Lessons Not Learnt

The facts speak for themselves. Twenty-six years after the country's worst industrial disaster in the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, which killed around 4,000 people immediately and several thousands over the years, a trial court sentenced seven of the accused to two years in jail. The accused, all former employees of Union Carbide, were out on bail immediately. This is an all-too-familiar story of the Indian state and its law-enforcement agencies failing to deliver justice. Be it the 1984 anti-Sikh riots or the 1992 Ayodhya demolition, the state has been unable to either punish the perpetrators or adequately compensate victims.

The tortuous legal history of the Union Carbide disaster is replete with missteps, collusion and plain inefficiency on the part of different state agencies. A few months after the tragedy, the Indian government had filed a claim of $3.3 billion in US courts against Union Carbide. After a US district court transferred all litigation to India, the government in 1989 settled for a measly $470 million compensation in an out-of-court deal which worked out to under Rs 75,000 each for death victims and about Rs 25,000 for the injured. Moreover, more than 15 years later the government hadn't disbursed the entire compensation. The courts were equally lax in trying the perpetrators. The main accused, former Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson, was declared a fugitive in 1992 and has never appeared in an Indian court. Furthermore, in 1996, the Supreme Court reduced the charges against the accused from culpable homicide not amounting to murder, punishable by a maximum 10-year jail term, to causing death by negligence, which invites a sentence of only two years.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Times of India

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Indian Sikh delegation in Pakistan calls for Kartarpur Sahib Corridor

Amritsar, June 8 (ANI): A Sikh delegation visiting Pakistan on Tuesday called on the Governments of India and Pakistan to resolve their demand for the "Kartarpur Corridor".

Several organizations have been coordinating programs to create a corridor (passport/visa-free passage) between Dera Baba Nanak (on the Indian side) and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib (about three kilometers from the India-akistan international border in Pakistan’s Narowal District).

About 300 Sikh devotees entered Pakistan on Tuesday to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth spiritual leader of the Sikh community.

Guru Nanak Dev, the first spiritual leader of the community spent 17 years at a place where Gurdwara Kartarpur is situated. A few years ago, Pakistan allowed Sikhs devotees from India to visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur.

In 1999, Pakistan dictator General Pervez Musharraf committed to providing safe passage to the Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has also shown his interest for building the corridor.

While addressing a gathering in September 2004, the Prime Minister announced that he would take up with Pakistan the issue of the Kartarpur corridor and provision of access to those visiting Nankhana Sahib.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : ANI

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Akal Takht calls upon excommunicated persons to return to Sikh fold

Amritsar, June 7 (ANI): Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, on Sunday offered another chance to excommunicated community persons to return to Sikh fold.

The five Sikh Jathedars, or high priests, said that all those persons who have been excommunicated from the Sikh community should present themselves before the Akal Takth here to submit an apology.

"The Sikh community has taken an important decision that till today the people who have been excommunicated from the Akal Takht, they are getting another golden chance. They need to produce themselves in front of the Akal Takht sahib within the next one month and do an apology prayer. If they fail to come out within one month then the devotees should act against them strictly," said Gyani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht.

In January this year Gyani Darshan Singh Ragi, a former high priest of the Akal Takth, was expelled from the religion for making objectionable remarks against the tenth spiritual guru, Guru Gobind Singh, during a congregation in the United States in November 2009.

Reportedly, he failed to clarify his position before the five Jathedars for his objectionable remarks.

Incidents of excommunicating in Sikh religion are not uncommon; followers are liable for being declared Tankhiya for flouting Sikhism practices like cutting hair or trying to bring disrepute to the Guru Granth Sahib. (ANI)

With thanks : source : ONEINDIA with link in headline above.

SikhsIndia

26th anniversary of Operation Blue Star observed

Amritsar, Jun 6 (PTI) Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, today observed the 26th anniversary of Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple here as genocide day, saying the wounds inflicted on the community's psyche by the offensive were yet to heal.

"The Sikh community all over the world still feels the unhealed wounds of Operation Blue Star, Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said addressing a function held by the SGPC to mark the occasion at the Temple where the operation was carried out by the Indian army in 1984 to flush out pro-Khalistan militants.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : PTI

SikhsIndia

High security at Golden Temple for Bluestar anniv

Security has been tightened at the Golden temple here in view of the 26th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Sunday.

Policemen in plainclothes are also deputed outside the premises as a precautionary measure in view of expected presence of radical Sikh activists in the temple.

The Sikh bodies, including SGPC and Akal Takht, observe the anniversary of Operation Bluestar every year.

Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.

With thanks : source : Hindustan Times

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

How the Sikhs went bananas in Woolgoolga

As you enter Coff’s Harbour, tucked between Sydney and Brisbane, it is not hard to guess why the big banana stands as a landmark. The area grows one of the best varieties of bananas in Australia. And the fruit has a dominant Indian connection.

In the early part of the 19th century when the British still ruled India, a few adventurous men from Punjab decided to cash in on the shortage of farm labourers in Australia. Their journey led them first to Queensland, then south to Coff’s Harbour, and finally in nearby Woolgoolga, New South Wales.

Familiar to farming these men slowly acquired small parcels of land and began working hard to make their fortunes. By the 1940s, they had laid the foundation of the first Australian Sikh Community in Australia here at Woolgoolga, 20 km north of Coff’s Harbour. Today, some of the wealthiest Indians reside in Woolgoolga.

Undeterred by the spells of Autumn rain, which otherwise made for a good excuse for a sleep-in at the beach resort we had booked ourselves in, we decided to explore the town known for its great beaches, pristine scenery, nature walks and great fishing.

