Canada toughens immigration laws

Amritsar, Punjab: Within hours of the G-20 Summit in Huntsville in Ontario, Canada virtually slammed its doors on prospective immigrants from India limiting their annual intake to 20,000 besides reducing the number of trades in the demand list.

Incidentally, announcement of the new immigration rules has coincided with the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to Canada.

Some of the new occupations included by Canada in its demand list are primary production managers (except agriculture), adjusters and claims examiners, biologists and related scientists, architects, dentists, pharmacists, social workers. Many of the existing trades have been omitted. The new rules that have become effective immediately require all federal skilled worker applicants to have experience in one of 29 in demand occupations or have a job offer to be eligible to apply for permanent residency (PR).

Moreover, Canada will now accept only 20,000 applications with a maximum of 1,000 applications per occupation for processing for those applying under the occupation list. The cap of 1,000 applications in each occupation has been introduced to manage the intake. For these applications, once the cap is reached, will be sent back and their processing fees will be refunded. But the applications with a job offer are not restricted to this 20,000 cap.

In addition, all Federal skilled worker and Canadian experience class applicants will now be required to send a complete and comprehensive file, including IELTS result to the Central Intake Unit (CIU) at the time of filing the application to promptly get into the processing queue.

After introduction of the new rules that limit annual global intake to 80,000, they push India from its second top immigrant source to seventh slot.

BS Sandhu, Chairman and Managing Director, WorldWide Immigration Consultancy Services Ltd. (WWICS), told The Tribune that “all cases filed on or before June 25 will not be affected by the changes. Pendency of cases filed in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 will now be cleared on top priority. Once the backlog is cleared, I anticipate the Canadian immigration intake will increase again making 1 per cent of the Canadian population. But clearing of this backlog of 3,80,000 applications may take another two-three years. People keen to immigrate to Canada will have some other options as well.”

“The federal investor immigrant programme has been suspended awaiting new changes in the eligibility criteria. Until the changes in network and investment are finalised, the Government will stop accepting new investor applications,” said BS Sandhu.

“In the past, 30,000 families used to immigrate to Canada under Skilled Worker Programme from India and India has been the second highest immigrant source country. But with the changed scenario, Australia will soon become the number one destination for Indians seeking immigration abroad,” he added.

With thanks : source : SIKHSANGAT

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Punjab teeters on edge of crisis as 70% fall into drug addiction

Excerpts :

The threat of drugs, he adds, is worse than two decades of Sikh terrorism that ravaged the province until the early 1990s, during which more than 60,000 people died, as it is far more insidious and cannot be rectified by policing. The ANTF says all of Punjab’s 20 districts, particularly border regions, are infested with drug peddlers selling opium and heroin smuggled from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Money from drug smuggling had, for decades, financed the civil war in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s adjoining tribal regions.

ANTF officials say a large proportion of the 500kg of heroin seized in the state last year was for local consumption, and the rest was destined for western markets. They stress that the seizures represent just a small proportion of the drugs making it through and being sold profitably.

“In rural Punjab, families often try to pass off a drug overdose death either as suicide or an overdose of prescriptive medicines for chronic ailments,” Meena says. The entire state seems to be in denial over its drug addiction and is unwilling to accept its severity, he declares.

Punjab’s grievous drug problem was revealed recently in a report by Guru Nanak University in Punjab’s largest city, Amritsar, which declared that some 73.5 per cent of the state’s youth between 16 and 35 years were confirmed drug addicts.

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With thanks : source : irishtimes

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Perks of a Sikh

Sikhs have been known for their jovial, “ulta – pulta” (topsy-turvy) approach to life. They joke and can be joked. You can trust a Sikh behind a wheel. For good food, what better than a “Sardar Da Dhaba”. On a serious note, most medals of bravery are pinned to the Sikh. They are making their mark in literature, sports, politics, science, finance and most other walks of life. The Sikh begs to be different and gets noticed.

These are the major perks of a lovable minority. The prime minister of a billion is giving a new dimension to the Sikh. The world’s largest democracy hinges on the perks of a Sikh. The turbaned Sikhs are a distinguished face in the crowd. Those friends, who chose to chop their hair in 1984, are now raising their hands to get counted. I am afraid; they have lost their perks, long ago.

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with thanks : source : AllVoices : PIC At the Burj Khalifa 124rth floor Observatory

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BJP's Punjab unit seeks relief for Indians driven out of Pakistan

The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken up the issue of Hindu and Sikh families which have been forced to settle in the State after being driven out of Pakistan.

According to a party release, the State unit set up a three-member committee under the chairmanship of Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna to look into all aspects of the issue, including relief for such families who have taken shelter in the Punjab.

It would seek adequate security for the life and property of Hindus and Sikhs settled abroad.

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

with thanks : source : The Hindu

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PM asks Canada to curb Sikh militancy from its soil

Toronto, June 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there are some elements "wedded to terrorism" outside India, including in Canada, who try to keep the issue of Sikh militancy alive and asked Ottawa to curb such anti-India activities from its soil.

"Sikh extremism, separatism and militancy were a problem in India more than two decades ago. Today, Punjab is at peace and there is growth and prosperity.

