Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sikh police officer 'left humiliated for refusing to remove turban during training’
A Sikh police officer was “humiliated” by his Greater Manchester Police colleagues after refusing to remove his turban for training and undergoing practices that would breach his faith, an employment tribunal heard.
By Andrew Hough Published: 7:00AM BST 17 Sep 2009
Gurmeal Singh, 31, was “deeply offended” by his Greater Manchester Police colleagues’ actions that left him suffering panic attacks and high blood pressure and has been hospitalised twice.
Pc Singh, who is based at Wythenshawe Police station, near Manchester, told the hearing that he was told to remove his turban during a training exercise.
He also claims he was “coerced” into walking through a petrol fire, despite telling trainers about a flammable gel he had applied to his beard, which he feared if it was burnt would break the strict beliefs which he had observed since he was 15.
When officers suggested he get a modified turban, the officer, who joined the force in 2003 as a Police Community support officer at Northernden police station, said he feared he would be made to look like a character from the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.
The tribunal in Manchester heard that he felt like he was from an episode of the TV sitcom in which Del Boy Trotter took a delivery of “crash turbans” - helmets with cloth wrapped around it.
When he complained, he claimed one sergeant appeared to trivialise the matter, telling him: “This is what you signed up for.”
Senior officers were even alleged to have made “racist remarks about machine gunning down Eid celebrators” who were celebrating the end of Ramadan, the hearing heard.
The officer, who is claiming £200,000 in compensation from the force, was serving at Northenden, Greater Manchester at the time. "I am deeply offended by the way I have been treated by the police organisation and by various colleagues," he told the hearing.
“My turban is not an article of clothing like a shirt or tie - it is part of me, a part of my religion and I feel as though my religion and I have become an issue for GMP.
“It has made me feel alienated. I was deeply offended and humiliated.”
The hearing was told PC Singh was off sick in April for three months but has returned to light duties at Wythenshawe police station.
GMP deny racial discrimination.
The British Sikh Police Association is backing PC Singh in his legal action.
The hearing continues.
with thanks : source :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6197652/Sikh-police-officer-left-humiliated-for-refusing-to-remove-turban-during-training-tribunal-hears.html
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SikhsIndia : looking for your comments
SikhsIndia
17th September, 2009Sat Sri Akal,
We are pleased to inform that our Sikh web portal http://www.sohnijodi.com/ has crossed 15 Lakh hits.
We are also thankful to the most valued visitors of our Sikh blog http://www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com/.
We are trying our best to gain the wider reach. Therefore, we request to all of you to pass on your most valued comments as well suggestions for our Sikh web portal & Sikh blog.
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Mohali golf range threatens to wipe out Sikh history
Ramaninder K Bhatia, TNN 17 September 2009, 02:40am IST
CHHAPAR CHIRI (Mohali): The most significant slice of Sikh history, the battleground where the Khalsa avenged the killing of the two younger sons of the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, may soon be lost to a swank golf range if the recently approved master plan of Mohali is executed.
Barely 20 km away from Chandigarh, off Kharar-Landran road, lies Chhappar-Chiri village — once known for its plentiful ponds and mangroves on the banks of Patiala Ki Rao — where in 1710, the brave Banda Singh, anointed general of the Khalsa army by Guru Gobind Singh and sent to stop the tyranny of Mughals, defeated the army of Wazir Khan, the subedar of Sirhind who had ordered the killing of Sahibzada Zoravar Singh and Fateh Singh by bricking them alive. Khan was put to death and his body dragged to Sirhind, about 25 km from the village, before the Khalsa army proceeded to decimate the town.
Sikh historians are unanimous in their observation that this was the most important victory against the Mughals as it paved the way for a number of similar triumphs across several towns in Punjab. Yet, except for a simple board, bearing a history of the place, outside the local gurdwara, there are no memorials even though the place, spread across 14-15 acre of dense forests, has been visited by many VIPs, including CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and his predecessor GS Tohra.
The gurdwara displays five handmade iron weapons and turban rings (chakkar) which were dug out by a farmer while installing a tubewell. ‘‘We’ve heard from our ancestors how the Khalsa forces, despite being outnumbered and ill-equipped, used the forest and guerrilla warfare tactics to defeat a far superior army,” says Zora Singh, a former sarpanch, whose ancestors’ participation in the war has been documented in books on the battle.
