Will get technical, medical help from abroad to build drug rehab centres in Amritsar

Amritsar: Former Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency. In an interview with TNIE’s Harpreet Bajwa, Sandhu emphasized that establishing start-ups could help reduce the brain drain from Punjab, particularly from Amritsar.

The former envoy also highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach to tackling drug problems, including NIA and NCB investigations, using lasers to curb drone smuggling, building rehab centers with international assistance, and creating employment opportunities for youth to prevent them from going back to drugs.

He says, I did not decide per se to jump into the political arena. I was in public service for 36 years, and I believe politics is another means to serve the public. My basic aim is the development of Amritsar. I am focused on Amritsar, and if you go around, you will see the problems that are bothering the city and its people. There is an urgent requirement to focus on developmental issues here.

Amritsar is facing severe law and order problems; the drug issue has worsened, and there are cleanliness issues, including sewage and water intermixing, posing a serious health risk. Many areas have polluting drains and garbage dumps, exacerbating the problem.

Low productivity, income, and employment plague both commerce and agriculture sectors, which I aim to address. Regarding law and order, while it falls under state jurisdiction, we will urge the state government to fulfill its responsibilities. If I am elected and if PM Modi’s government is re-elected at the Centre, there is a constitutional mechanism to compel the state government to act.