Delay in Bengaluru Consulate Due to Gujarat Prioritization: Karnataka Minister
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Synopsis
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted the delay in setting up the US Consulate in Bengaluru due to prioritization in Gujarat. The consulate is set to be inaugurated by US Ambassador Eric Garcetti on January 17.
Key Takeaways
- Delay in Bengaluru consulate due to focus on Gujarat.
- US Consulate to be inaugurated on January 17.
- Economic significance rather than political influence determines consulate locations.
- Bengaluru is a key hub for trade and investment.
- Initial operations may be limited.
Bengaluru, Jan 16 (NationPress) Karnataka Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge asserted on Thursday that the importance placed on a consulate in Gujarat has resulted in a hold-up for establishing one in Bengaluru.
The US Consulate is set to be inaugurated in the city of Bengaluru on January 17 (Friday) by Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India.
Minister Kharge remarked, “The determination to set up consulates lies with the respective governments, influenced by the economic relevance of a location, rather than the whims of BJP MPs or the External Affairs Minister.”
Kharge expressed confidence that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who dedicated 38 years to national service across various administrations (predominantly under Congress), would concur.
He emphasized that Bengaluru is a logical choice for a US consulate, highlighting its flourishing environment for investments and trade that benefits both the US and India.
“Perhaps BJP MPs and S. Jaishankar should create candid reels about how the pressure from the ‘Supreme Leader’ to prioritize a consulate in Gujarat delayed the establishment in Bengaluru,” he quipped, referencing a reel by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya thanking Jaishankar for the consulate.
Furthermore, Kharge urged BJP MPs to stop misleading the public. While the Consulate is set to open soon, it will initially only serve Americans, and visa processing will take time, he noted.
In anticipation of the US Consulate opening, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya met with EAM Jaishankar on Wednesday, presenting him with traditional Mysuru Pak sweets and expressing gratitude to the central government for facilitating the consulate in Bengaluru.
Details regarding consulate officials and location are yet to be disclosed; however, reports indicate that it will initially operate with a limited staff from the JW Marriott Hotel on Vittal Mallya Road before relocating to a permanent site.
Late Wednesday, Bengaluru South MP Surya shared a video with the Foreign Minister celebrating the US Consulate's forthcoming presence. “This achievement is solely due to PM Narendra Modi and S. Jaishankar’s efforts. What better way to express gratitude than with our own Mysuru Pak!” the video caption stated.
Surya also noted, “The presence of a US Consulate in Bengaluru will greatly benefit thousands of local students. The city is recognized as the country’s IT capital and hosts numerous multinational companies. The Consulate will enhance commerce and trade between our nations and facilitate travel for business professionals and entrepreneurs. I appreciate the Modi Government for consistently promoting Bengaluru's interests and fulfilling this long-standing request.”
In March 2023, Surya sought Jaishankar’s backing for the US Consulate in Bengaluru, leading to Jaishankar assuring him that he would emphasize this request during his next meeting with Mr. Anthony Blinken (then the US Secretary of State).
Surya had previously approached Jaishankar in November 2019 with a formal request for a US consulate in Bengaluru.
“Bengaluru is home to approximately 750 multinational companies, with around 370 based in the United States. The region accounts for a substantial number of students and business travelers to the US. Establishing a fully operational US Consulate in Bengaluru, instead of the current virtual consulate, would be a significant convenience for at least half a million residents of Karnataka, alleviating the pressure on the consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad,” he highlighted in a letter dated November 18, 2019.
Additionally, he had made a request in March 2020 to the then-US Ambassador to India, Dr. Kenneth Juster.
Bengaluru has been advocating for a US Consulate for a long time, with Surya actively pursuing this goal since his election as MP in 2019. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023, it was announced that the US would open two new consulates -- in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad -- and India would set up a mission in Seattle.
