistan also provides Most Favoured Nation treatment and open the transit across Pakistan," Sandhu stated.He also envisions Amritsar as a crucial connectivity hub, advocating for the city's role in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor announced during the G20 summit in Delhi. Full Interview:

WION: What will your focus be in Amritsar as a BJP candidate?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Very simple andclear. Focus on the development of Amritsar. Amritsarwhichwas one of the top 10 cities of India and today it is really lagging behind. Soverysimplefocus, development in different parts. And if you look at Amritsar today, whether in terms of income, unemployment, in terms of industry, in terms of agriculture, terms of commerce, oreven tourism and if we look at the burning issues of the people, law and order, drugs, civic, these are problems which aredeeplyimpacting the people.

WION:Someone who was part of the bureaucracy, now going into politics, how do you see this transition?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: I don't see it necessarily in a different way. I see my first as part of what you call a diplomacy career. It was a publicservice,connecting the countriesin whichIwas postedto India.Politics is another platformbutstill, I'mconnecting Amritsar with thecentre,because this is a parliamentary election andalsobeyond.

WION: How is your experience as a diplomat as ambassador, Ambassador in the US, andHigh Commissioner in Sri Lanka, howdoes it help the people ofAmritsar,if you win?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Definitely, my experience can help in enhancingincomes,andbringing ininvestments,and startups, which are very important for the youth. Amritsar also has 45% of the populationwhichis26 years and below.Connectivity as well.Connectivity again, in terms of tourism, because we have nearly one and a half lakh people coming in as visitors and converting visitors into tourists will enhance the local incomes. Technology will help in upgradation, improving productivity and second, the cargo. You know the cargo utilization in Amritsar is just 20%, there'snot a single cargo flight outside. Especially forAmritsar,if it has unique circumstances.Industry, commerce, andagriculture, the incomescan rise dramatically, at least 15 to 20 times, if only we can enhance this cargo collection.

WION: Punjab has the maximum diasporaincludingstates like Kerala, the global diaspora. So many Punjabis across the world.Anyplans to open new consulates in Punjab, in Amritsarsothat people don't have to travel from far-off places in Punjab to Delhi or Chandigarh?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: So,there are definitely three ways I can straightaway see.One, of course, you mentioned about the consulates.The US has permission to open two consulates. Iwould likeone of those consulates to be opened in Amritsarbecauseas you said, a large amount of diaspora is Punjabi.Many of these visitors whocome,actually come for Darshanandwe can also enhance the health tourism in Amritsar andalso,destination weddings in Amritsar.So,Connectivitywillgreatlyhelp. I know United is very keen to fly into Amritsar and through AirCanada,and so many other airlines. And you know, we have had the International Airport here for years.

WION: Have youreached out tothe Americanside,and spoken to them?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu:Well, I havecertainlyspoken to Ambassador Garcetti,andIknow he will positively recommend that.I've alsospokento Dr. Jaishankar. He's also beenpositiveabout that. There are statistics which support that.But your second question was regarding the students. And I think a number of US institutionswho arealready in India, at least 80 ofthemhave set up joint campuses with existing Indian universities under the new education policy, joint research work, intertwining of degrees, you know, three plus one is already under implementation.Three plus one with IITS means three years hereand oneyear in the United States, and similarly, startups.There is a lot of potential for startups in Amritsar, which has missedthis,in tourism, in a whole lot ofother industries.So, a large amount of Punjabi diaspora, which you mentionedaboutyou know,there areabout 1 million Punjabi Bhaichara in the US. I'll give you one small example. Hero Cycles had approached me about a year and a half ago. TodayHerocycles are being sold at Walmart. The first time I spoke to the CEO, hewas wondering, but todayherealizes how well because there's an emotional link.Just think Amritsar, we have Phulkari,we have handicrafts, we haveeven simple things like papad wadiyan of Amritsar.We have scarves,we haveshawls, andthe woollen industry of Amritsar, evenin present circumstances, even if we put products from Amritsar and can get them across Walmart, others, andAmazon, they will sell like hotcakes. Not only Punjabi bhaicharabutI can tell you people from across the borderas well willbuy it.

