Thikriwal village in Barnala celebrates its son’s success
BARNALA: It was celebration time at Thikriwal village of Barnala district on Monday after Jagmeet Singh, aka Jimmy Dhaliwal, having ancestral roots in this village, was elected the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, becoming the first non-white politician to head a major political party in the country.
Members of the local Evergreen Society organised a thanksgiving “ardaas” at the village gurdwara to celebrate his success. The villagers will also join the Sukhmani Sahib paath on Tuesday at the gurdwara.
Gurtej Singh, a professor at Guru Kashi College of Sikh Studies, Talwandi Sabo, said: “Jagmeet is great grandson of Hira Singh, who was cousin of Sewa Singh Thikriwala, the founder of Praja Mandal movement in the Punjab.”
“Jagmeet had visited Punjabi University in 2013 to interact with students. These days, none of Jagmeet’s relatives live in Thikriwal,” said Gurtej.
A villager, Nardev Singh Aulakh, said: “We have never seen Jagmeet, but we feel elated that someone whose ancestors belonged to this village is leading a political party in Canada. We are proud of his success.”
AAP CONGRATULATES, INVITES JAGMEET
CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday congratulated Jagmeet Singh on getting elected as the leader of Canada’s NDP.
In a statement here, Punjab assembly leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira said Jagmeet had made “Indians, Punjabis and the Sikhs proud” by becoming the leader of a political party in a “developed country”.
“His well-deserved victory in a four-cornered contest showed his ability as an upcoming leader of Canada,” he said.
Khaira applauded the “transparent and meritorious” system of Canada “where people get to choose their leader”.
He also saluted the citizens of Canada, “particularly the white people ”, for putting faith in a PunjabiSikh immigrant. He extended an invitation to Jagmeet to visit his home state of Punjab.
VICTORY FOR ALL SIKHS, SAYS SUKHBIR
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal too congratulated Jagmeet Singh. In a statement here, the SAD president said Jagmeet had created history by heading a political party in a country away from homeland, and clinched this coveted post of NDP leader in the first round of voting by a huge margin.
Terming it a victory for the Sikhs across the world who firmly believe in values of brotherhood, equality and diversity, Sukhbir said being a lawyer and a provincial legislator, Jagmeet has been upholding all these values in his personal as well as professional life.