Latest news with #HarsimratKaurBadal
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ruling party should strive for consensus on crucial issues, says Harsimrat
As the 18th Lok Sabha completes its first year, here's a look at four-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal's performance in the lower House of Parliament and her plans for the constituency. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi . (Sansad TV) How do you look at your experience in the first year of the 18th Lok Sabha? Unfortunately, discussions could not be held on key bills. Many bills were pushed through. I feel the ruling party should allow healthy discussions and strive for consensus on crucial issues affecting the nation. What was the high point of the year for you personally or your party in the House? I stood up for the farmers, who still have not got justice despite being assured a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on food grains. I also spoke on the atrocities inflicted on farmers, who were stopped from proceeding to Delhi to make their voices heard by the Haryana government. I also raised the need to build consensus amongst the Muslim community on the Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill and not give an impression that Waqf properties would be usurped for ulterior purposes under the new dispensation. I also called for the release of the Sikh prisoners besides calling for reopening of the Wagah and Hussainiwala border points for trade and grant of a special industrial package for the border belt in Punjab. Are you satisfied with the number of sittings of the Lok Sabha? It is most unfortunate that the Lok Sabha sittings are being reduced steadily. We should focus on increasing sittings, and as a single member representing the Shiromani Akali Dal, it is often difficult to get time or opportunity to speak in the present circumstances. MP report card | Ruling party should strive for consensus on crucial issues, says Harsimrat What is the most effective way to raise issues of public importance in the House? Members have the liberty to raise emergent issues during zero hour, submitting questions and filing a call attention motion. Unfortunately, due to time constraints as well as the duration of the House, often members do not get an adequate opportunity to raise issues effectively. A via media should be created to ensure more members participate in Parliament. What difference have you made to your constituency in the last one year, and what do you plan to do in the remaining term as MP? I am very focused on my constituency and its needs. I have been demanding a 300-bed trauma centre at AIIMS, Bathinda, and the establishment of a State Organ Transplant and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (SOTTO) at the medical institute. Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), development works totalling ₹ 9.78 crore have been recommended. I have also demanded the opening of the institute's centre at Mansa and the speedy completion of the Ferozepur PGIMER satellite centre. I will be taking up these issues for redressal. --------------------------------- Updated GFX Harsimrat Kaur Badal Age: 58 years Party: Shiromani Akali Dal Constituency: Bathinda Electoral record: Four-time MP from Bathinda elected consecutively in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 House record Attendance: 63% Number of questions asked: 37 Special mentions: 2 Debates participated: 13 Private member's bills: 2 Committee membership Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Food Processing; Committee on Empowerment of Women and Consultative Committee on Home Affairs How she used MPLAD funds: Total funds: ₹ 9.80 crore Spent funds: ₹ 97.56 lakh Unspent Funds: ₹ 8.82 crore Sectors where funds were spent: Streets, drains, dharamshala, shamshan ghat, water supply, mobile water tank, gym, gaushala bhawan, stadium, public shed, for schools and cooperative societies.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Harsimrat urges EAM to sensitise UAE govt on Sikhs' five articles of faith
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to initiate a dialogue with the UAE government to sensitise it about the religious significance of the five articles of faith, especially the 'kirpan', for the initiated Sikhs. In a letter to the minister, the Bathinda MP said she was making this appeal in the wake of a recent "advisory" by the Indian Embassy in UAE directing Indians not to carry sharp objects while visiting the country in view of Article 405 of the UAE penal law which prohibits the same. This move has caused deep distress and mental agony to Sikh travellers and residents alike, Harsimrat said, noting that there have been instances of Sikhs being detained and compelled to remove their 'kirpan'. She also cited a recent case of an elderly man being detained in Abu Dhabi for wearing the 'kirpan' and turban. Badal asserted in her letter that such incidents had caused distress within the Sikh community as they contravened the rights of Sikhs to practice their faith besides raising serious concerns about the protection of religious freedom for minorities in the UAE. "The Sikh community has always contributed positively to societies worldwide, including in the UAE, and demand the freedom to practice its faith in accordance with its tenets. "Denying Sikhs the right to wear their five 'kakkars' (Sikh articles of faith worn by baptised Sikhs), particularly the 'kirpan', is a curtailment of religious freedom and contrary to the principles of mutual respect and pluralism that India stands for," she said. The former union minister also requested Jaishankar to consider sending a high-level delegation, including representatives from the National Commission for Minorities and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), to engage with UAE authorities and relevant international agencies and sensitise them about Sikh articles of faith. She asserted that the 'kirpan' was a sacred symbol and an inseparable part of Sikh identity mandated by Sikh tenets since the time of Guru Gobind Singh. "Its significance is spiritual and symbolic, representing the duty to uphold justice and protect the oppressed, and not as a weapon for aggression or harm. The 'kirpan' is worn at all times by 'Amritdhari' Sikhs (initiated Sikhs) as a matter of religious obligation and conscience", she added.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Harsimrat writes to EAM, wants UAE govt to be sensitised on Sikhs' five articles of faith
