Murdered Indian woman and daughter in New Zealand farewelled in same coffin

Murdered 32-year-old Indian woman Ravneet Sangha and her 18-month-old daughter Anna were farewelled cradling each other in the same coffin at Pyes Pa Crematorium chapel in Tauranga, New Zealand, on Friday.

More than 500 people attended the funeral, and were overwhelmed with grief at their premature deaths.

Ravneet was found dead in a house in Otumoetai, a Tauranga suburb, on Sunday evening, while Anna's body was found on Tuesday afternoon- almost 20 hours later - as it had been concealed in the house.

The family of Dev Sangha, Ravneet's husband and Anna's father, said that he was inconsolable at the service.

Dev had been holidaying in India when he was informed about her death and, initially, the disappearance of their daughter Anna.

Politicians, taxi drivers and workers from the local orchards joined members of the Sikh community to support Dev.

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with thanks : source : Sify

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SGPC displays rare historic treasure in Golden Temple

Amritsar, June 11 (ANI): The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) displayed rare items dating back to the fifteenth to eighteenth century inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple to mark the Guru Gaddi Nashini of Guru Hargobind, the sixth spiritual master of the Sikhs.Thousands of devotees thronged the Golden Temple to have a glimpse of these rare invaluable historical items.All the valuable articles belonging to the Golden Temple were kept for display in the “Toshakhana” (treasury) on the first floor of ‘Darshani Deori’ (entrance gate to golden temple).

The display of rare items, called as Jlau, has its own pristine grandeur. ‘JLAU’ literally means a rare glitter that fazes the eyes on its first sight. The Toshakhana is attached by four golden doors. One door has artistic work of flowers, while the remaining three depict different aspects from the lives of the Great Sikh Gurus.

The doors were presented by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.It was said each gold door was made at a cost Rs.3000.

There is one Canopy of gold weighing twenty pounds. On top of the canopy, a peacock having its neck made of pure Sapphire in a single piece is sitting. According to the estimates of a jeweller, only this piece of Sapphire costs sround four million rupees.The stone is without any blemish. In the eyes of peacock there are diamonds. Overall, this canopy is studded with 3600 diamond stones and 101 big pearls. Just under it, there is a diamonds headband with strings of pearls. Jewelers of Lahore prepared this headband on the occasion of marriage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s first son Naunihal Singh.

Impressed by its art and the beauty, Maharaja presented this band as offerings to Golden Temple. Its cost came around Rs nine lakhs at that time.

Apart from this, there is one sword of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Its hilt is of pure gold studded with pearls and emeralds. The showcase lying in the Toshakhana is displaying five spades having silver handles and gold blades.

In 1973, the Punjab and Sind Bank presented the temple with one golden spade and five silver bowls. At that time Sant Kundan Singh from Jagron presented the temple with one silver spade, one sword with silver hilt and Sikh emblem of gold with silver stand.

According to SGPC, there are five necklaces, one small Canopy and one ring with a Sapphire in middle and eight diamonds around, which were presented by Princess Bamba granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, daughter of PrinceDaleep Singh.

Besides, there are also jewels in the Toshakhana from the house of General Dhana Singh Malwai, a General in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.In the early nineties, an American Sikh, who came here to pay obeisance presented a pearl necklace of three strings and three diamonds.

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

with thanks : source : ANI & ThaIndian

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After Hindus, divorce could get hassle-free for Sikhs too

NEW DELHI: With amendments on the anvil to make divorce easier for Hindus, a similar move may be underway for Sikhs.

The Cabinet on Thursday cleared amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act, allowing the provision of ‘‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’’ to be included as ground for divorce.

Sources said a similar provision could be added to the draft Sikh Marriage Act that is currently under consideration with the law ministry.

At present, Sikhs are governed by the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 which the draft bill seeks to replace. The demand for a separate marriage Act stems from the need to register marriages solemnised under their religious ceremony Anand Karaj.

It is learnt that sports minister M S Gill intervened in the discussion on Hindu Marriage Act to say that similar provision for “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” should be made for Sikhs, adding that Anand Marriage Act was 50 years older. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it would require a separate proposal.

Gill said the community had pursued former law minister H R Bharadwaj with the demand but to no result. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Paramjit Singh Sarna said the committee was in favour of a separate law to govern Sikh marriages.

‘‘We have separate set of Sikh rituals and we would like to be registered under the Sikh Marriage Act rather than the Hindu Marriage Act as we have to do now. It is a matter of our identity and a legal recognition to Anand Karaj,” Sarna said.

