Tarun Ghulati, a former investment banker now vying independently for the London mayoral race in 2024, finds inspiration in Rishi Sunak's political trajectory. With a commitment to bolstering India-UK relations, Ghulati, a UK resident for twenty years, seeks diverse support from Asian, British, European, and African demographics.
His campaign prioritizes engagement with the Indian diaspora and aims to enhance the quality of life in London, positioning him as a leading contender in the upcoming elections. Don't miss this exclusive interview for more insights.
#London #LondonMayorPolls #LondonMayor #LondonPolls #Indiandiaspora #TarunGhulati #TarunGulati #SadiqKhan #Worldnews #UKnews #Oneinda #Oneindia news
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His campaign prioritizes engagement with the Indian diaspora and aims to enhance the quality of life in London, positioning him as a leading contender in the upcoming elections. Don't miss this exclusive interview for more insights.
#London #LondonMayorPolls #LondonMayor #LondonPolls #Indiandiaspora #TarunGhulati #TarunGulati #SadiqKhan #Worldnews #UKnews #Oneinda #Oneindia news
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NewsTranscript
00:00 So firstly, my connection with India goes back many, many years.
00:03 Unlike Mr. Sunak, I grew up in India.
00:06 Okay, please.
00:07 The Indians create value wherever they go.
00:19 Mr. Sunak, being the first Prime Minister in the UK of Indian origin, does inspire you.
00:26 My father was the Secretary-Government of India.
00:29 So I've been inspired by him.
00:32 My desire is to bring the smiles back on each Londoner.
00:36 There are over 300 languages spoken there.
00:40 As the Mayor of London, which I will be on 2nd of May, 2024, I will not be sitting on a fence.
00:46 Referring to the Khalistanis, of course, they were not parachuted in.
00:49 It's the responsibility of the host nation.
00:52 And the flag being desecrated and disrespected should never have been allowed.
00:57 I grew up here, with your love and affection.
01:00 I want your blessings and prayers.
01:02 The resident of India, from the origin of India, will once again sit on a big throne in the world.
01:09 That will not happen without your prayers and blessings.
01:12 Hello and welcome. You're watching One India News.
01:14 My name is Pankaj Mishra.
01:16 And I am joined by someone who is definitely going to make the heads turn and also grab all the headlines in the days to come.
01:25 Tarun Gulati, the Mayoral candidate for London.
01:29 And he has thrown his hat in the ring, obviously, under the stewardship of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
01:36 Tarun, thank you so much for speaking to us.
01:38 Thank you so much, Pankaj.
01:40 I'm actually an independent candidate.
01:43 I was a Conservative Party member.
01:45 So indeed, Mr. Sunak is the Prime Minister, perhaps standing as an independent.
01:50 And I will be standing against the Conservative candidate.
01:55 And the Labour candidate, who is the current incumbent.
01:57 Delighted to be speaking with One India today.
02:00 Thank you for having me.
02:01 Thank you.
02:02 Obviously, you know, when we look at the UK or London, per se, from India,
02:09 obviously, the leadership is something that has been hogging the limelight.
02:12 And Prime Minister Sunak, obviously, the kind of attachment he has shown with India.
02:19 Recently, we saw visuals of the Diwali celebrations at 10 Downing Street, obviously,
02:25 speaks volumes about the connect with the masses, especially the Indian diaspora there.
02:29 Mr. Gulati, how is your candidacy as of now views the role of Indians there vis-a-vis the current situation in the UK?
02:41 So firstly, my connection with India goes back many, many years.
02:44 Unlike Mr. Sunak, I grew up in India.
02:49 I spent my formative years here.
02:51 I studied here.
02:53 I even worked here.
02:54 So first, maybe 35 years of my life, I was connected directly in India before I started my worldly travels.
03:01 And I've lived all over the world in all continents as a banker.
03:04 So I think the Indians create value wherever they go.
03:09 And particularly in the UK, there are about 1.6 odd million Indians of Indian origin, Indians from Indian origin.
03:18 And they're sort of creating value in businesses, as professionals in different spheres of life.
03:26 And Indian businesses are indeed great trading partners where the UK is concerned.
03:31 So one of the largest trading partners.
03:33 So I think the free trade agreement that is expected to be signed shortly should pave the way for more business, more trade flows.
03:44 And indeed, both the UK and India should benefit after that agreement.
03:49 Right.
03:50 So when we saw, you know, Rishi Sunak becoming the Prime Minister of the UK, obviously, India was at least, you know, gung-ho.
