New Delhi: Tarun Ghulati, 63, is fighting tooth and nail to become the next Mayor of London as the contest for the coveted post heats up before the May 2, 2024 election date with several key hopefuls from Britain’s leading political parties in the fray. Ghulati, a finance pro and “proud Hindu with Sanatan roots”, has plans to run the British capital city as a “CEO” by “improving” and “uplifting” the lives of Londoners with an enhanced police, affordable housing and abolishing “unpopular” rules brought about by incumbent Sadiq Khan.
Ghulati, a father of two who claims to be a “global citizen” working across geographies from Delhi to Mauritius and Qatar to the UK, entered the chaotic British political scene around 2021. In 2009, he was successful in obtaining the citizenship of that country, which since then has become his home. However, Ghulati has been living in London for the past two decades. He arrived there on a work permit by banking giant HSBC, Ghulati’s former employer.
But it has not been easy for Ghulati, who inevitably as a person of Indian origin and being a person of colour had to face hurdles in the initial years, which he had been able to win over eventually. He is the first Indian to run for this post in the history of the UK.
“I have been the same person every day for the last 40 years. I am disciplined. I get up early and I have the plan for the day ready. I am extremely punctual. I tend not to look over my shoulders and feel the envy or the pain of what others are doing. I have my own journey which I follow. I am known for being trustworthy and straightforward … As far as I am concerned whilst there will be concerns and hindrances down the way, I have a clear plan to make sure that I bring the smiles back and the mojo back for London,” he told ABPLIVE during his recent visit to India.
Dressed in an impeccable blue suit, Ghulati spoke about how he overcame some of the obstacles, gate-crashed into London’s political theatre and now vying for a place for himself as an independent candidate amid a tightening mayoral race of London.
“Like anybody else, I have faced hurdles and turns-off being initially an Indian and perhaps later on because of my colour but I have not faced racism overtly because I have always been somebody whom people have recognised that I will not be cowered down by any sort of hindrances … I do know people in high places, whether it’s members from the House of Lords or politicians I do meet them. That helps in understanding the local issues and opportunities,” he averred.
‘Want To Be A Mayor For Everybody’
Ghulati began working actively in London’s political scene during the days of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“I felt that to beat the London Mayor Sadiq Khan you need someone who is not only able to bring investments, is a global citizen, but somebody who has the gravitas to take position. The budget for London that the London Mayor handles is roughly about $21 billion Sterling. I would like to run it as a CEO runs a business with a good dashboard with the right sort of people running it,” he underlined.
“I want to be a mayor of London for everybody,” said Ghulati, eluding to some of the controversial policies laid down in the British capital by Khan such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which was launched in 2019, that is over and above the £15 congestion fee.
“Imagine if you are a businessman in a cost of living crisis, where people are wondering whether to heat or eat and at the same time there are a lot of middle income people there who need to be uplifted … I sincerely believe that the freedom of movement is as critical as the freedom of speech. So I want to abolish ULEZ on day one,” he added.
Ghulati’s other objective is to push security and safety through increased Police deployment in certain neighbourhoods where crime rates are high and opening of more Police stations.
“Whilst I am a Londoner and I spent nearly two decades there and call it home, I am also a global citizen. I am also proud about my Hindu heritage, Sanatan roots … I am here for everybody,” he said.
Khalistan Vandalism, India-UK FTA
Being an Indian-origin, Ghulati vows to work towards strengthening the bilateral relationship between the UK and India, be it addressing the growing concerns in New Delhi over the resurgence of Khalistan terrorism in London or whether it is pushing for the India-UK trade pact, or Free Trade Agreement (FTA) towards a meaningful conclusion.
“Indian flag being disrespected is not accepted at all. In those sorts of things, the London Mayor Sadiq Khan should have been more proactive, there should have been intelligence. People are not being parachuted there out of nowhere, there was a group of people coming towards the High Commission, so there should have been preventive action taken. In matters like these more action could have been taken not only to prevent but avoid an escalation too,” he said.
Ghulati added that the London Mayor was “sitting on the fence” when the incident happened.
While incidents of vandalism of the Indian High Commission in London by Khalistan supporters has become a regular affair, tension between both countries peaked in March this year when a Khalistani protestor pulled down the Indian Flag flying atop the High Commission and was not even stopped once by the Police present there.
On the issue of having the India-UK FTA, Ghulati said he is already working on getting the pending pact concluded. As a member of the London Chamber of Commerce he has brought a business delegation to India in August to foster business and trade ties.
“When the FTA is signed, and I know we are on the last legs of that particular trade agreement, it would pave the way for me in playing a role there as the London Mayor plays a key role in fostering businesses and we facilitate there entry into London and give them the support so that they can hit the ground running,” said Ghulati.