BJP MP Tejasvi Surya Expresses Gratitude to EAM Jaishankar for US Consulate in Bengaluru
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Synopsis
On January 16, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya met External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, bringing Mysuru Pak sweets, to thank the government for facilitating the upcoming US Consulate opening in Bengaluru, set for January 17.
Key Takeaways
- Tejasvi Surya met with Dr. S. Jaishankar.
- The US Consulate in Bengaluru opens on January 17.
- Initial operations will be at JW Marriott Hotel.
- Significant benefits for students and businesses.
- Long-standing demand for a consulate fulfilled.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) In anticipation of the inauguration of the US Consulate in Bengaluru, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya visited India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, bringing traditional Mysuru Pak sweets as a token of appreciation for the Central Government's role in establishing the consulate.
The US Consulate is slated to be inaugurated in Bengaluru on January 17 (Friday) by US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, along with other esteemed guests expected to grace the event.
While the names of the Consulate officials and its exact location have not yet been disclosed, reports suggest that the Consulate will operate initially with a limited staff from the JW Marriott Hotel on Vittal Mallya Road before transitioning to a permanent location.
On Wednesday evening, Bengaluru South MP Surya shared a video of his meeting with the Foreign Minister, expressing excitement about the US Consulate's arrival. “This achievement is solely due to the efforts of PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. What better way to show gratitude to our EAM than with our delightful Mysuru Pak!” the video caption stated.
Surya elaborated, “The establishment of a US Consulate in Bengaluru will significantly benefit countless students in the city. As the country’s IT hub and home to numerous multinational corporations, this Consulate will enhance commerce and trade between India and the US, making travel easier for businesspeople and entrepreneurs. I extend my thanks to the Modi Government for their unwavering support in advancing Bengaluru's interests.”
In March 2023, Surya had previously requested Jaishankar’s assistance in establishing the US Consulate in Bengaluru. Jaishankar had responded, pledging to raise the matter with Mr. Anthony Blinken (the then US Secretary of State) with the same vigor as Surya had expressed.
Surya had originally met with Jaishankar in November 2019, presenting a formal request for a US consulate in Bengaluru.
According to Surya’s correspondence dated November 18, 2019, “Bengaluru hosts approximately 750 Multinational Companies, with around 370 headquartered in the United States. Bengaluru and Karnataka collectively represent a substantial number of students and businesspeople traveling to the US. Establishing a fully operational US Consulate in Bengaluru, as opposed to the current virtual consulate, would greatly benefit at least half a million residents of Karnataka and alleviate pressure on the Consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad.”
In March 2020, he also reached out to US Ambassador to India, Dr. Kenneth Juster, with a similar request.
Bengaluru has long sought a US Consulate, with Surya diligently pursuing this objective since his election in 2019. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023, it was revealed that the US would open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India would establish a mission in Seattle.