03:58 That, hey, look, one Indian has been at the helm of the affairs there.
04:02 Was there any kind of, I would say, you know, inspiration that you drew from Rishi Sunak?
04:10 Was there some sort of connect that you should be choosing UK as the final destination?
04:14 Firstly, I've lived in the UK for 20 years, although I've lived all over the world.
04:19 London is home for me for the last 20 years.
04:22 And I've sort of, I left a fantastic job, one of the best jobs as an investment banker with HSBC.
04:35 And I decided to call London my home.
04:38 So as far as I'm concerned, certainly, Mr. Sunak being the first Prime Minister in the UK of Indian origin does inspire you.
04:47 And but at the same time, the UK is a place which gives you opportunities.
04:53 There are members in the Houses of Lords, there are members of Parliament.
04:59 So the UK is a fantastic place.
05:02 But if you're doing well, it's for the highest office in the country.
05:07 In terms of my own personal conviction to stand for office, my family has a history from the 19th, 20th, 21st century in public service.
05:18 My father was a secretary of government of India.
05:22 So I've been inspired by him.
05:24 My grandfather on the paternal side studied in London for about seven years in the early 1900s.
05:32 Rose to keep top civil servant first under the British and then with the Republic of India.
05:38 And on the maternal side, we firstly gave Lahore its electricity, my family.
05:45 And then we co-founded Punjab National Bank.
05:48 We also paved the way for what is now called FICCI, which is called the Indian, I think, Associated Chambers of Commerce.
05:56 And one member of the family was also the first agricultural minister for undivided Punjab, which is huge.
06:03 So I've personally been involved with public service for so many years.
06:08 I do a lot of things, which particularly the next generation, the youth, inspire me to learn from them and indeed spend our time with them.
06:15 I run a set of awards for the 21st century icon awards since the past seven years, all below 50 years.
06:24 Where finalists and winners have come from 44 countries to date and media has covered over 80 countries.
06:32 So I try and uplift the youth wherever I go and see these 44 countries.
06:38 The youth has been sort of uplifted in different ways and forms and also sort of a co-founder and co-chair of India's largest startup foundation, which again means that you help the youth and startups.
06:50 And so my inspiration comes from the family, the legacy, and indeed the way I've been brought up and the way my sort of, I'm always looking to do good each day.
07:01 And this gives me an opportunity to stand.
07:03 Absolutely.
07:05 Dharun, you know, the kind of illustrious history that you have just mentioned, the family and also the aspirations that you have leaving aside the, I would say, very lucrative investment banker job.
07:19 And then entering into public service, needless to say, our good wishes are there with you.
07:24 Thank you very much.
07:25 But the one critical aspect, you know, when we talk about London is that, yes, there are two, there are no two ways that you will have the support of the Indian diaspora there.
07:37 But when we talk about the British natives, Europeans, Africans who are there, what strategy, what greater, you know, strategy would you plan to employ to distinguish yourself in this 2024 London Mayoral race?
07:52 That's an excellent question.
07:54 And I'll tell you why I will win.
07:55 Firstly, the current incumbent, Mr.
07:58 Sadiq Khan, has started some policies that are not effective.
08:03 They're not efficient and they need to be abolished.
08:06 For instance, his policy to have the ultra low emission zones.
08:10 For instance, if you're driving a vehicle which is registered at a certain date, and if you're driving a vehicle which is older, you pay £12.50 to enter.
08:23 Let's say if you're stationed in Greater London to enter those zones.
08:26 So you pay a certain amount of money, which is very onerous, particularly with the cost of living crisis.
08:33 Then you have a congestion charge zone.
08:35 So on top of that, if you enter central London or certain parts of London, you would pay an additional £15.
08:43 So imagine if you're just driving a car and you're paying £27.50 to drive around.
08:49 So the freedom of movement is being impacted.
08:51 I will abolish ULES on day one.
08:54 As a congestion charge, as I said, will exist.
09:00 But over the weekends and holidays again, I'll abolish that.
09:04 Again, Mr. Khan has sort of reduced the bus routes.
09:08 A lot of people use the buses.
09:10 Now, they've been impacted.
09:11 Bus stations have been removed.
09:13 Bus stops have been sort of removed.
09:15 So that is impacting the freedom of movement again.
09:18 Again, he's introduced 20 mile per hour zones.
09:22 Now, you'll appreciate that London was initially a set of villages.