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

With thanks : source : Economic Times

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Sd. Bhupinder Singh Kohli - Navi Mumbai

SAMAJ SHAKTI AWARD 2010 FOR SOCIAL SERVICE Pics of the Award Ceremony of Sd. Bhupinder singh Kohli from Navi Mumbai. Earlier the vid was also uploaded.

Our heartiest congratulations to Dear Mr Kohli on this achievement.

B S Vohra
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Tohra's wife gets cabinet rank

Chandigarh, June 9 (PTI) Punjab government today decided to grant cabinet rank to iconic Sikh leader and former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra's wife Joginder Kaur Tohra.

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

With thanks : source : PTI News

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400 Sikhs pilgrims arrive for Jor Mela

LAHORE: Over 400 Sikh yatris arrived at 3:45 pm yesterday to attend the 404th death anniversary of Guru Arjun Dev Jee at Gurdwara Dera Sahib to be held on June 15.

The yatris left for a three-day visit to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal after they were warmly welcomed by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee (PSGPC).

Talking to The Express Tribune, the ETPB spokesperson Aamir Hashmi assured that the Sikh pilgrims would be provided with the best facilities during their 10-day stay in the country.

Meanwhile, other members of Gurdwara Parbhanhak committee emphasised the need to take confidence building measures.

Talking to The Express Tribune, PSGPC member Sardar Ragbeer, welcoming the yatris, said, “India and Pakistan should resume talk on bilateral relations.” This would ease the visa obtaining process for so many Sikhs interested in annual pilgrims to Pakistan, he added.

The yatris are scheduled to leave Hassanabdal for another religious visit to Gurdwara Jana Asthan in Nankana Sahib on June 11. They will return to Lahore on June 14 to attend the festivities at Gurdwara Dera Sahib scheduled for June 16.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2010.

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‘Khanda’ On Underwear – US Firm Calls back Design

LU­D­HI­A­NA­: A leadi­ng clot­hi­ng r­et­ai­ler­ oper­at­i­ng f­r­om­­ t­he US has deci­ded t­o wi­t­hdr­aw i­t­s desi­gns car­r­yi­ng t­he ob­j­ect­i­onab­le use of­ t­he Kbanda reli­gi­o­­us i­nsi­gni­a and an i­mage o­­f­ t­he Si­kh guru o­­n i­t­s p­ro­­duc­t­s, i­nc­ludi­ng underw­ear and t­ho­­ng c­o­­llec­t­i­o­­n.

F­o­­llo­­w­i­ng an o­­ut­rage i­n t­he Sik­h­ co­mmu­n­ity settl­ed i­n the US, C­afe­Pr­e­ss, a­n­ o­n­lin­e­ re­ta­il cha­in­ tha­t imp­o­rts­ fro­m P­un­ja­b­ a­n­d K­e­ra­la­-ba­s­e­d g­a­rme­n­t ma­n­ufa­cture­rs­, s­a­id its­ p­ro­ducts­ did n­o­t ca­rry­ “a­n­y­ ma­licio­us­ in­te­n­t” a­n­d o­ffe­re­d a­n­ a­p­o­lo­g­y­ “fo­r a­n­y­ o­ffe­n­ce­ its­ p­ro­ducts­ ha­d ca­us­e­d” to­ the­ co­mmun­ity­.

A­ Ludhia­n­a­-ba­s­e­d re­p­re­s­e­n­ta­tive­ o­f the­ re­ta­il cha­in­ s­a­id tha­t be­in­g­ o­n­lin­e­ clo­thin­g­ re­ta­ile­r, the­ cha­in­ a­llo­ws­ third p­a­rtie­s­ fro­m a­ro­un­d the­ wo­rld to­ cre­a­te­ the­ir o­wn­ de­s­ig­n­s­ a­n­d ho­s­t the­m o­n­ the­ir we­bs­ite­. “The­ is­s­ue­ ha­s­ be­e­n­ bro­ug­ht in­to­ o­ur n­o­tice­ a­n­d the­ de­s­ig­n­s­ withdra­wn­. It ha­s­ be­e­n­ cla­rifie­d tha­t the­ cha­in­ wo­uld us­e­ g­re­a­te­r ca­utio­n­ a­n­d s­tricte­r me­a­s­ure­s­ in­ mo­n­ito­rin­g­ co­n­­ te­n­t o­n­ its­ we­bs­ite­,” the­ re­p­re­s­e­n­ta­tive­ s­a­id.

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With thanks : source : HT

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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.

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With thanks : source : Times of India

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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

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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.

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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

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