Jalandhar village celebrates after Dhesi elected first turbaned Sikh MP

With Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, 38, becoming the first turbaned Sikh MP in the UK on Friday, the mood at his native Raipur village, 17 km from Jalandhar cantonment, was festive and upbeat.

Tanmanjeet’s uncle Paramjit Singh Raipur, a senior Akali leader, said it was a proud moment not only for the family but also for Punjab. “Tanmanjeet has created history. We are celebrating his win by distributing sweets and organising a langar (community kitchen),” he said.

Paramjeet Kumar, a resident of the village, said: “Tanmanjeet has brought laurels to the village. I hope his win will strengthen ties between India and England.”

Dhesi was born in Britain but did his primary education in Punjab. He studied for four years at Shivalik Public School, Mohali, and for two years at Sri Dasmesh Academy, Anandpur Sahib, before returning to the UK. He lives with his parents in Britain.

Tanmanjeet’s father Jaspal Singh Dhesi runs a construction company in the UK. He visited Jalandhar in December 2016 and is expected in Punjab next month.

The newly elected MP’s mother, Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi, is a friend of former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur and a co-accused in the Harpreet Kaur murder case.

In 2012, Jagir Kaur was convicted for her daughter Harpreet’s forced abortion, wrongful confinement, abduction and criminal conspiracy except murder in April 2000 after a CBI probe established her involvement.