Monday, May 27, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
150 years of Sikh history explored by national museum
A project exploring over 150 years of Sikh history has been launched by the National Army Museum (NAM) in collaboration with the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail (ASHT).
‘War and Sikhs’ is a community project created to raise awareness of the vital contribution of Sikh soldiers to the British Army and to give British Sikhs ‘ownership’ over how their history and artefacts are understood and described.
Over the next four months the Museum will be running a series of interactive workshops where volunteers will get exclusive access to some of the Museum’s rarest collection items relating to Sikhs.
with thanks : Asian age : LINK : for detailed news with pics.
Finland Sikh fights for right to wear turban
A Sikh bus driver in Finland is fighting for his right to wear a turban while at work.
Gill Sukhdarshan Singh, who works at the Veolia bus company at Vantaa near the Finnish capital of Helsinki, is trying to set a precedent by making the authorities allow him to wear a turban at work.
Yle, the Finnish public broadcasting company, reported Tuesday. "I have a right to my turban, and I am a Sikh" the report quoted Singh as saying. "I believe it is no problem to any other religions, as we do not disturb any other religion, we only believe in our religion", said Singh.
Singh was among the first Sikhs to move to Nordic country in the 1980s. After a visit to the Indian state of Punjab in December last year, he decided to wear a turban while at work. Nobody raised any objection for two months but then the authorities concerned told him to remove it to comply with company uniform rules.
Singh's son Sukhnavdeep Singh Gill also wears a turban and says he would like to complete his military service in Finland wearing it. Sukhnavdeep said., "It is my right to go for military service. I want to be a part of it, and my religion shouldn't be a problem. I don't want to be treated differently, it's my right"
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.
FBI asked to track hate crimes against Sikhs
Washington, May 22: A bipartisan group of 23 lawmakers have asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to begin tracking hate crimes against Sikhs, the way it does for other communities.
Formed last month to address the Sikh community's issues, the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, co-chaired by Democratic House member Judy Chu and Republican David Valadao, made the request in a letter to the FBI last week.
The new letter builds on earlier letters spearheaded by Democrat House member Joseph Crowley and Democrat senators Dianne Feinstein and Dick Durbin.
About 140 members of the US Congress have so far endorsed the Sikh Coalition's request for the policy change that it says will translate into expanded Sikh awareness training for law enforcement officials and significantly strengthen efforts to fight hate crimes.
with thanks : IANS : LINK : for detailed news
Kenya: Sikh Students Host Art Competition in Nairobi
iSikh was at it again with an exciting art competition for young Sikh students last Sunday. The theme was 'Sikh Symbols'. The event was held at the Ramgarhia South C, Railway Gurudwara, in Nairobi.
The Gurudwara have a school known as the Gurmat whose primary objective is to educate students on Sikh religion, language, history and prayer. Daljeet Kaur, 13, addressed the audience about the various Sikh symbols, their origin and meaning.
Jasveen Kaur narrated how the Sikh symbols came into being through the creation of the religion over 300 years ago. Nominated MP Sonia Birdi was among the chief guests. She said: "Parents, please allow children to follow their dreams and support them in the right direction".
According to the judges, all the 120 children who participated were winners for their efforts and all received certificate of appreciation.
Lohana's Team Nairobi savours Dar-es-Salaam win
Team Nairobi of the Lohana Youth League were the winners of the 32nd Lohana Sports and Cultural Festival that was held in Dar-es-Salaam, in December. This grand festival included Lohana teams from Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza, Kampala, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu. However, due to the general election and other commitments, they had not really had the chance to enjoy and thank all participants. They celebrated with a friendly bowling competition and a festive meal at the Village Market in Nairobi last Saturday. It was a chance to reminisce about the festival and look forward to more exciting events for 2013.
Theosophical Society Nairobi marks 50th anniversary.
with thanks : AllAfrica : LINK : for detailed news.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
DSGMC plans memorial at Gurdwara Rakabganj
In an affront to the Congress government in the national capital, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) plans to build a memorial to 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib, adjacent to Parliament House.
The 51-member general body of the DSGMC is scheduled to meet on Wednesday and is expected to give its approval to the memorial. On Thursday, the matter was discussed by the executive body of the DSGMC, which asked the general house to take the final decision.
Last year, the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government had allegedly scuttled the move of the Delhi unit of the Badals' Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to rename a park in Punjabi Bagh after the riot victims.