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/chandigarh/Mohali-golf-range-threatens-to-wipe-out-Sikh-history/articleshow/5020583.cms
SikhsIndia
Religious bias against Sikhs rising, claims group
Khushwant Singh, TNN 17 September 2009, 02:16am IST
CHANDIGARH: The US-based leading Sikh advocacy group, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), has claimed that community's rights
were being constantly curbed in that country and that the US could be fast going the France's way as far as framing laws for minorities was concerned.
Over the last one year alone, SALDEF says it has confronted many attempts by US state governments to perpetuate or enact laws that impair or would have impaired the right of Sikh Americans to practise their religion. "Many of these laws bore a disturbing resemblance to French laws,'' which have seriously impinged on the lives of Sikhs and other religious minorities in that country, said SALDEF in an e-mail statement to TOI.
Citing various such regulations, SALDEF claimed that there were more than five instances in 2009 that hindered Sikhs from wearing their mandated head covering. "The Oklahoma legislature's attempt to ban head covering in ID photos, followed by a similar attempt by Minnesota state, the Maryland attorney general's views on veils and head coverings, the Oregon legislature's ratification of a law banning religious clothing for teachers and the Michigan supreme court allowing judges to order head covering removals were all new challenges for the Sikh community,'' claimed SALDEF.
Eight years after 9/11 terror attacks and the subsequent surge in hate crimes and discrimination against Sikh Americans, "our new challenge is in ensuring that our government works for us, not against us, in the cause of defending religious freedom,'' the Sikh group said.
"One significant test of their commitment will be the manner in which the federal government and the states handle the PASS ID Act of 2009,'' said Manjit Singh, acting chairperson, SALDEF.
The proposed law is designed to standardize photographic identification documents in the US. "The law does not contain explicit protection for religious head coverings, and the high-level bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security believe that head coverings should not be worn in identification photographs,'' SALDEF claimed. It said it did not want a situation in which state governments depart from well-settled State Department standards and force Sikh Americans to remove their turbans as a condition to receiving critical identification documents.
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Religious-bias-against-Sikhs-rising-claims-group/articleshow/5019796.cms
SikhsIndiaCHANDIGARH: The US-based leading Sikh advocacy group, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), has claimed that community's rights
were being constantly curbed in that country and that the US could be fast going the France's way as far as framing laws for minorities was concerned.
Over the last one year alone, SALDEF says it has confronted many attempts by US state governments to perpetuate or enact laws that impair or would have impaired the right of Sikh Americans to practise their religion. "Many of these laws bore a disturbing resemblance to French laws,'' which have seriously impinged on the lives of Sikhs and other religious minorities in that country, said SALDEF in an e-mail statement to TOI.
Citing various such regulations, SALDEF claimed that there were more than five instances in 2009 that hindered Sikhs from wearing their mandated head covering. "The Oklahoma legislature's attempt to ban head covering in ID photos, followed by a similar attempt by Minnesota state, the Maryland attorney general's views on veils and head coverings, the Oregon legislature's ratification of a law banning religious clothing for teachers and the Michigan supreme court allowing judges to order head covering removals were all new challenges for the Sikh community,'' claimed SALDEF.
Eight years after 9/11 terror attacks and the subsequent surge in hate crimes and discrimination against Sikh Americans, "our new challenge is in ensuring that our government works for us, not against us, in the cause of defending religious freedom,'' the Sikh group said.
"One significant test of their commitment will be the manner in which the federal government and the states handle the PASS ID Act of 2009,'' said Manjit Singh, acting chairperson, SALDEF.
The proposed law is designed to standardize photographic identification documents in the US. "The law does not contain explicit protection for religious head coverings, and the high-level bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security believe that head coverings should not be worn in identification photographs,'' SALDEF claimed. It said it did not want a situation in which state governments depart from well-settled State Department standards and force Sikh Americans to remove their turbans as a condition to receiving critical identification documents.
