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Amitabh has no interest in politics: Amar

DUBAI — The Indian government should create greater employment opportunities to stop brain drain from the country, Amar Singh, leader of Samajwadi Party and Member of Parliament, has said.

The Rajya Sabha MP is in the city to woo investors from the emirates to invest in projects in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. "The government must ensure that its citizens are provided with ample job opportunities. Once this is done, there is no reason for the youth to migrate abroad for jobs," Amar Singh told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.

Speaking on a varied topics including investment opportunities in India, the importance of maintaining friendly relations in politics and his much talked about friendship with Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan, he said: "I never feel home-sick in Dubai. We share so much in terms of culture and people that one can never feel out of place here."

Singh had just returned from a visit to Abu Dhabi where he had lunch with Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education, and was clearly impressed by the educational facilities on offer in the UAE. "He has a very clear vision and what impressed me most was his simplicity and hospitality. From driving us in his own car and giving us a tour of his educational institutions, Shaikh Nahyan is truly a people's man," he said.

Shaikh Nahyan would be in Delhi on a private visit on August 25, revealed Singh.

As chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Development Council, Singh has a hectic agenda on his first official visit to the UAE. Singh has tried to sell the state as an attractive investment destination to NRI investors at an exhibition of Indian products and services here, saying that an investor-friendly climate existed in the state. Investors have shown interest in the construction of a 7-star hotel and educational institutions.

"We have some of our businessmen friends from Dubai who want to invest in UP and we are more than happy to accommodate their requests. There have been talks about a 7-star hotel as well as educational institutes in Ghaziabad and Greater Noida," said Singh.

Denying that Amitabh Bachchan would contest elections on an SP ticket, he said: "Amitabh is like my elder brother and there is a lot of love between us. He has no interest in politics and I respect his view. If you love someone there is no question of exploitation. In any case, his wife Jayaji is already a member of our party."

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