The SAD-ruled DSGMC had taken to the streets in Delhi recently in protest against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in a riots case.
"We would declare our decision on the memorial on Wednesday after the approval of the general house," said DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK.
"The Congress was responsible for the Sikh genocide. The Congress-led UPA government as well as the Delhi government are trying to stop us from building the memorial by denying us a suitable location. But we have decided to build the memorial on the premises of Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib," GK told HT.
The controversy over the Punjabi Bagh park was a major issue during the January 27 DSGMC elections. Efforts of the SAD (Badal), backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to get the park renamed as the '1984 Sikh memorial park' were thwarted when the scheduled function in this regard was 'postponed' at the last moment in November last year.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Renowned filmmaker comes up with docu film on 'langar' tradition
Internationally renowned award-winning filmmaker Meera Dewan has come up with 'Gur Prasad: The Grace of Food', a 58-minute documentary on the tradition of food-sharing through community kitchen, an integral aspect of Sikh religion known as 'langar'.
Dewan paid a visit to this historical town connected to second Sikh master, Guru Angad Dev, and presented the first copy of her production to Baba Baldev Singh, a senior representative of Kar Sewa Khadoor Sahib, headed by noted environmentalist and religious preacher Baba Sewa Singh.
The documentary has basically been made for the film division of the union ministry of information and broadcasting. She had planned to personally present the first copy to Baba Sewa Singh, but he is currently abroad.
"At a time when India talks about food security to check widespread hunger and also take care of the nutritional crisis, the film recalls a rich living tradition of food-sharing as widely practiced at 'langars' or community kitchens by the Sikh community," said Dewan while talking with media persons here on Thursday.
"Filmmaking is my passion and activism through which I portray the problems and issue that exist in Indian society. My first documentary 'Gift of Love' is an anti-dowry film that won 11 international awards at leading film festivals worldwide," she added.
She wholeheartedly appreciated the arrangements for 'Mata Kheevi Langar' run by Baba Sewa Singh's organisation. During her day-long stay here, she paid obeisance at the holy places and visited numerous educational institutes and training academies run by Nishan-e-Sikhi charitable society of Baba Sewa Singh.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.
Australian Porn Mag Apologises to Sikh Community for Offensive 'Turban Legend' Article
Bauer Media in Australia has apologised to the Sikh community over an offensive article it ran in its porn magazine The Picture.
The company made an out of court settlement with United Sikhs after the group brought legal action over an article entitled Turban Legend.
Bauer Media said it was sorry if members of the Sikh community in Australia were offended and that the magazine did not intend to upset anyone.
Of particular offence was the inclusion of a photo of a Nihang Sikh - Nihang is a greatly respected Sikh order famed for its military victories.
The magazine showed a photo of a praying Nihang Sikh in a Golden temple surrounded by pictures of naked women.
Sukhwant Singh, director of national legal affairs at United Sikhs Australia, negotiated the agreement which was mediated by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
"We filed a complaint with the AHRC after we were notified by a Sikh from Queensland about this offensive article titled 'Turban Legend' that was published in the 30th January 2013 issue of Bauer Media's magazine, The Picture," he said.
with thanks : ibtimes UK : LINK : for detailed news.
Amend law to include Sikhs, Hindus in hate crime victims: US to FBI
Meeting one of the long pending demands of Sikhs and Hindus in the US, Attorney General Eric Holder has recommended widening the FBI's mandate to include the two communities among victims of growing hate crimes.
Testifying before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, Holder said he made this recommendation to the Advisory Policy Board of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to make the necessary changes in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) in this regard.
"The (Justice) Department recommended to what's called the Advisory Policy Board last year that the UCR be amended to include anti-Sikh, anti-Hindu, anti-Arab, anti-Middle Eastern categories in the ethnicity or race section," Holder said.
"That board is supposed to meet again in June, where it will consider those potential changes before they make them to the FBI director. But it would be my strong recommendation the form be modified so that it captures anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim, anti-Middle Eastern violence," the Attorney General said.
Holder was responding to questions from California Congresswoman Judy Chu, who recently announced the formation of the first ever American Sikh Congressional Caucus.
with thanks : Indian Express : LINK : for detailed news.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Parents seek answers in British Sikh schoolgirl's death
LONDON: The parents of an eight-year-old British Sikh schoolgirl have alleged that their daughter was killed by health workers in India in a failed attempt to harvest her organs.