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

with thanks : source : PTI News

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Won’t review Sikh blacklist: Govt

Toronto, June 26

Tremendous pressure from the Sikh community notwithstanding, India today said it won’t review the ‘blacklist’ of radicals, who had taken political asylum in foreign countries, including Canada.

This assumes significance on the eve of two-day G-20 Summit, scheduled to begin here from tomorrow.

Immediately after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — accompanied by his wife, Gursharn Kaur landed at Toronto, the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that there was no room for reviewing the blacklist of those who had indulged in anti-India activities, at least in the near future.

The Prime Minister Office (PMO) was under pressure from the Sikh community worldwide to allow the blacklisted persons to join the mainstream. President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Parmjit Singh Sarna had submitted a written request to the PMO that the representatives of the Sikhs should be invited by the PM in Toronto during his visit to find some solution to the longstanding demand of the community. The NRI Sikhs had also promised to suspend their proposed protest during Manmohan Singh’s visit if they were given time to discuss the matter. Around 100 blacklisted hardliners had taken political asylum in Canada, Germany, USA, UK and other countries. Some efforts were made to review the blacklist during the NDA government also.

The PM is unlikely to meet any representative of the hardliners due to his firm stand against international terrorism. Also, meeting radicals would send a wrong signal at this crucial juncture. Only two months ago, Manmohan Singh had conveyed his firm stand on the activities of separatist forces to his Canadian counterpart when they met in USA for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the PM would be paying a visit to the memorial for Kaniskha victims on June 28.

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

with thanks : source : Tribune

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Pakistan offers to set up corridor for Sikh pilgrims

Islamabad, June 26 (PTI) Pakistan has offered to set up a special corridor for Sikh pilgrims to visit the sacred Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, which lies only three kms from the international border, a senior official has said.

Pakistan is ready for talks with India to create such a special corridor for a safe passage for pilgrims, Syed Asif Hashmi, chief of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) that is responsible for maintaining the shrines of minority communities in Pakistan, told reporter at Hasanabdal yesterday.

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

With thanks : source : PTINEWS

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Youth Icon

Sukhwinder Singh’s animation feature is based on the life of Sikh martyr Bhai Taru Singh

Animation is an interesting medium, with the power to attract irrespective of age, class or gender. “And we’re using it to reconnect with our roots,” says Sukhwinder Singh, an IT professional turned animation filmmaker whose animation feature, Bhai Taru Singh, deals with one of Sikh history’s young martyrs who sacrificed his life for religion.

“We live in a time where technology is our religion and where the youth have forgotten their past. Four years ago, we entered this field to create awareness on this issue through cinema, internet and animation,” says Singh, the CEO of Vismaad Mediatech Pvt Ltd in Mohali. Along with his Singapore based partner Bakhtawar Singh, Sukhwinder will be screening Bhai Taru Singh at the Tagore Theatre on June 26 and 27.

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

With thanks : source : Indian Express

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First 'official' gurdwara in Dubai

Coming up at a cost of $20 million, the Guru Nanak Darbar at Jebel Ali, Dubai, will be the first official Sikh gurdwara in the entire Gulf, catering to religious needs of a 50,000-strong Sikh community. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, vice-president and prime minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai, who granted permission for building the gurdwara, has given 25,400 sq ft land free.

Surender Singh Kandhari, businessman and Captain of Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, had approached authorities with his dream project and though it took him some time to convince them about the concepts of sangat and langar, while even translating excerpts from the Guru Grant Sahib, it was approved.

"Sikhs don’t worship idols like in Islam and once authorities were convinced that setting up a gurdwara was not anti-Islamic, things quickly started falling in place. My dream is to make Guru Nanak Durbar the best, second only to the Golden Temple in Amritsar," adds Kandhari.

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

With thanks : Source : Times of India

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'Flying Sikh' Hoping To Hit Pay-dirt With New Car

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Former world production car rally champion, Karamjit Singh, also known as the 'Flying Sikh' hopes to revive his fortunes in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with his new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

The 'Flying Sikh' winner of the 2002 FIA Production Car World Championship for Drivers and 2002, 2004 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, and numerous other rally titles, would be driving a RM700,000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X in next year's Asia Pacific Rally Championship next year, courtesy of PENNZOIL, who sponsored the car.

Apart from international honours, Karamjit, 48, has won the Malaysian Rally Championship for 10 consecutive years with a number of co-drivers, Ron Teoh, Allen Oh, John Bennie and Jagdev Singh with his eight-year old Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V111, that has since suffered major repairs.

"Our former car, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII, is already eight years old and many of the parts needed to be repaired or replaced regularly, mainly the breaks and gear-box.

"Using an old car sometimes disrupts our preparations during races," Karamjit, Malaysia's professional race driver in rallying, who was part of the Petronas EON Racing Team and Team Proton Pert Malaysia team using Proton 4WD rally cars in the past, told Bernama when contacted Friday.

He added that the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V111 suffered a major breakdown during the first round of the Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC) during the second leg which was a distance of 589km at Ladang Tai Tak in Johor, two months ago.

Karamjit said he and his co-driver Jagdev were currently busy preparing themselves to compete in the second round of the Malaysian Rally Championship, a distance of 400km in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, from July 17-18.

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

With thanks : source : BERNAMA

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Gatka camp revives an ancient art

With thanks : Dainik Jagran City Plus.

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