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Religious-bias-against-Sikhs-rising-claims-group/articleshow/5019796.cms
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sikhnet youth online 2009 Film Festival
Sikhnet youth online 2009 Film Festival is on now and can be viewed at :
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/?utm_source=SikhNet&utm_campaign=eef4a1f840-Film_Festival_Announcement9_15_2009&utm_medium=email
Best viewing
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http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/?utm_source=SikhNet&utm_campaign=eef4a1f840-Film_Festival_Announcement9_15_2009&utm_medium=email
Best viewing
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Gurmat samagam by Shabad chowki jatha
Plz view the details of the programme at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, F Block, Krishna nagar, Delhi - 110051 by Shabad Chowki Jatha.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Gurmat samagam : please mail us details of your programme
SikhsIndia
15th September, 2009,
Sat sri akal,
If you are celebrating a Gurupurab or having a Keertan samagam in your area, please mail us details of your programme for wider coverage, for uploading on our Sikh web portal with around a LAKH HITS per month from all over the world. You can also mail the pics of the programme for uploading here.
It will be uploaded at : http://www.sohnijodi.com/gurmatsamagam.htm
as well on our Sikh blog : http://www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com/.
If you could add a line in your posters that "Details of the programme can also be viewed on Sikh Web Portal www.sohnijodi.com" , we will be thankful to you.
Best regards
sikhsIndia
Monday, September 14, 2009
Italian ambassador admires Sikhs wearing turban in Italy
September 13, 2009
Punjab: Italy does not mind more immigrants from India, provided they come legally, says Italy’s ambassador to India, a man who estimates that the number of illegal Indian settlers in Italy is over the half the number of legal immigrants.
“Apart from the movement of goods and investments, we consider movement of people of utmost importance for the overall growth of Italy. Immigrants from India have proved a boon for Italy as they are doing extremely well there,” Ambassador Roberto Toscano told IANS in an interview here.
“There are around 77,000 Indians who are legally residing in Italy and a large majority of them are from Punjab. But at the same time there is a huge population of illegal immigrants from India, that is around 40,000,” he said.
Toscano said Italians no longer “feel astonished when we see a Punjabi Sikh, with a turban on his head, moving on a bicycle on Italy’s roads. They have very well become a part of our society and we have also accepted their traditions and customs.
“There are many good, success stories of Indian immigrants, especially from Punjab, and we would like to stress on these.”
The ambassador was in Chandigarh to meet top functionaries in the Punjab government.
State Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal discussed with Toscano the issue of Punjabi youth stranded in Italy after reaching there through illegal means.
“We are also concerned about the tendency of illegal immigration by Punjabi youth,” the ambassador told IANS. “Our government is already looking into this matter and we have assured the Punjab government that all possible help will be provided to such people in Italy.”
Italy, which attracts over 42.3 million tourists annually, wants to tap the tourism market from India.
“We are not geographically close to Punjab but our ambitions are same and we share many similarities with this country. In fact, we have a long history of association with Punjab and centuries-old ancient roman artefacts found here have proved our old links,” the ambassador said.
Italy is the seventh largest economy and sixth largest exporter of manufactured goods in the world.
With thanks : Source: Alkesh Sharma, IANS
“Apart from the movement of goods and investments, we consider movement of people of utmost importance for the overall growth of Italy. Immigrants from India have proved a boon for Italy as they are doing extremely well there,” Ambassador Roberto Toscano told IANS in an interview here.
“There are around 77,000 Indians who are legally residing in Italy and a large majority of them are from Punjab. But at the same time there is a huge population of illegal immigrants from India, that is around 40,000,” he said.
Toscano said Italians no longer “feel astonished when we see a Punjabi Sikh, with a turban on his head, moving on a bicycle on Italy’s roads. They have very well become a part of our society and we have also accepted their traditions and customs.
“There are many good, success stories of Indian immigrants, especially from Punjab, and we would like to stress on these.”
The ambassador was in Chandigarh to meet top functionaries in the Punjab government.
State Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal discussed with Toscano the issue of Punjabi youth stranded in Italy after reaching there through illegal means.
“We are also concerned about the tendency of illegal immigration by Punjabi youth,” the ambassador told IANS. “Our government is already looking into this matter and we have assured the Punjab government that all possible help will be provided to such people in Italy.”
Italy, which attracts over 42.3 million tourists annually, wants to tap the tourism market from India.
“We are not geographically close to Punjab but our ambitions are same and we share many similarities with this country. In fact, we have a long history of association with Punjab and centuries-old ancient roman artefacts found here have proved our old links,” the ambassador said.
Italy is the seventh largest economy and sixth largest exporter of manufactured goods in the world.