Gurkiren Kaur Loyal was being treated for dehydration in a small clinic in Punjab when staff reportedly gave her a mystery injection.
"Within a split-second Gurkiren's head flipped back, her eyes rolled in her head, and the colour completely drained from her. I knew they had killed her on the spot. I knew my innocent child had been murdered," her mother Amrit Kaur Loyal told the 'Birmingham Mail'.
According to Gurkiren's family, the girl was then subjected to a "medieval" postmortem during which all her major organs were removed in a bid to hide the truth of how she had been killed.
It was only once her body was flown home to Britain that they discovered her organs weremissing and only her eyes remained.
Local police are believed to have taken their statements but the family is unsure if a proper investigation was carried out.
Their local councillor in Birmingham, Narinder Kooner, and Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood, have now joined the family's campaign to press the Indian and UK governments for answers.
with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.
Monday, May 13, 2013
In charge of DSGMC, Badal's SAD has say in Delhi
The newly-formed Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has started bearing fruit for the Shiromani Akali Dal. The turn of events during the past fortnight has proved that being in charge of the DSGMC is not an ordinary achievement for the SAD.
SAD's Delhi president Manjit Singh GK, who took over as the committee president on February 26, led the protests in Delhi, against the central government in the past 10 days, forcing the central government to bow, promising to move an appeal in a higher court against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, an accused in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, who was acquitted recently.
After acquittal of Sajjan Kumar 10 days ago, the activists of the SAD swung into action and went on the rampage in Delhi, blocking traffic, stopping metro trains, holding a protest outside the house of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and doing everything to draw the attention of the central government.
Finally, the central government succumbed to the pressure and a signal was sent to the Akalis to come for discussion across the table.
On May 8, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, deputy Chief minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the entire SAD team, including MLAs, MPs and other leaders, gathered in Delhi. A memorandum was given to the President, and a core committee meeting was held, asking the DSGMC and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to move the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the central government to form a special investigation team to probe all cases of the anti-Sikh riots that broke out in the country in 1984.
The entire team, along with Akali Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, also went to Jantar Mantar where riot victim Nirpreet Kaur was on a hunger strike as a mark of protest, and asked her to end her fast.
Speaking here, Parkash Singh Badal acknowledged the efforts of the Delhi unit of his party and the DSGMC, which fought for the Sikh cause. It was made evidently clear that the Akali faction having control over the DSGMC could only make things move in the central government.
The Delhi faction of the SAD is also closely following the case of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who is on death row for a bomb blast in the early 1990s. The SAD is seeking clemency for Bhullar and the DSGMC is acting as a catalyst in this.
Badal also must have realised that there can't be a better choice for the post of the DSGMC president than Manjit Singh GK, who was made to join the SAD in 2008. GK is the son of slain Akali leader Jathedar Santokh Singh, and has a flair for handling Sikh issues. Youth Akali leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, general secretary of the DSGMC, is complementing GK and has shown that he can match the Akali aggression and can undertake long protests for which Akalis are known.
With GK in charge of the DSGMC, Badal has got the opportunity to come closer to the urban Sikhs and show to the masses that the SAD is not a party of peasants only. Political analysts also see the recent turn of events as efforts to make his son and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal have a better say in the national politics.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sikh Regiment's passion for excellence
The room reverberated with talk of Tongpeng La, Raja Hill, Burki, OP Hill, Poonchh, Siramani and Tiger Hill 1999 - battles long ago emblazoned on the Sikh Regiment's glorious history.
Keeping them and other laurels fresh in our minds were the regiment's veterans with their tales of honour and glory. The occasion was this year's Baisakhi Lunch organised by the Sikh Regiment as an annual get-together of its veterans, serving officers and other associates of the regiment. Not just battle honours and gallantry awards, the regiment's history is a saga of achievements whether in sports or professional competitions.
How did the regiment achieve these commanding heights? No doubt the legends of the regiment, commanders like Harbaksh Singh, Dewan Ranjit Rai, Satinder Singh, NN Khanna, Trevor Morlin, Prem Vadhera and others handed down the tradition of excellence that has sustained it.
A command style of 'Follow Me', leadership by example and a passion for superiority are what they bequeathed to their worthy successors. One could well ask, how's the Sikh Regiment different, the officers of all the regiments do that? In this case, the regiment's commanders channelised the natural characteristics of the men they commanded - positivism, a 'can do' attitude and spirited exuberance into a battle-winning factor. The Sikh Regiment brings this reaching for the stars into everything that they do.
