UK MP for restarting flights to Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 18

As committed by him during his July trip to Punjab, UK Member of Parliament from Slough Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi has reportedly held a string of meetings with various international airlines and has even written to the High Commissioner of India regarding restarting direct flights between Amritsar and the United Kingdom (UK).

Dhesi has written on his Facebook, “It was wonderful to meet up earlier this week with David Hodges, Virgin Atlantic Senior Manager External Affairs and soon-to-be Head of India Operations. During an hour-long session, I presented various facts and figures about the potential of a very lucrative route to the global tourist capital Amritsar, visited by millions each year. I highlighted the incentives being offered by the Punjab Government and the overwhelming wishes of the Punjabi diaspora within my Slough constituency, Britain and beyond. Grateful to David, who said that he would look into this very seriously and make a decision in consultation with other senior people in his firm.”

He had also written to the High Commissioner of India YK Sinha, saying the eight-hour direct flight, which was run earlier was snapped in 2010, needs to be restored.

Dhesi hails from Raipur village in Jalandhar and his paternal uncle Paramjit Singh Raipur is an SGPC member and former JIT chairman.