After a drive around Coff’s Harbour, we headed off to Woolgoolga or Woopi as locals call it. A winding road took us to a majestic gurudwara perched on top of the hill. It is, in fact, the second Sikh shrine built in Australia, in 1970. The first gurudwara, constructed in 1968, still stands nearby, a mere shadow to the new one.

Over hot chai and tikkas, head priest Gurmandip Singh said the gurudwara was a meeting place not only for the 1,200 Sikh residents of Woolgoolga but also of the local community.

It was easy to locate Satpal Singh Gill, 38, whose great grandfather travelled to Australia around 1910. “He worked in the Wollombi area and earned enough money to invest in small farms for banana cultivation,” Gill proudly says. “We were the second family to have moved to Australia,” he adds.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Hindustan Times

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

1984: Order on framing of charges on July 1

A Delhi court has reserved its order on framing of charges against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others in the Sultanpuri carnage that left six persons dead during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, after hearing arguments both from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the accused on Saturday, said the court will pronounce its order on July 1.

The CBI lawyer sought the prosecution of Kumar, a former Outer Delhi MP, and four others for murder, rioting and other offences under the IPC while the defence counsel requested discharge of the accused on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Indian express

SikhsIndia

Black listed Sikh acquitted by court

Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), Jun 4 (PTI) A court here today acquitted a Sikh, whose name figured in the black list maintained by the centre for alleged anti-national activities during the dark days of terrorism in Punjab.

Forty-year-old Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukhi Sumundari was aquitted by court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate here.

Sukhi?s counsel told reporters outside the court premises that the court acquitted Sukhi as the prosecution had failed to prove charges against him.

After his acquittal, Sukhi told reporters that the truth has prevailed at last.

Sukhi said various cases were registered against him at different police stations of Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar districts in 1987 when he was only 16-year old.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : PTI

SikhsIndia

Case of missing chargesheet waits for judge

NEW DELHI: Eighteen years and two judges later, the fate of the ‘missing chargesheet’ in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case still remains undecided.

A trial court on Friday deferred till July 14 the pronouncement of order on an application filed by prosecution seeking clarification on whether a chargesheet allegedly involving Congress leader Sajjan Kumar can be clubbed with another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

It is the second time in a fortnight that the matter was deferred at the time of delivering the order. district judge Bimla Maken had decided to adjudicate the matter after a sessions judge recused himself from hearing the case.

Additional sessions judge V K Goyal, who earlier heard the arguments on the matter, had on May 21 recused himself from the case citing personal reasons on the day when he was to deliver the order. The district judge, to whom the matter was referred to by ASJ Goyal, had then decided to hear the matter herself after allowing the plea to transfer the case. The judge had reserved the order on June 2 after hearing the arguments at length from the prosecution as well as the victims’ counsel.

Interestingly, sources said the order in the matter is not likely to be decided even on July 14 as the incumbent judicial officer is going to retire on June 30. In fact, the sources added, the matter will be taken up by the new district judge who will replace Maken and it would now be heard afresh on the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, riots victims association counsel H S Phoolka said he will move the Delhi high court to know the reasons as to why ASJ Goyal had recused himself. His decision to move the HC comes after Maken had asked Goyal to spell out the reasons for seeking transfer of the case in a sealed envelop. The judge had then ordered that the documents would not be opened without an order of the Delhi HC.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN

with thanks : source : Times of India

SikhsIndia

Enact Anand Marriage Act for Sikhs: SAD urges Centre

The Shiromani Akali Dal Core Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) called upon the Centre for an expeditious enactment of the Anand Marriage Act for Sikhs, along the lines of similar acts for other religions.

Sources said the draft of this Act is ready for ratification by the Union Cabinet. After the clearance, it is likely to be introduced in the Parliament in the next session. Once passed, the Sikh Marriage Act will meet a long-standing demand of the community that has been fighting for an amendment to the Anand Marriage Act passed by the British in 1909. Under the Act, there will be a special provision for the registration of marriages performed under Sikh religious rights.

At present, marriages performed under Sikh religious rights are registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act. Now when the Special Marriage Act is being amended, provision for the registration of marriages performed according to the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 will also be incorporated.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : IndianExpress

SikhsIndia

Zonal Finals of Hemkunt Speech Competition Held

SANTA ANA - The Orange county zonal finals of the Sri Hemkunt Speech (SHF) competition were held at the Sikh Center of Orange County, Santa Ana on May 22.

Participants included the winners from the center level competitions held earlier at the Sikh Center of Orange County, Buena Park, Walnut and San Diego Gurudwaras. Total of 20 contestants spoke on different topics prepared from books distributed by the Hemkunt Foundation and were judged by a panel of judges that represented the above mentioned Gurudwaras.

The winners of the speech competitions were: Mallika Kaur (Group 1), Harjiv Singh (Group 2), Nimarta Kaur (Group 3), Sumeeta Kaur (Group 4) and Simran Kaur (Group 5). Prizes were given to all the contestants and the medals for the winners.

The winners of the zonal round will travel to London, for the international finals to be held from August 5-8, 2010.

Zonal convener Dr Arinder S. Chadha welcomed the participants, judges and parents and Payal Singh emceed the event. Volunteers included Shivinder and Ginny Chawla who helped with check in and judges coordination.

This is an annual event organized by Sri Hemkunt Foundation, NY, and Sikh centers and Gurudwaras across the US, UK and parts of Africa and Canada participate in it.

Original story can be viewed with thanks from the link in headline above : IndiaJournal

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com