India's most highly decorated infantry regiment always does things in great style befitting a great regiment, whether advancing on the battlefield in the face of tremendous odds or organising a reunion of old comrades. In keeping with the regiment's traditions, the function ended with a rousing Jaikara raised by the Colonel of the Regiment, General Sumer Singh, which would've been the envy of any Jathedar in Punjab!
A soldier and his charitable work
Soldiers despite their preoccupation with war and destruction have a strong sense of compassion and empathy for less fortunate human beings. Lieutenant General JL Malhotra was commissioned into the Sikh Regiment in 1957, served with 5 Sikh on counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and in defending Chhamb in 1971 and commanded 1st Sikh.
Later, while commanding 7 Division in Punjab, he initiated the successful induction of his troops into combating terrorism which eventually bought about peace. The experiences in counter-insurgency in both places, including helping the local population, left him thoughtful. Should he continue to enjoy God's bounty while others less fortunate were denied it? He resolved to do his best for the world's deprived.
After retiring in 1994, he came in contact with Colonel DS Vohra whose Prosthetic Centre at Zirakpur, near Chandigarh, was able to help a large number of people live a normal life. Malhotra decided to help a dozen people every year with prosthetics using his life savings.
As the word about his philanthropy spread, others came forward to help him. In about five years' time, he was able to help some 360 people with artificial limbs, wheelchairs and other aids by acting as a link between them and prospective donors. This gave him tremendous fulfilment.
A new phase of his charity work started in 2002 when he was approached by a poor woman to help educate her daughter in an English medium school. This set the underpinning for the Society for Meritorious Students with the help of other like-minded generous people keen to give back to society.
The dedicated team members identify meritorious but needy students and sponsor their entire education including training in personality development and life skills. Their pragmatic approach ensures that the students get good placements and are set for life. So far, the organisation has helped 1,200 students realise their dreams.
Malloo, as he is popularly known in the Army, is a satisfied man having lived a life of accomplishment but as a good soldier wants to do more to give back to society what he got from it.
ECHS facility for reimbursement of travel
One of the lesser known facilities available to veterans covered by the Ex-servicemens' Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is reimbursement of cost of travel when referred to another station due to non-availability of the required facility at one's local station.
The authority for this is Central Organisation, ECHS letter no. B/49782/AG/ECHS dated 8th November 2005. Travelling allowance is subject to of course in the first place being referred by the local polyclinic to another station due to non-availability of the required facility at the local station.
In addition, travelling allowance will be limited to rail fare as per entitled class as applicable to the individual at the time of retirement. If the journey is made by road because the desired station is not connected by rail, then actual bus fare is admissible.
Naval Aviation's 60th anniversary
Congratulations to the Fleet Air Arm on completing 60 years of guarding our maritime frontiers on May 11.
Please write in with your feedback, comments, suggestions and personal narratives of war and military service to msbajwa@gmail.com or call on 093161-35343
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK
27 Sikh couples tie knot in Hyderabad mass marriage ceremony
Hyderabad: It was a dream come true for 27 Sikh couples who got married in a befitting manner without spending a penny in the presence of over 25,000 Sikhs who came from across the state to bless them.
The happiest of them were the couples' parents who never dreamt of their sons and daughters getting married in such a grand and befitting manner that too without spending any money from their pockets. Government officials and Sikh Heads graced the function and blessed the newly-wed couples. On behalf of the State Government, they handed over cheques to the newly wed couples.
The marriages were organised by the Prabhandak Committee, Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawni, Attapur under the Chairmanship of S. Gurcharan Singh Bagga. On Sunday, as many as 27 couples got married at 'Samuhik Vivaha Samagam' (Mass Marriages) under one umbrella at Gurudwara Saheb Barambala in the presence of noted religious heads. Most of the brides and bridegrooms hailed from Hyderabad city and few from other districts.
The Samuhik Vivaha Samagam started at 10 AM with a colourful 'Baraat' of bridegrooms on horses from Asha Singh Bagh Gurudwara, Sikh Chawni to Gurudwara Barambala Saheb. "Anand Karaj (Lawan Phere)", ie, soleminsing of marriage was performed at 11 AM.
All the Sikh Gurudwaras of Hyderabad extended support for the successful conduct of these marriages. Various Gurudwara Committees and individuals presented domestic articles to the newly married couples which will help in settling their lives.
