Amid the much-anticipated opening of the US consulate in Bengaluru on January 17, political events in Karnataka are locked in a battle for credit score. HD Kumaraswamy, chief of the Janata Dal (Secular) and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Metal, has made a daring declare that he was the primary to suggest the thought of a consulate within the metropolis in 2006, recognizing Bengaluru’s rising significance in expertise and innovation.
On social media, Kumaraswamy shared photographs of his assembly with Ambassador Juster in 2018.(X/@hd_kumaraswamy)
“Thrilled to see the long-awaited US Consulate in #Bengaluru become a reality! As Chief Minister in 2018, I met then-US Ambassador Kenneth Juster to strongly advocate for Bengaluru’s rightful claim for a US Consulate. The images reflect those efforts and the commitment to this vision. A heartfelt thank you to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi and EAM Dr S Jaishankar avaru for their instrumental roles in making this dream come true. This milestone not only elevates Bengaluru’s global stature but also strengthens India-US ties,” Kumaraswamy wrote on X.
Take a look at his submit right here:
This follows BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s vocal claims concerning his position within the improvement, whereas Congress chief Priyank Kharge argued that the consulate’s institution in Bengaluru is a results of the town’s dynamic ecosystem, somewhat than the efforts of BJP MPs or the Exterior Affairs Minister, who had credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the achievement.
Kumaraswamy additionally identified that the plan confronted important setbacks as a result of political interference through the UPA authorities, which briefly diverted the consulate to a different location. Regardless of these obstacles, the previous Chief Minister of Karnataka, in 2018, reignited the trouble, assembly with the then-US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, to advocate for Bengaluru’s strategic significance in world diplomacy.
Kumaraswamy emphasised the importance of the discussions with Juster, stating that the consulate would improve Bengaluru’s standing as a hub for expertise and worldwide collaboration. “This success is a testament to the power of collective effort and belief in Bengaluru’s global significance.”
On social media, Kumaraswamy shared photographs of his assembly with Ambassador Juster in 2018, expressing gratitude in the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Exterior Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for his or her roles in realizing the imaginative and prescient.
At the moment, the US operates consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The Bengaluru consulate is a component of a bigger enlargement plan, which will even see the opening of a consulate in Ahmedabad.
(Additionally Learn: Bengaluru US consulate sparks political row: Congress slams BJP, says ‘issuing visas will take time’)