WION: Where do you see yourself in the politics of Punjab?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Politics in any democratic polity is always very robust. And Punjab is no different. Unfortunately, development has taken a backseatandthat is not good. I gave you the example of Amritsarbutsee in Punjab. In Amritsar, these are existential issues.You go to any of the colonies,andyousee perhaps one of the few cities where sewerage and drinking water are intermixing.You can imagine how poisonous and how unhealthy that can be. It is bringing problems.I always give anexample,if indoors in six years cantransformwhy not Amritsar?

WION: Any solution to the drug issue...

Taranjit Singh Sandhu:Sodrugs issue first, itneeds to be looked at with an open eye.A lot ofpromises havebeen made, butthere needs to becertainaccountability on who's involved in this, and those people need tobe prosecuted. Central agencies like the drug enforcement authority as well as NIA need to look into thisandpeople who are involved withthat,need to beprosecutedand put behind bars. Number two, we certainly need to generate employment for the youth and that employment needs to be skill-oriented, not degree-oriented. And that also brings in education. Amritsar has a lot of universities, as well as engineering colleges and medical colleges. They need to be updated. That education needs tobe focusedon skills. The third is rehabilitation. In rehabilitation, the focus needs to be bringing people out of that situationandnot the rehabilitation centres become actually platforms for selling drugs.You know, some medicines sold by theUS,and the Amritsar diaspora, the medical doctors are very keen to helpout.Now, a combination of all this needs tobe brought in. Drone technology needs tobe utilized.

WION: How can Amritsar become a connectivity hub in the region?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: You mentionedconnectivity, I'vealready mentioned it to you. Connectivity isvery important, especially from Amritsar. Connectivity canbe donein three ways. One, I mentionedto you aboutair cargo, 20% utilization, we have 80% facilities available, and we don't have a single cargo flight. The second is through the border.Now,weare able tosend our products, both industrialas well asagricultural, to even Saudi Arabia, UAE, andDubai, which are part of the India, Middle East, andEurope corridor.PMduringthe UAEvisitsigned an agreement. A wholelot of products can be soldin the country.Lulu has a factory in Mohali.If our productsare sold, I'm confident there's no way Pakistan can stop the transit. The transit needs tobe opened up.So that's the second way. The third way is the rail connection. So all these three alternativesincludingwhat you have mentioned about the Attari- Wagah border, if we have all these3alternatives, will help.Iftomorrow, evenone of the alternatives shuts down,2others are working.

WION: What do you make of the recent comments, firstabout Maryam Nawaz and her remarks to Indian Sikh Pilgrims and comments by Pakistanibusinessmenon trade with India?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu:SoI will leave it to the MEA to comment on that. But I will only mention and draw your attention to PM Modi, who responded swiftly to an invite by Maryam's father, then Prime Minister Sharif for a wedding invitation, and against all securityadvicehe went there. So he's always taken those initiatives. I think definitely for Amritsar, this will be a welcome, that is opening of transit trade. And what goes into it, you know, it was not India which stopped the trade. So definitely, it's time that Pakistan also provides the Most Favoured Nation treatment and opens the transit across Pakistan.

WION: We have seen a lot of comments by the Western media over India's elections. There have been a few controversies as well, whichofcourse, the Indian side has rebutted over visa controversy. What do you make of these Westernnarratives,andcomments over Indian elections?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu:Look, I'll only say look at any of the elections, lookat theelectionsin the US. There is so much one can comment on. Every democratic polity has its own robust competition, so it's best to look at one's own before commenting on others, but atthe end of the day, I think if you look at the US investments coming into India, I think the confidence is growing every day. And that also speaks for itself.

WION: What doumake of the future of BJP in Punjab?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: I think it has a lot of future because Punjab has tried all different parties, even Amritsarandwhat people have got in return are developmental problems. You have seen foreign policy touching the people, especially in the last four years, Ican talk from the example of the UnitedStates,andIndia, which has transformed the relationship, has transformed into a partnership.So,therefore, I think Amritsar will bea very interestingcase. And I can already see the narrative is coming on development. Many of my opponents for so many yearstheyforgotten about developmental issues. Today, they have held important positions,andtheyneed to be accountable to people.And they are also not talking about their contribution to development. Or I would sayactually, it's a contribution to the decline of Amritsar.But most importantly, I want them to look to the futureandeverybody should come together and give suggestions, not talk about great things one has done because if so many great things havebeendoneAmritsar would not be in this kind of situation which I mentioned.