The Minorities Welfare Department has extended a financial support to each couple in form of household articles.
The Prabhandak Committee President Harbans Singh and General Secretary S Iqbal Singh said that only Gurmukh and Amritdhari Sikhs were allowed to participate in the marriages. The Prabhandak Committee made all arrangements including accommodation facilities and Guru-ka-Langar.
with thanks : Deccan Herald : LINK
Friday, May 10, 2013
Sikh population nearly doubles in a decade in Canadian city
The Sikh population in the city of Abbotsford in the Canadian province of British Columbia almost doubled in the period between 2001 and 2011, show official figures.
Sikhs numbered 28,235 or 16.9 percent of the city's population compared to 16,780 in 2001, the Vancouver Desi reported citing data from the 2011 National Household Survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
According to Daniel Hiebert, a professor of geography in the University of British Columbia, the settlement of Sikh immigrants in Abbotsford, along with Surrey, also in British Columbia, and Brampton in Ontario, is unique among Canadian immigration patterns.
"Immigrants used to arrive and settle in the big cities and then move out to the suburbs," the report quoted Hiebert as saying.
"Canadians haven’t seen a lot of this (settling in smaller cities) in the past.”
The new data also revealed that half of the 5,935 immigrants who settled in Abbotsford between 2006 and 2011 came from India, with the next largest number coming from the United Kingdom (nine percent) followed by Americans (4.4 percent).
“The doubling of the Sikh population (in Abbotsford) is adding to the very fabric of what makes our community so unique in its diversity,” Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra, coordinator of the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at the University of Fraser Valley, was quoted as saying.
Sikhs comprise 1.4 percent of Canada's population of around 35 million, according to the new data.
with thanks : Deccan Herald : LINK
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
US Justice Department voices concern over harassment of Sikh student
WASHINGTON: Raising concerns over the harassment of a Sikh student in Georgia for bearing turban and being called a 'terrorist', theUS Justice Department has rapped the school administration for not taking enough steps to prevent such 'verbal and physical' abuse.
A complaint in this regard was filed to the Department of Justice by a non-governmental Sikh coalition against the DeKalb County School district in Georgia, alleging that the student had been repeatedly targeted with verbal and physical harassment because of his Sikh faith, the Federal body said yesterday.
Though, as a result of the investigation, the School administration has agreed to take steps to implement anti-harassment training at the student's middle and high school.
The Justice Department said that the school had not investigated witness' statements regarding the student being called a 'terrorist' and that there was a history of fellow students targeting him because of his turban.
"Students of all faiths must be protected from harassment and other forms of discrimination," said Jocelyn Samuels, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
Following an inquiry into the student-specific complaints, the Department notified the school of its concerns that it had failed to respond promptly and appropriately to the Sikh Coalition's allegations of harassment, including that the student was called "Aladdin" because he wore a turban and was told by a fellow student to "go back to his country".
with thanks : Economic Times : LINK
Elderly Sikh man assaulted outside US Gurdwara, one arrested
In a suspected hate crime, an elderly Sikh man has been brutally assaulted with an iron rod outside a Gurdwara in the US and was in a serious condition, as police arrested a person in connection with the incident.
The incident happened outside a Gurdwara in Fresno which is located in the heart of the Central Valley of California.
The individual arrested for the suspected hate crime has been identified as Gilbert Garcia, the Fresno Police chief Jerry Dyer told a gathering of Sikhs at the Gurdwara where the victim Piara Singh, 82, worked as a volunteer.
Piara Singh was beaten brutally with an iron bar outside the Gurdwara on Sunday morning. Still unconscious, he has 20 stitches, broken bones and ribs. His condition is reported to be improving.
Late in the evening, a Dyer-led team of government officials, including representatives of the FBI and the Department of Justice among others met members of the Sikh community to assure them that they are taking enough measures to protect them from any hate crime.
“This is a hate crime,” said Gurdev Singh Muhar, a priest of the Fresno Gurdwara.
Fresno is located in the heart of the Central Valley of California that has a sizable Sikh/Punjabi population.
The incident has sent shock waves not only among the entire Sikh community in the US, but also among Hindu-Americans and Arab-Americans, who for long have been demanding that attack against them be registered by the FBI as hate crime.
In a statement, the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, condemned the brutal attack on the elderly Sikh man.