09:26 So you can't have a one size fit all.
09:28 Traffic moves a certain way.
09:31 Once you monitor that, then you see where you need 30 mile zones.
09:35 But it's not an accident prone area.
09:38 But if something else you have sort of statistics to point out, some places this needs to be removed.
09:44 So I'm going to sort of review that and remove it where it's not required.
09:47 There are cycle lanes where they're not required.
09:50 Let me give you an idea of Mayfair, the park lane area.
09:53 Right.
09:53 There's a used cycle lane.
09:55 Now, that's a very important, just opposite Hyde Park.
09:59 And vehicular traffic is being impacted.
10:01 A lot of roads, roadworks are going on.
10:03 Taxis, Uber drivers and others are impacted.
10:07 So I'm going to look at all this.
10:09 And you'll appreciate that London has the oldest tube, the underground.
10:13 Now, obviously, that needs improvement.
10:15 The air quality inside is not great.
10:17 So whilst the thought process, Mr.
10:20 Khan, may have been to improve the air quality, research doesn't suggest.
10:24 So, I mean, this is a cluster of living crises.
10:27 There's a war ongoing.
10:28 So people are finding it difficult to eat and eat.
10:31 And this is not the time to implement some strategies.
10:33 And indeed, security is a key issue.
10:36 I don't see visible.
10:38 I don't see the police visible.
10:39 So I want to see policemen on the beat.
10:42 I'm going to measure them.
10:43 I want to have league tables.
10:44 Why should there be crime when a policeman is on the beat?
10:47 So I want to have police stations that have been removed.
10:50 I want police stations reinstalled where we know there is crime.
10:53 Affordable housing is a problem.
10:55 People are living below living standards because the rents are high.
10:59 So I want to build more affordable housing.
11:02 I want to do more for the youth.
11:03 I want to create opportunities, bring in investments.
11:05 And you'd appreciate as a banker, I know a thing or two about investments.
11:09 I'm going to bring money in.
11:11 Even though the government is not willing to fund us, I believe I have a moral
11:15 responsibility. So my desire is to bring the smiles back on each Londoner.
11:20 There are over 300 languages spoken there.
11:24 You alluded to certain people living there, but there are so many people from all over
11:27 the world who call London their home.
11:30 It would be my responsibility to make sure I bring the mojo back for London and make
11:35 sure everyone is uplifted.
11:37 So I have a levelling up agenda which will make sure every single Londoner benefits
11:43 from.
11:43 You know Tarun, when I hear you, there is a term that we use here in India,
11:48 Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the whole world is a family.
11:52 And the way you have envisioned the plans for London, it's all encompassing and also
11:58 keeping law and order and public safety also on top priority.
12:04 One key aspect that comes out Tarun here is the fact that there are not just different
12:09 nationalities or nationals who are living in London, but there are also different
12:13 cultures, you know, Hinduism being one, then you have various other communities
12:20 living there, you know, sizable population of Muslims also, and so on and so forth.
12:25 What is your view when it comes to not solving, but at least giving them that
12:32 right and freedom and space to exercise their rights freely?
12:36 I think firstly, you make a very good point.
12:39 Religion is a very personal thing.
12:41 Right.
12:42 I'm born a Hindu.
12:44 I believe in Sanatana.
12:45 I also believe in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
12:48 The one word is one family, but that also teaches us, the Hindu values also teach me
12:54 that everyone needs to be respected, given the opportunity and all religions need to
12:58 be respected.
12:59 So against that, you'll be surprised.
13:02 I had a wonderful meeting with the Shah-e-Mam-e-Jam-e-Masjid and I spent an hour
13:07 and a half at a residence.
13:09 I'm meeting other religious leaders and, you know, London is a melting pot.
13:14 It's like a global bank.
13:16 So if you look at it in that perspective, you've got to respect cultures, you've got to
13:20 respect beliefs and give everybody a chance to live together and make sure no remarks
13:27 or any action is taken, which actually makes people believe this is not the case.
13:31 In the recent past, we've heard some members of the public and others making remarks
13:40 where things have incited a certain element of excitement in people's minds.
13:46 That should not happen.
13:47 We must make sure we respect people and make sure everybody moves in the same direction.
13:52 When you see a plane taking off from a runway, everything comes together.
13:56 I want to make sure all Londoners come together, live in harmony and there's a living
14:01 bridge. I'm actually visiting several countries, meeting several heads of state to
14:06 make sure I take advantage of the diaspora that lives in London so that we can
14:11 understand. Unless you understand each diaspora may have different aspirations,
14:17 different issues, different problems.