Chandigarh, Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to initiate a dialogue with the UAE government to sensitise it about the religious significance of the five articles of faith, especially the 'kirpan', for the initiated Sikhs. In a letter to the minister, the Bathinda MP said she was making this appeal in the wake of a recent "advisory" by the Indian Embassy in UAE directing Indians not to carry sharp objects while visiting the country in view of Article 405 of the UAE penal law which prohibits the same. This move has caused deep distress and mental agony to Sikh travellers and residents alike, Harsimrat said, noting that there have been instances of Sikhs being detained and compelled to remove their 'kirpan'. She also cited a recent case of an elderly man being detained in Abu Dhabi for wearing the 'kirpan' and turban. Badal asserted in her letter that such incidents had caused distress within the Sikh community as they contravened the rights of Sikhs to practice their faith besides raising serious concerns about the protection of religious freedom for minorities in the UAE. "The Sikh community has always contributed positively to societies worldwide, including in the UAE, and demand the freedom to practice its faith in accordance with its tenets. "Denying Sikhs the right to wear their five 'kakkars' , particularly the 'kirpan', is a curtailment of religious freedom and contrary to the principles of mutual respect and pluralism that India stands for," she said. The former union minister also requested Jaishankar to consider sending a high-level delegation, including representatives from the National Commission for Minorities and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee , to engage with UAE authorities and relevant international agencies and sensitise them about Sikh articles of faith. She asserted that the 'kirpan' was a sacred symbol and an inseparable part of Sikh identity mandated by Sikh tenets since the time of Guru Gobind Singh. "Its significance is spiritual and symbolic, representing the duty to uphold justice and protect the oppressed, and not as a weapon for aggression or harm. The 'kirpan' is worn at all times by 'Amritdhari' Sikhs as a matter of religious obligation and conscience", she added.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Harsimrat urges Jaishankar to sensitise UAE on ‘kirpan' ban advisory
Bathinda SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday appealed to external affairs minister S Jaishankar to sensitise the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government about the Sikh articles of faith, particularly regarding the wearing of the kirpan and kataar. Her appeal came in response to a recent advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in the UAE, cautioning Indian citizens against carrying sharp objects in line with Article 405 of the UAE penal law. The advisory has led to 'deep distress and mental agony' among Sikh residents and travellers, as the kirpan, a sacred article of faith, falls under the category of restricted items. In her letter, Badal cited increasing instances of Sikhs being detained or forced to remove their kirpan and kataar in the UAE. She referenced a recent case in which an elderly Sikh man was reportedly detained in Abu Dhabi for wearing his kirpan and turban, incidents she said have caused 'mental agony' to the global Sikh community. 'The kirpan is not a weapon of violence but a spiritual and symbolic emblem of justice and responsibility as mandated by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Denying Sikhs the right to wear their five kakkars, especially the kirpan, is a serious infringement on their religious freedom,' she said. Badal called on the ministry of external affairs to send a high-level delegation, including members of the National Commission for Minorities and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), to hold constructive dialogue with the authorities in the UAE and international agencies. The aim would be to sensitise them about Sikh beliefs and ensure respect for religious practices. She emphasised the positive contribution of the Sikh community globally, including in the UAE, and underlined that mutual respect for religious identity was essential in upholding India's values of pluralism and diversity.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal seeks compensation, job to victim's kin
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda parliamentarian Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday visited the family of Narinderdeep Singh, who allegedly died in police custody recently. The MP demanded an independent probe into the incident that led to the death of a resident of Goniana town under suspicious circumstances. The family alleged that Narinderdeep was subjected to police torture and demanded justice. The MP said the aggrieved family should be given compensation and a member of the family should also be given a government job. Other short stories Will make Punjab education hub of India: Minister Chandigarh Punjab higher education minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday directed officials to expedite the processing of proposals from private colleges seeking university status. The move aims to streamline the upgradation process, reinforce academic excellence, and expand access to quality higher education in the state. To ensure effective coordination and real-time monitoring, the minister designated director higher education Girish Dayalan as the nodal officer for overseeing the progress of all such proposals. 'We are committed to removing unnecessary delays and creating a robust ecosystem for higher learning and make Punjab the education hub of India,' said Bains. Day 93 of war against drugs: 98 smugglers held Chandigarh The anti-drugs campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh, launched by the Punjab government entered 93rd day on Monday, and the state police arrested 98 drug smugglers and recovered 1.5 kg heroin, 2,508 intoxicant pills and ₹3,900 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 15,117 in 93 days. The operation was conducted on the directions of the DGP, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 police districts of the state.
