UK MP Dhesi calls on Union ministers over flights issue

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 22

UK MP and an NRI from Jalandhar Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi today said he visited Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Commerce and Industry Minister Som Parkash in New Delhi.

Dhesi appraised the ministers of the long-pending demand from the large NRI diaspora and those within the Punjab for direct flights between Amritsar and London.

He emphasised that the best way to initiate direct flights would be for the national carrier Air India to demonstrate leadership by initiating this route, before other international airlines too realise that it would be beneficial for them and travellers.

During the meeting, Minister Som Parkash said: “I certainly favour more direct flights, as that will boost commerce, trade and tourism within the Punjab and neighbouring states. We listened intently to the details of the demand and my colleague Puri assured MP Dhesi that the Union Government will try to ensure it happens as soon as possible opportunity.”

Civil Aviation Minister Puri informed that he would look into the matter with his officials to see what could be done as he certainly wanted the holy town of Amritsar to progress and become a stronger gateway for North India and beyond.

MP Dhesi, whose owns Slough constituency (close to Heathrow airport) has a lot of Punjabis residing, thanked both ministers for their time and added, “Since being elected, I have been taking this legitimate demand of the diaspora community to Indian ministers, because people, especially the elderly and those with young children, do not want the inconvenience of time delays, stopovers and changing aircrafts.”

“Besides boosting trade, tourism and cultural ties between both nations, it will no doubt prove lucrative for operators, since Amritsar is visited by millions of worshippers/tourists each year and it is high time there was a direct link between the global centre of London and the spiritual centre of Amritsar,” he added.