14:20 Unless you understand them and speak with people, you can't find the right solution.
14:24 So I want to have an engagement, a dialogue where there's a collective sort of a, at
14:29 least a thinking which involves the decision making process.
14:33 Right. Tarun, this evening itself, there have been a couple of developments as far as
14:38 the top leadership, Rishi Sunak's cabinet is concerned.
14:42 David Cameron has been brought back as foreign secretary, if I'm not wrong.
14:45 And one cabinet minister has been sacked also because of the pro-Palestine march that
14:51 happened in the UK.
14:52 We have seen in the past also, the Khalistani elements, pro-Khalistani supporters,
14:59 they have also been protesting there, raising an India slogans.
15:03 Now we have a pro-Palestine approach, pro-Palestine marches happening.
15:09 How central or how focal is London?
15:12 Because I know, and our viewers would also agree that the steps that the central
15:18 government, Rishi Sunak's government takes, has also a bearing on the capital city.
15:24 So your job in that case becomes, you know, increases many fold.
15:29 I mean, you might be in opposition, you might be an independent candidate, but then the
15:33 steps being taken there have their ramifications here.
15:35 So how do you plan to actually attend to them?
15:38 And manage the city when it comes to these marches?
15:41 I've led large companies.
15:43 I know what a dashboard looks like.
15:45 For me, there should be no differentiation.
15:48 Everybody living in London, if there's a protest march and it's peaceful, and as you
15:54 correctly alluded to, the Palestinians are currently in central London and other parts
15:59 of London, no problem in doing that.
16:01 But nobody should be making remarks that incites the sentiments.
16:07 There is a strife going on and both sides of the strife may have rationale behind them.
16:13 But at the same time, we know that civilians are being affected, particularly as we know
16:18 in Gaza, as we speak, there are children there, there are civilians there.
16:21 So long as I can see humanitarian aid flowing in, so long as there are medicines going
16:27 in, we need to make sure there's a safe passage.
16:31 So if the people are protesting for the safety of those children, the refugees there and
16:37 the others in those camps, if it's peaceful, then the political establishment should make
16:43 sure no remarks are made that incites any sorts of sentiments.
16:47 As the mayor of London, which I will be on 2nd of May 2024, I will not be sitting on
16:53 a fence. The police will have powers to make sure and they'll be instructed that if it's
16:59 peaceful, people, which has been the case largely, we should not be able to stop people.
17:05 We should allow them to because and referring to the Khalistanis, of course, they were not
17:09 parachuted in.
17:10 It's the responsibility of the host nation.
17:13 Right. And the flag being desecrated and disrespected should never have been allowed.
17:19 And Mr. Khan should not have been sitting on a fence there because it happened more
17:23 than once. It will not happen under my watch.
17:25 Right. One final question before I let you go.
17:29 You know, this whole episode and the unfolding of the crisis between Israel and Gaza,
17:37 although Palestinians have or are paying the price as we speak.
17:43 We saw Prime Minister Sarnath making a visit to Tel Aviv, meeting the Prime Minister of
17:49 Israel, Netanyahu there.
17:51 What is your view?
17:53 It's a it's a either it's a balancing act or it's a, you know, sort of teaching the
18:00 Hamas a lesson sort of scenario.
18:01 The whole world appears to be divided here.
18:05 If I may ask you, what is your opinion?
18:07 How do you see it?
18:08 Through what prism?
18:09 I think the world is at an inflection point as we speak.
18:13 And the geopolitical risk has never been more and greater as we see it today.
18:20 It's not only because of the war going on in Europe, but the world is actually at a
18:26 point where it's at a tipping point where we need to be extremely careful.
18:31 And I think some sense need to prevail with some senior leaders to get together in a room
18:37 and find a solution because you can't have a problem lingering for too long.
18:42 So while on the one side, a certain country may feel threatened and they were attacked
18:50 on the 7th of October or on the other side, we also need to make sure that there are
18:55 civilians there.
18:56 And if terrorism at any juncture should never be encouraged, that action needs to be
19:01 taken. There are hostages there that need to be released.
19:04 But at the same time, I think some element of decision making around the table to find
19:11 a long term solution to this extremely situation, extreme situation in the world where,
19:19 as I alluded to, if you don't find a solution, well, it can't go on forever.
19:24 Can't go on forever.