With thanks : Source: Alkesh Sharma, IANS
SikhsIndia
Sikh leaders take over shrine in Haryana, evoke SGPC ire
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Kurukshetra/Chandigarh: Sikh leaders demanding separate SGPC for Haryana on Sunday took charge of a prestigious gurudwara here evoking sharp reaction from the apex body managing Sikh shrines which alleged that the move had the support of Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.
President of the self-appointed Haryana SGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda said he had taken over the control of Chhavin Patshahi Gurudwara in Kurukshetra without facing any resistance from the shrine's present functionaries including its manager.
There were only two persons in the gurudwara complex who left soon after the take-over by the 'HSGPC', he said, adding that the step has been taken as the state government has "failed" to do justice to those demanding a separate SGPC for Haryana.
Strongly opposing the move, SGPC, the apex elected body managing affairs of Sikh shrines, accused Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in Haryana of "supporting" few Sikhs in taking "forcible control" of the historical gurudwara and asserted that it will take back the shrine under its control at any cost.
"The Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government is supporting few Sikhs who carrying arms and ammunition took forcible control of a historic Gurudwara in Kurukshetra," SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar said while leaving for Kurukshetra. "The SGPC will take back control of this Gurudwara at any cost," he said while lashing out at Hooda Government and the Kurukshetra district administration for their alleged inaction.
with thanks : source : http://www.zeenews.com/news563237.html
SikhsIndia
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Kurukshetra/Chandigarh: Sikh leaders demanding separate SGPC for Haryana on Sunday took charge of a prestigious gurudwara here evoking sharp reaction from the apex body managing Sikh shrines which alleged that the move had the support of Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.
President of the self-appointed Haryana SGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda said he had taken over the control of Chhavin Patshahi Gurudwara in Kurukshetra without facing any resistance from the shrine's present functionaries including its manager.
There were only two persons in the gurudwara complex who left soon after the take-over by the 'HSGPC', he said, adding that the step has been taken as the state government has "failed" to do justice to those demanding a separate SGPC for Haryana.
Strongly opposing the move, SGPC, the apex elected body managing affairs of Sikh shrines, accused Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in Haryana of "supporting" few Sikhs in taking "forcible control" of the historical gurudwara and asserted that it will take back the shrine under its control at any cost.
"The Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government is supporting few Sikhs who carrying arms and ammunition took forcible control of a historic Gurudwara in Kurukshetra," SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar said while leaving for Kurukshetra. "The SGPC will take back control of this Gurudwara at any cost," he said while lashing out at Hooda Government and the Kurukshetra district administration for their alleged inaction.
with thanks : source : http://www.zeenews.com/news563237.html
SikhsIndia
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UHRO demands release of Sikhs languishing in jails
Monday , Sep 14, 2009 at 0337 hrs
The Universal Human Rights Organisation (UHRO) has demanded the release and rehabilitation of Sikh men who are languishing in various jails. The NGO has sent a written representation to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi on this.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, UHRO president Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, chief spokesperson Surat Singh Khalsa and chairman VP Singh said during militancy the Punjab Police had picked up several innocent Sikh youths, suspecting them to be terrorists. They said while some of them were killed in encounters, a number of them were still languishing in various jails of Punjab and other parts of the country.
The UHRO office bearers said they had now sent a representation to Rahul Gandhi. They said now that the Gandhi family and even Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had apologised for the Army action on the Golden Temple, the Congress-led UPA Government should immediately release those Sikh men from jails.
with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uhro-demands-release-of-sikhs-languishing-in-jails/516741/
SikhsIndia
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www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
The Universal Human Rights Organisation (UHRO) has demanded the release and rehabilitation of Sikh men who are languishing in various jails. The NGO has sent a written representation to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi on this.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, UHRO president Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, chief spokesperson Surat Singh Khalsa and chairman VP Singh said during militancy the Punjab Police had picked up several innocent Sikh youths, suspecting them to be terrorists. They said while some of them were killed in encounters, a number of them were still languishing in various jails of Punjab and other parts of the country.
The UHRO office bearers said they had now sent a representation to Rahul Gandhi. They said now that the Gandhi family and even Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had apologised for the Army action on the Golden Temple, the Congress-led UPA Government should immediately release those Sikh men from jails.
with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uhro-demands-release-of-sikhs-languishing-in-jails/516741/
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
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