Recently Mr Vjiay Jolly, Ex-BJP Global Convener Overseas Affairs along with Mr Vijay Mehta, Merchant Banker & Vice President Delhi Study Group visited the Asian Voice office during their visit to the United Kingdom.
Their visit seeks in promoting people to people friendship. The diplomatic initiatives were taken by the government of India, but we as public spirited individuals who have connections not only in London but worldwide. Mr Jolly said, “I am firmly on a global spree, to connect with the Indian diaspora and promote people to people friendship and understanding.”
Among the many things discussed, they talked about Indian politics, in Delhi Mr Jolly said Arvind Kejriwal's style of functioning has been hammering the traditional political parties and the traditional political system and that caught the imagination of the people. Plus when they split from the Anna Hazare movement to create the party, people still expected that Congress never did anything, BJP kept loosing Delhi so this time let's try them.
Other things discussed were the elections in Punjab, the current situation between India and Pakistan and its implications in practical terms. Coming from a person who has been with the BJP for the last 40 years, serving many posts under different Indian Prime Minister’s his views were insightful.
Today India is the third largest investor in Britain with 140 projects after the United States of America with 570 projects and China with 156 projects. After UK's exit from EU, there exists a potential trade & investment opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs. Vijay Mehta who having over 35 years of experience in business simply said: “The confidence of the corporate world in Mr Modi’s government could easily be gauged by the response to the Sensex stock market.”
In addition the global investor's confidence in the ability of the Indian economy to roll over. There was gloom before, I still remember when we came over here and castigated the Congress about the lack of Foreign Direct investment coming in. The attempt has made in producing a corruption free movement, starting from the top, that is immense confidence in what people in India and overseas have about India, Mr Jolly added.
Vijay Mehta explained that the surge in the economy can be gauged by the order book of the capital goods manufacturers as they are the ones supplying the machinery and unless new machinery is ordered expansion is not going to take place. The cement industry, for example, is doing really well meaning there is a lot of construction going on. Capital goods are being ordered meaning that people are expanding. He says “After another 2 years, the results will be clearly seen. India today is already seen as an economically strong country all over the world. We will continue to be among the top 10 economies in the world and slowly we are going to inch forward and try to be number 5. In the ease of doing business, we have improved our performance from 150th, we are close to 78. These are all good signs.”
Their visit to the UK will involve the gentlemen meeting with leaders of BAPS Swami Narayan temple, seeking the Southall Gurdwara’s Guruji's blessings & meeting with prominent Sikh leaders. They have also been specially invited by Maa Charity Trust, UK to attend Pravachan & spiritual guidance program by Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara. They will pay a courtesy call on Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna, now Ambassador-designate to the US.
Finally, on 30th September, The Punjabi Society of the British Isles hosted an exclusive dinner reception at Bombay Palace for Mr Vijay Jolly, along with Mr Vijay Mehta, visiting the UK to promote ‘People to People Friendship’ between India and the UK.
The Chairman of the Punjabi Society of British Isles, Atul Pathak CBE, the Society’s Patron, Dr Rami Ranger CBE, CB Patel, Professor Nat Puri and Lord Loomba CBE gave speeches in praise of the Indian Government under Shri Narendra Modi and Mr Jolly’s hard work. Tribute was also paid to the 18 soldiers who were murdered in Uri and applauded the surgical strikes conducted in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir.
In his speech, Mr Jolly praised the Indian community in the UK for their hard work and for promoting India overseas. He stated that India is proud of their achievements and will maintain close ties. Chairman Mr Pathak presented the pride of India award to Mr Jolly and Mr Mehta who both presented the Society’s Committee members with Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s book. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks given by Dr Ravi Gidhar.
