Kapurthala man is Norway city’s 1st turbaned councillor

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, September 17

A native of Jattpura Mohalla here, Amritpal Singh (41) has become the first turbaned councillor of Norway. A total of 34 candidates contested the polls in Drammen city.

Amritpal, who represents the Hoyre party, hogged the limelight after he battled against the Norway government for directions to the Sikhs to get their pictures clicked for the passport with turban tied above the ear level. He gave representations at several levels and even sought help from the community back home to contest the matter. Hari Dutt Sharma, Amritpal’s friend at Kapurthala, said Amritpal was still attached to his roots.

“Eight years before his birth, his father Nirpal Singh Aujla went to Norway in 1970. He did his matriculation at Kapurthala Public High School in 1994 after which he joined his father. He did his masters in finance and economics. Later, he got the job of income tax advisor. At present, he is working on a top post in a multinational company. He is also a member of a trade union there,” he said.

Facebook is flooded with congratulatory messages for him. His mother Kuldeep Kaur remembered her deceased husband on this occasion. His wife Dr Mandeep Kaur of Fatehgarh Sahib and their children Pahul Singh and Rhythm Kaur are with him in Norway.