I am not here for the conventional political activity. I am here to make a difference.  The people of Amritsar are full of life and extrovert. They are not timid. They assert themselves and are willing to grow.  What is it that can turn Amritsar into one of India’s most fascinating cities? I visualize Amritsar as a much cleaner city, with broad roads, a lot of flyovers, elevated bus corridor, with a proper sewage and drainage system.

I visualize it as a city which has modern industries at the outskirts and is buzzing with trade. I visualize it as a primary tourism circuit where the tourism infrastructure comprising of restaurants, guest houses, hotels, dhabas is extensive.  I dream of it as a city which has proper public transport system. I visualize Amritsar with a lot more educational institutions, ITIs and skill development centres.

Why should not Amritsar have a world class sports complex an amusement park, a walking bazaar where handicrafts are sold, a food street where people arrive from all over to enjoy the delicacies of Punjab, especially Amritsar. I can foresee the highway to Attari, buzzing with warehouses, offices and hotels which become the centre of border trade. I visualize a drug free Amritsar where the drug smuggling across the border is handled as strictly as the terrorist infiltration. I visualize Amritsar as safe city where there is zero tolerance for crimes against women.

For all this to happen, investment is required.  I have decided to dedicate myself for this purpose.  Amritsar requires a different kind of politics.  It should be increasingly become more issue oriented and less personality oriented.  It is only then that the people here can collectively make a difference.

(Author is leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha)

(Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not reflect the views of Mediabharti.com- Editor)