“We stand with the Sikh community in rejecting the religious and ethnic hatred that leads to such brutal and cowardly attacks,” said CAIR-SV executive director Basim Elkarra.
Condemning the incident, the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) said Piara Singh was a volunteer at the Gurdwara and performs daily chores there.
The incident took place outside the premises of Gurdwara Nanaksar when he was walking towards his house after performing some morning duties in the Sikh Temple.
With thanks : The Hindu : LINK
1984 Anti-Sikh riots verdict: The pen was mighty but the hands were trembling
It was nothing like anything. The scenes that unfolded at the Karkardooma Court post 2:40 pm on 30th April 2013 were a bewildering reminder of how the unpredictable can surface when you least expect it.
The verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case where five people were killed near Delhi Cantt on the 1st and 2nd of November 1984 was to be pronounced at Court no. 2 of the trial court at 2 pm.
The verdict was postponed by an hour. The media had already reached; 3-4 correspondents per channel. Two reporters outside the court premises providing constant (live) information about the history of the case and what could be the course of future for Sajjan Kumar, if he would be convicted. And two other outside the court room, waiting, expecting the verdict. Every channel had their plans - grand plans - ready. A quick reaction by Sajjan Kumar, the perspective of lawyers from both sides and of course the victims who had been fighting for 29 long years now. Prime time shows had decided their focus. This undoubtedly was a big story. After all, there was a chance of it being the first time ever when a high-profile political leader would have been convicted in the 1984 riots case that left almost 3000 Sikhs dead.
At 2 pm the Delhi police cordoned off the court room holding thick ropes and barricading the entry. We were told this is for security reasons, the media will be allowed at 2:40 pm. We waited - anxiously discussing the probabilities and the impact the verdict may have on obvious individuals. At 2:40 pm we were stopped again - this time the ACP came and bartered for 5 more minutes before he would let us in, clearly this was not just a security requirement. After 5 minutes we lost our patience (our tribe has often been ridiculed for the same but this time I like to believe they asked for it) and moved towards the entry gate of court no. 2 - we were once again stopped for 'proper frisk checking'.
Then a senior police official whisked us aside barking out orders to 'give side' approached. Behind him was Sajjan Kumar, the prime accused. As soon as the man entered the doors of the court were shut on media. We yelled for our right to enter - slammed on the door that didn't open. Within a few minutes we heard loud noises from inside. Curiosity and the need to flash the big news first was killing us. The door swung open and a dazed Karnail Singh rushed out with one slipper on his feet - later we would find out that Karnail Singh had hurled a show towards the judge after he had pronounced what Singh thought was a biased judgement.
The police would detain and later arrest him.
The victim's lawyer HS Phoolka was next to come out but he didn't answer any questions He only stared at us blankly and pushed off. As we entered I saw Sajjan Kumar standing in one corner with tears in his eyes. He was quickly whisked away. The judge was nowhere to be seen. Only a completely shaken and almost shattered Jagdish Kaur and her son screaming and thumping the table. And then as I could gather my wits I found that the absolute unexpected had happened. Sajjan Kumar had been acquitted of all charges. He was from that moment a free man.
with thanks : IBN LIVE : LINK
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Sh Vijay Goel addressing the protest meeting at Talkatora Stadium today, against the 1984 riots
It's an irony that Anti-Sikh riots took place in 1984 despite a Sikh being a president then and the culprits were left scott-free in 2013 despite a Sikh being a Prime Minister now.
Justice Narula committee was formed by the then BJP government within days after taking office in December 1993. It was a BJP initiative that formed Nanavati Commision in May 2000 by the then PM Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was the congress and their leaders who were either directly involved in the Sikh killings or supported the killers. Still no senior congress leader has ever gone to Jail in last 29 years despite having witnesses and credible proof.
Congress government has failed on all fronts including corruption, scams and non-governance. BJP had opposed the appointment of CBI director Ranjit Sinha even in 2012.
Justice has not only been delayed but justice has been denied to the Sikhs : Vijay Goel
BJP to organize massive rally on 4 May to expose misuse of CBI by the Congress
New Delhi, 3rd May, 2013. Expressing his solidarity with the Sikh community in the Capital which has been venting its anguish over the last couple of days over acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Shri Vijay Goel said, “I empathies with the community which feels betrayed as justice has not been delayed but justice has been denied to them.”
