Latest news with #Ghuman
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia lead SAD's assembly election campaign in Ludhiana West
Ludhiana: As national parties flood Ludhiana's West constituency with high-profile campaigners ahead of the June 19 bypoll, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is charting its own path — relying squarely on regional leadership to woo voters amid growing internal tensions. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and BJP bring in political stars from across the country, the SAD has kept its campaign grounded with party president Sukhbir Singh Badal leading the charge. His efforts received a boost on Wednesday with the arrival of senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia, whose presence is expected to energise grassroots workers. "Sukhbir and Majithia are our star campaigners," a senior Akali member said, requesting anonymity. "The people of Punjab know who stood with them. They remember the development under the SAD-BJP govt and hold Parkash Singh Badal in high regard." Former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is also expected to join the campaign briefly, while senior SAD member Daljit Singh Cheema and other state leaders are canvassing actively for party candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman. Despite limited external fanfare, local leaders claim that being a regional party gives the SAD an edge in understanding and addressing ground realities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Canadian Residents Are Now Eligible for a New Financial Program Canada Today Undo "Crowds at national leaders' rallies don't always translate into votes," another SAD leader said, dismissing large gatherings at AAP rallies as optics bolstered by out-of-town supporters. However, the campaign has been marred by an escalating feud between Ghuman and Dakha legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali, both from within the SAD fold. Ghuman accused Ayali of sabotaging the party's prospects by allegedly aligning with rival parties under the guise of a membership drive. "Ayali tried to benefit from the BJP, helped AAP, and now seeks votes for the Congress," Ghuman alleged in a recent public interview. Ayali hit back via a social media livestream on Wednesday, urging Ghuman to focus on public issues instead of launching personal attacks. "He's targeting me more than the governing party, which is shameful," Ayali said. "He should campaign on merit, not mudsling." The public fallout has stirred unease among party loyalists, casting a shadow over SAD's strategy to project unity and reclaim lost ground in Punjab. MSID:: 121778856 413 |
Winnipeg Free Press
10-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sikh charity's food drive brings in 11,000 pounds for Harvest Manitoba, Main Street Project
A Sikh non-profit handed out over 11,000 pounds of donated goods to food banks across Winnipeg Saturday in hopes of making a dent in the rising level of need. While Khalsa Aid is an international charity that provides disaster relief across the world, Manitoba's chapter focuses on feeding people in need, typically through bi-weekly meal programming for international students. Their food drives, which happen twice a year, go out to food banks through Harvest Manitoba and Main Street Project to feed the wider community. 'They always come and tell us how their donations have gone down too, so whatever we can donate, they really appreciate it,' Varinder Kaur Ghuman said Saturday. MALAK ABAS /FREE PRESS Khalsa Aid Manitoba volunteers Gurneet, 16, and Harjas, 15, stock baby formula, the most-requested item at Saturday's food drive. 'The need has never declined, it has always increased.' Thousands of pounds of food were stacked in the Khalsa Aid Manitoba building on Logan Street by Saturday afternoon, with dozens of volunteers sorting through rice, canned goods, lentils and other essentials. Ghuman said baby formula was the most-requested item. Every two weeks, Khalsa Aid Manitoba feeds between 100 to 250 international students, and have been holding food drives for ten years. Both initiatives speak to Sikh culture's focus on generosity and giving, Ghuman said. 'Being a Sikh organization, we have always been based on the Sikh principle of donating,' she said. 'So people really come out and donate for whatever way they can.' Harvest Manitoba did not have to purchase food to hand out until COVID-19 hit, and today, about 60 per cent of the food being provided is bought by Harvest. At the same time, as the cost of living rises, the number of people accessing food banks has gone up 150 per cent, said Ashley Routhier-Evans, their community events and food drives associate. '(Khalsa Aid) is one of our largest food drives that goes on. We have been so grateful for the support within the community over the years,' she said. 'It definitely helps get a lot of food sent out to Manitobans in need, as the need has never been greater.' Along with food programs, Khalsa Aid Manitoba is beginning a series of seminars helping newcomers to the province adjust to Canada — with topics ranging from cultural niceties to worker's rights and protections. Sudhir Sandhu, a volunteer who held the first seminar series several weeks last month, said the program is an attempt to fill the cultural gap that might have been filled in prior decades by immigrants who had more family supports in Canada, and teach students how to spot predatory working practices and even traffickers that target young newcomers. MALAK ABAS /FREE PRESS Volunteers at Khalsa Aid Manitoba's food drive Saturday post in front of piles of food donated by the Sikh community. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I really marvel at how a lot of kids that are 18, 19, young men, women, are packing up two suitcases and landing in Canada with absolutely no support,' he said. 'And Canada has not a good done a good job of providing support, both, particularly social, psychological support — they are adjusting to an entirely new environment that's universes apart from where they're coming from. So we find students struggle.' The sessions will be held again later this summer as new international students come to Manitoba. Anyone interested in donating to Khalsa Aid or learning more about programming should email Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Helpline in MP's office threat to security, says SAD
Hours after Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora, in presence of deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain, announced issuance of an emergency helpline to share information amidst escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Ludhiana West candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman said he would approach the Election Commission to demand action against Arora as well as the DC for 'jeopardising' national security by establishing a private phone line to give information. In a statement here, Ghuman said, 'It is shameful that the DC held a press conference along with Sanjeev Arora, who is also Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) candidate for the Ludhiana West assembly constituency, to establish a phone line. First of all, the DC had no business making Arora sit with him in the press conference. What is even more serious is that Arora has established the phone line in his private office that is being run by his staff instead of the administration.' 'If there is any leakage of sensitive information received by the phone line, it will constitute a violation of the Official Secrets Act. I will file a criminal complaint against the AAP candidate and the deputy commissioner if this happens,' Ghuman added. The SAD candidate asked the AAP candidate to immediately dismantle the 'war room' he had created besides asking the DC to exercise his authority and ensure such phone lines were established only by the government. 'We cannot have the DC becoming a hand tool of the AAP candidate,' he added. Ghuman, who went live on the issue and talked to the staff of the 'war room', also told them that legal action would be taken against them if they did not desist. The staff of the phone line admitted that the same had been established in the private office of the AAP candidate, he added. Meanwhile, MP Arora said it was not a 'war room' as said by the Opposition. 'The helpline number has been issued so that people can approach us for any help. Being an MP, I have taken up several initiatives for the people. The Opposition is making an issue as I am contesting the Ludhiana West by-election,' he added. DC Himanshu Jain was not available for his comments despite repeated attempts.
