'Have gotten NRIs to pool $100m for Viksit Amritsar': Taranjit Singh Sandhu

‘Have gotten NRIs to pool $100m for Viksit Amritsar’: Taranjit Singh Sandhu

Like the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP has again shown faith in a former diplomat, Taranjit Singh Sandhu (61), from Amritsar parliamentary seat. The former Indian ambassador to the US and Indian high commissioner to Sri Lanka shares his vision with Sanjeev Verma on his future strategy & issues of Amritsar

What is your vision for Punjab and the main issues with which you are approaching voters?

My first focus is on Amritsar and its development. After so many years and despite being one of the top cities of India after Independence, Amritsar today is facing major issues. Starting from law and order, there are extortion calls, open shootings, robberies, thefts, and harassment of women, especially pulling their chains. In Amritsar, which used to have people going out at night as its food is well known, people don’t get out at night nowadays. Second major problem is drugs here in both urban and rural areas. A lot of fathers have lost their sons to drugs. Youth have energy and that needs to be utilised. We also have an increasing problem of unemployment and lowincome generation in urban and rural areas. All these require immediate addressing, and my focus is on that.

What is the ‘Viksit Amritsar Initiative’ being spearheaded by you with NRIs?

Viksit Amritsar Initiative is being spearheaded by a group of NRIs and many of them belong to Amritsar. They have announced assistance for startups and development-oriented entrepreneurs in Amritsar. We have pooled in 100 million US dollars, which is about Rs 830 crore, and we have invited applications for projects ranging across developmental issues — health, tourism, agriculture, industry, commerce, skill development, education, information technology, and home building since there is a problem of houses in this constituency. Focus is also on women and youth entrepreneurs. This also includes USISPF (US-India Strategic Partnership Forum) headed by Mukesh Aghi and Ficci (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries). They had held an initial meeting in Amritsar on April 2.

BJP has not won Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency in last three elections, including a bypoll. Since you have been out of Punjab throughout your professional career till a few months ago, isn’t it difficult for local voters to have confidence in you?

I don’t think so because I have delivered in my last position. You have seen that the relationship with the US has transformed into a partnership with India. A lot of investment from prominent companies is coming to India, including in the areas of semiconduc tors and solar power. You look at Google, Microsoft, and IBM, and also the skilling of manpower has started. So, I think I can bring those contacts for the development of Amritsar, like the Viksit Amritsar Initiative, and technology can also resolve many of these problems, including sanitation and water. There is mixing of sanitation and water in Amritsar, and we are in 2024. If you look at the case of Indore, it has transformed into one of the most beautiful cities of India in six years. I have a clear vision. Similarly, connectivity is important. There are 1.5 lakh visitors that come to Amritsar (daily) and if we can transform these visitors into tourists, it can make a major economic difference. Similarly, we can connect Amritsar products for exports. A year and a half ago, I got Hero Cycles connected with Walmart. We have a lot of hosiery and a lot of woollen, even though they are down. It is just about writing that a product is from Amritsar. We have one million Punjabi Bhaichara who would love to purchase such a product for emotional reasons.

You are also facing protesting farmers and black flags, like most BJP leaders in Punjab. How do you handle this?

I think that is more of a biased protest. I am going to villages with my vision. The main objective is increasing the income of farmers and I have three very clear solutions which I have put forward. I am asking farmers if there is anything that can be contributed, I’ll be very happy. As I said, the most important thing is to increase farmers’ income, whether it is done by industry or cooperatives or by unions. And, they (farmers) are listening.

Farmers also question how you are so convinced that the BJP-led NDA govt, which could not find a permanent solution to issues before the Lok Sabha elections, will resolve those issues in case it is again voted to power?

I am confident. I don’t know what you mean by they (Centre) could not resolve the issue. Look at the MSP (minimum support price). Compare the percentage increase in MSP during Prime Minister Modi’s time with any of the earlier govts. You will see the difference as the statistics will speak. Even now there is an MSP available for wheat and you see even the selling price is more than that. The issue is that productivity needs to increase for the product. Second, in Amritsar, we grow a lot of vegetables and fruits. Those fruits should be exported. Look at the selling price in Amritsar, in Dubai and look at in the UK. You’ll see a glaring difference of at least 15-20 times there(abroad). So why should we not export when Amritsar has an international airport and the cargo facility here being used is only 20%? Similarly, there is no agro-processing unit for matars (peas) and nashpatis (pears) as we have ‘patharnags’, which is a very juicy fruit and has iron. It needs to be marketed. So, I am focusing on issues which will touch people and increase their income.

Release of Bandi Singhs has been a big issue in Punjab, especially in your constituency. Do you see such prisoners, who have even completed over 30 years in jails, as a threat if they are released? Most of them have never created trouble while they have been coming out on parole or furlough, or even inside jails.

This matter is being dealt with by courts, so let people who are responsible take a decision on that. This is an issue which I don’t want to get into since it’s legal. Nobody has raised this issue with me during my campaign.

Akal Takht and SGPC are headquartered in your Lok Sabha constituency. People raise the question why has the BJP-led NDA govt not conducted SGPC elections after its last five-year term ended in Dec 2016?

I think SGPC was a very progressive organisation. If you look at its history when it was formed, it was the first one which gave women voting rights. Subsequently, SGPC has performed a lot of progressive activities — including providing scholarships to students. Those people included Partap Singh Kairon. I think SGPC needs to do people and welfare-oriented work which it used to do earlier. As far as elections are concerned, there is a tribunal which looks after it. I think they best who can answer this question.

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