Amritsar, India - Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Member of Parliament for Brampton arrived in Amritsar on January 4, 2008 to a warm welcome in her ancestral state of Punjab. Declared an official guest by the government of Punjab, Dr. Dhalla was given a warm welcome upon her arrival from the Punjab Government and well wishers who graciously bestowed her with garlands and flowers.

Dr. Dhalla is visiting India as part of a two week delegation to the country. While in India she intends to address the concerns of her constituents in the riding of Brampton-Springdale, which boasts the second largest population of South Asians in Canada. Her delegation is composed of 15 persons, which include constituents and stakeholders from her riding.

"It is an honour to be an official guest of the state of Punjab.I commend the Punjab government for organizing this initiative, which will help to solidify and enhance the relations between the people of Punjab and Canada. During this delegation I hope to address the concerns that have been brought forward from my constituents in regards to fraud marriages, property issues, immigration and enhancing the trade relationship between India and Canada."

Over the next few days, Dr. Dhalla will be meeting with government officials and will participate as a guest in the NRI Punjab Conference in Chandrigardh and the Pravasi Bharatiya Conference in New Delhi.

In 2004, Dr. Dhalla made history as the first Sikh woman to be elected in Parliament in the western world. Currently the youngest women in Canadian Parliament, Dr. Dhala serves as the Official Opposition Critic for Social Development as well as the Vice Chair for the Standing Committee for Human resources and Social Development.