Shri Goel said, “The Congress government over the years have never shown the will and intentions to take these long pending cases to the logical end. The anti-Sikh pogrom happened during Congress’ regime and it has failed to ensure that justice is delivered by bringing the guilty to the book.”
Shri Goel said, it was the during the NDA regime that the Nanawati Commission was constituted to conduct an inquiry into the 1984 riots. The CBI had registered cases against Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in 2005 only on the recommendations of the Nanavati Commission.
“No cases would not have been registered against those who led and participated the carnage against Sikhs in the Capital had the NDA government not ensured a speedy and effective inquiry,” he added.
The CBI’s status as an independent agency is already under scanner as it is evident that it has been subjugated by its political masters to serve their purpose. It clearly appears that the CBI did not carry out its duty in action as well as spirit leading to acquittal of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar getting the “benefit of doubt”
“It is strange that in the same case while the five co-accused have been convicted, Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. This further strengthens our belief that the CBI deliberately left loopholes in this case which resulted in this acquittal,” Shri Goel said.
“The Delhi Police also played a dubious role and there were clear attempts to manipulate this case. Even the court has observed, “From the day one itself, Delhi Police has tried to shield the former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar from the grasp of law,” he added.
The Delhi BJP opposes this travesty of justice and would not let this case and all such cases rest unless all the guilty are brought to the book.
“Our party stands by the Sikh community and would continue with its fight to ensure that justice, though delayed by this time, is not denied to Sikhs in the Capital anymore,” Shri Goel said.
Shri Goel announced, “It is clear that the CBI has now become ‘Compromised Bureau of Investigation’. In addition to delay in investigations and building up weak cases against Congress leaders like Sajjan Kumar, it tried closure of cases against another Congress leader Jagdish Tytler though fortunately the Court has disallowed that. In the Coalgate scam also, it allowed tampering of investigation reports by the UPA government despite the apex court directives.”
To expose the misuse of CBI in all such sensitive cases, the Delhi BJP is organizing a mass rally at Talkatora stadium in the Capital on 4 May. Delhi BJP President Shri Vijay Goel, and Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, senior BJP leader and Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha will address this rally.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Sajjan Kumar acquittal: Sikhs protest outside Sonia’s residence
Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Angry over the acquittal of former MP Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, Sikh groups on Thursday protested outside Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence and the party office in the national capital.
Burning effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sajjan Kumar, different Sikh groups gathered outside Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence.
Protesters tried to break barricades put up by the Delhi Police in view of the planned protests.
"Over a thousand protesters marched towards Sonia Gandhi's residence, breaking two barricades. But they were blocked by the policemen. Similar scenes were witnessed at 24, Akbar Road (the Congress office)," a senior police officer said.
Akbar Road, Motilal Nehru Marg, Krishna Menon Marg, Mansingh Road, Maulana Azad Road and Janpath in New Delhi area have been closed due to the protests.
On Wednesday, two Metro stations in West Delhi – Tilak Nagar and Subhash Nagar – were closed down after Sikh protesters stormed the facility and disrupted services.
Sajjan Kumar was acquitted by a court in Delhi on Tuesday in one of the 1984 riots cases. Sikh groups had protested outside the court complex on Tuesday as well. One of the protesters had even thrown a shoe at the judge.
with thanks : Zee News : LINK
Sikh group announces USD 1 mln reward for Sajjan's conviction
WASHINGTON: A US-based Sikh rights group has announced an award of USD 1 million to any individual, whose testimony and evidence may result in conviction of Sajjan Kumar, the senior Congress leader from Delhi.
"The 'Million Dollar' reward will be given to those individuals who will come forward with tips, evidence and testimony leading to the reversal of Judge Aryan's April 30 order acquitting Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for role in the killing of Sikhs in November 1984," Sikh for Justice said in a statement.
Justifying the reward attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, alleged that killing of Sikhs took place in broad day light while hundreds of citizens helplessly watched the systematic and gruesome killings of people in the first week of November 1984.
"Now is the opportunity for those who witnessed the killings to come forward with testimony and evidence to help victims in seeking justice against those Congress leaders who organized violence against Sikhs," Pannun said.
Since Judge Aryan gave " benefit of doubt" to Sajjan, Pannun said victims will challenge the acquittal of Kumar before Delhi High Court based on the precedent set by the Supreme Court in Devenderpal Singh Bhullar's case.
with thanks : Economic Times : LINK
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