19:25 At least clearly, you know, that's what an investment banker would also think like,
19:31 you know, you can't have a problem in front of you for longer than expected.
19:36 Final question, Tarun, what legacy do you plan to leave once you become the mayor of
19:44 London? How do you want to be remembered as working for London?
19:48 I want to be remembered as a mayor who actually made a difference, brought about change,
19:53 transformed lives and made sure that everybody was leveled up.
19:57 So if somebody is suffering with maybe the basic, you know, if you remember Maslow's
20:04 hierarchy of needs, basic necessities are missing.
20:07 I want to provide that.
20:08 If somebody looking for education, I want to make sure it's there.
20:11 There are students that need meals every day.
20:15 I make sure I give it to them.
20:16 I create opportunities for business.
20:18 I make sure there's affordable housing.
20:20 So living standards are uplifted.
20:22 Basically, I want to bring, you will be surprised that London, whilst on the global
20:27 index of global cities is number one.
20:31 But if you look at the number of Fortune 500 global companies headquarters that were in
20:37 London, they have dropped from about 24 to about 14 now.
20:41 Why is that?
20:42 Because the costs are high.
20:43 I want to make sure I bring in more business, uplift the lives.
20:47 When you have trade flows, businesses thriving, SMEs actually looking good and the
20:55 businesses are looking good, then you bring back the smiles.
20:58 When people are happier, all these problems you and I have been discussing actually should
21:03 become a thing of the past.
21:04 So I want to be remembered as somebody who brought about lasting change.
21:08 So that, and not only as a city, but in the world, so that if I can pay a little,
21:14 my sort of homage and contribution to the current problems in the world, in terms of
21:20 the actions I take, which I will take, that will pave the way for lasting peace.
21:24 And some of the problems we've been talking about should be a matter of history.
21:28 So that will be the legacy I'll be looking for.
21:31 Yeah, that's a positive way to look at it.
21:34 Definitely.
21:34 I mean, no doubt that job is challenging.
21:38 But, you know, the attitude I must give in Tarun here that is definitely is to fight.
21:45 And we'll get there together.
21:47 So let's work on it together.
21:48 Thank you for having me today.
21:50 It's indeed been a pleasure.
21:52 Right.
21:53 Tarun, one final word.
21:55 Sorry, I can't help, but ask you this.
21:57 You have been living in UK and the Western part of the world for more than two decades
22:01 now, but I have heard that your Hindi is also very impeccable.
22:04 Hindi is very good.
22:06 You should try to speak to me in Hindi.
22:08 (Laughs)
22:09 But you can't make out that you are speaking to someone who is going to be in charge of London.
22:16 What message would you like to give to India, preferably in Hindi, in this festive season and in the years to come?
22:23 I am a true Indian.
22:25 I live and breathe there.
22:26 This is my birthplace.
22:28 That is my homeland, Britain.
22:29 And I grew up here, with your love and affection.
22:32 I need your blessings and prayers.
22:36 And I request you to remind me of you in my prayers, in my worship, in my prayers.
22:44 And because of that prayer, I will definitely become the mayor.
22:49 And you will get another chance to see a resident of India, from the origin of India,
22:56 again sit on a very big position in the world.
22:59 That will not happen without your prayers and blessings.
23:02 So this is my request to you.
23:04 That you give me this opportunity, this environment, this Diwali.
23:10 And if I get your wishes, I will move forward on that basis.
23:16 Thank you very much.
23:17 Dharun, our viewers will be delighted to hear you speak in Hindi.
23:21 And cross-connecting with the masses there, with so many diaspora,
23:26 not just from the Asian continent, but from the African and European countries as well.
23:29 Thank you so much.
23:30 I live in Africa and Asia, so it will be a pleasure if they also watch me today.
23:36 And thank you for having me once again.
23:38 Well, I think next interview will focus on what countries and what continents you haven't been to.
23:42 Indeed, I will await that opportunity.
23:45 Dharun Gulati there, Dharun Gulati, independent mayoral candidate for 2024 London mayor elections.
23:51 We wish you all the very best.
23:53 One India wishes you the very best.
23:55 And we hope to see a better and a brighter London under your leadership.
23:59 Most certainly.
24:00 We'll celebrate together on the 2nd of May, 2024.
24:03 Thank you once again.
24:04 We'll look forward to that.
24:05 Thank you so much, Dharun for your time.
24:06 Have a wonderful day ahead.
24:07 Thank you.