JALANDHAR – Virendra Sharma, a Labour Party MP in the UK, said Punjab could not attract any NRI investment in the last few years owing to “poor” law and order situation in the state.
He alleged the NRIs were insecure about their life and property in Punjab. Talking to the media here, Sharma said the state government had “failed” to get property matters of NRIs resolved.
“There is a dire need for the government to reconnect its lost association with the NRIs to strengthen the state’s economy. The government has to make sincere efforts to win back their trust,” he said.
He said most of the investment from the UK was going to Kerala and Tamil Naidu which had investor friendly policies.
Slamming the government’s decision to call off the NRI sammelan, he said he felt disappointed as instead of revamping the event, the government had broken the connection. Calling the word “Sangat Darshan” as derogatory, he said such a phrase should not be used in a democratic setup like India.
Sharma said the Indian diaspora in Britain was ready to extend their support for setting up primary healthcare network, eliminating child labour and to provide skill training to the youth, provided they got support from the Indian Government.
