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 Dr Jaishankar. He's also been positive about that. There are statistics which support that"

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 who previously served 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 BJP a 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 and clear. Focus on the development of Amritsar. Amritsar which was one of the top 10 cities of India and today it is really lagging behind. So very simple focus, 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, or even tourism and if we look at the burning issues of the people, law and order, drugs, civic, these are problems which are deeply impacting 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 public service, connecting the countries in which I was posted to India. Politics is another platform but still, I'm connecting Amritsar with the centre, because this is a parliamentary election and also beyond.

WION: How is your experience as a diplomat as ambassador, Ambassador in the US, and High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, how does it help the people of Amritsar, if you win?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Definitely, my experience can help in enhancing incomes, and bringing in investments, and startups, which are very important for the youth. Amritsar also has 45% of the population which is 26 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's not a single cargo flight outside. Especially for Amritsar, if it has unique circumstances. Industry, commerce, and agriculture, the incomes can rise dramatically, at least 15 to 20 times, if only we can enhance this cargo collection.

WION: Punjab has the maximum diaspora including states like Kerala, the global diaspora. So many Punjabis across the world. Any plans to open new consulates in Punjab, in Amritsar so that 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. I would like one of those consulates to be opened in Amritsar because as you said, a large amount of diaspora is Punjabi. Many of these visitors who come, actually come for Darshan and we can also enhance the health tourism in Amritsar and also, destination weddings in Amritsar. So, Connectivity will greatly help. I know United is very keen to fly into Amritsar and through Air Canada, and so many other airlines. And you know, we have had the International Airport here for years.

WION: Have you reached out to the American side, and spoken to them?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Well, I have certainly spoken to Ambassador Garcetti, and I know he will positively recommend that. I've also spoken to Dr. Jaishankar. He's also been positive about that. There are statistics which support that. But your second question was regarding the students. And I think a number of US institutions who are already in India, at least 80 of them have 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 here and one year in the United States, and similarly, startups. There is a lot of potential for startups in Amritsar, which has missed this, in tourism, in a whole lot of other industries. So, a large amount of Punjabi diaspora, which you mentioned about you know, there are about 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. Today Hero cycles are being sold at Walmart. The first time I spoke to the CEO, he was wondering, but today he realizes how well because there's an emotional link. Just think Amritsar, we have Phulkari, we have handicrafts, we have even simple things like papad wadiyan of Amritsar. We have scarves, we have shawls, and the woollen industry of Amritsar, even in present circumstances, even if we put products from Amritsar and can get them across Walmart, others, and Amazon, they will sell like hotcakes. Not only Punjabi bhaichara but I can tell you people from across the border as well will buy 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 backseat and that is not good. I gave you the example of Amritsar but see in Punjab. In Amritsar, these are existential issues. You go to any of the colonies, and you see 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 an example, if indoors in six years can transform why not Amritsar?

WION: Any solution to the drug issue...

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: So drugs issue first, it needs to be looked at with an open eye. A lot of promises have been made, but there needs to be certain accountability on who's involved in this, and those people need to be prosecuted. Central agencies like the drug enforcement authority as well as NIA need to look into this and people who are involved with that, need to be prosecuted and 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 to be focused on skills. The third is rehabilitation. In rehabilitation, the focus needs to be bringing people out of that situation and not the rehabilitation centres become actually platforms for selling drugs. You know, some medicines sold by the US, and the Amritsar diaspora, the medical doctors are very keen to help out. Now, a combination of all this needs to be brought in. Drone technology needs to be utilized.

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

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: You mentioned connectivity, I've already mentioned it to you. Connectivity is very important, especially from Amritsar. Connectivity can be done in three ways. One, I mentioned to you about air cargo, 20% utilization, we have 80% facilities available, and we don't have a single cargo flight. The second is through the border. Now, we are able to send our products, both industrial as well as agricultural, to even Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Dubai, which are part of the India, Middle East, and Europe corridor. PM during the UAE visit signed an agreement. A whole lot of products can be sold in the country. Lulu has a factory in Mohali. If our products are sold, I'm confident there's no way Pakistan can stop the transit. The transit needs to be opened up. So that's the second way. The third way is the rail connection. So all these three alternatives including what you have mentioned about the Attari- Wagah border, if we have all these 3 alternatives, will help. If tomorrow, even one of the alternatives shuts down, 2 others are working.

WION: What do you make of the recent comments, first about Maryam Nawaz and her remarks to Indian Sikh Pilgrims and comments by Pakistani businessmen on trade with India?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: So I 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 security advice he 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, which of course, the Indian side has rebutted over visa controversy. What do you make of these Western narratives, and comments over Indian elections?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Look, I'll only say look at any of the elections, look at the elections in 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 at the 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 do u make 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 Amritsar and what people have got in return are developmental problems. You have seen foreign policy touching the people, especially in the last four years, I can talk from the example of the United States, and India, which has transformed the relationship, has transformed into a partnership. So, therefore, I think Amritsar will be a very interesting case. And I can already see the narrative is coming on development. Many of my opponents for so many years they forgotten about developmental issues. Today, they have held important positions, and they need to be accountable to people. And they are also not talking about their contribution to development. Or I would say actually, it's a contribution to the decline of Amritsar. But most importantly, I want them to look to the future and everybody should come together and give suggestions, not talk about great things one has done because if so many great things have been done Amritsar would not be in this kind of situation which I mentioned.