210 years on, Golden Temple gates removed for repairs

Amritsar Sikh bodies protest move; SGPC says the doors will be back in a year

Amid controversies related to their origin, the centuries old and huge gates at Darshani Deori, which serve as entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple, were removed on Sunday for “preservation”. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decided to remove the gates as they were in need of immediate repairs. The sandalwood base had started crumbling and the ivory carving and golden screws on the doors had suffered damage after withstanding the vagaries of time.

Since their installation in 1800 AD by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, this was for the first time that the gates were unhooked. While these traditionally-decorated doors have been at the Golden Temple for the last 210 years, a section of historians believes the gates were originally from Gujarat’s Somnath Temple, which were looted by Afghan invaders in the 12th century, and which were later brought back by the Sikhs from Afghan hands.

A few Sikh bodies have raised suspicion that the doors are being removed to be sent back to Somnath under pressure from the BJP, which shares power with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. They say the Sikh warriors, after possessing the precious gates from the Afghans, had offered them to Hindus but the Somnath management had refused to accept the doors, terming them “impure” as these had been looked at by the Afghans.

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with thanks : source : Express India

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VS links Rajiv to Sikh riots, Anderson escape

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Inviting sharp reactions from Congress, Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan has alleged that former PM Rajiv Gandhi led the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination.

The CM made the controversial remarks while inaugurating a CPM office in Alappuzha on Saturday. On July 2, the CM had faced protests by Congress MLAs after he invoked Rajiv Gandhi in place of his brother Sanjay during a debate in the Kerala assembly on the high court order banning wayside public meetings in the state.

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with thanks : source : Times of India

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1984 anti-Sikh riots: Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar, others

NEW DELHI: A key witness, who lost her five family members in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here, on Saturday identified in a court senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as a person who had instigated the mob during the carnage.

Jagdish Kaur, the witness who was cross-examined on Saturday by the defence counsel before the court of additional sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, also identified Sajjan's nephew Balwant Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal as accomplices.

The defence counsel, who started cross-examining Kaur after recording of her statements was completed, pointed out several inconsistencies in the riot victim's testimonies before various authorities from time to time.

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

with thanks : source : Times of India

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Quota for ’84 riots victims too

MOHALI: After setting aside quota for physically-challenged persons, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has now decided to give 5% reservation to 1984 anti-Sikh riots and terrorism-affected victims in the Aerocity project. A decision has already been taken to this effect on Friday and dates for inviting application from those falling under this category are expected to be announced soon.

In a statement issued by GMADA, the development authority has made it clear that people falling under the category of anti-Sikh riots and terrorism-affected victims need not apply at present as separate dates will be announced for such applicants.

Additional chief administrator, Balwinder Singh Multani, said, “Details regarding the reservation quota for the new category will be announced on Saturday.” Sources said that the decision was taken after GMADA found out that people from this category were already making enquiries with various banks.

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with thanks : source : Times of India, Chandigarh

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Court to frame charge against Sajjan in another riot case

In another setback to senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a court here Thursday decided to frame charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, two months after charges were framed against him in a separate case relating to the riots.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta fixed July 5 for framing of charges against Kumar and others in connection with the killing of six persons in the case. "The framing of charges shall be done on July 5," said the ASJ who had on June 5 reserved its order on framing of charges against Kumar and others.

CBI is seeking prosecution of Kumar, former outer Delhi MP, and Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash for the murder of six persons at Sultanpuri area in north-west Delhi in the riots that took place in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister.

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with thanks : source : Hindustan Times

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Malaysian Punjabi Party Gets First Woman President

KUALA LUMPUR - An ethnic Indian Sikh has been elected as the first woman President of Parti Punjabi Malaysia party, the 24-year-old political group that was formed to take care of the interest of the Sikh community in the country.

Susheel Kaur, 59, whose father Jeswant Singh founded the party in 1986, became its first woman President, elected unopposed by more than 50 delegates at the party’s biennial general meeting here.

Multi-ethnic Malaysia has a sizeable Indian population comprising about eight per cent of the total population.� Though a majority are Hindus, there are more than 100,000 Sikhs who came here for trade and business several years ago.

Susheel Kaur, a senior consultant who majored in social impact studies, felt that she was not cut out to be a politician but stressed that she felt responsible for the party which was founded by her father.

She took over the reins from her cousin, Gurdeep Perkash Singh, who led the party for the last six years. She had served as the party’s secretary for 10 years.

With a PhD in population geography from Punjab University, Chandigarh, she believed that her academic qualification and working experience would assist her in formulating a new direction for the party.

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

with thanks : source : IndiaJournal

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U-turn on 'humiliating' turban airport security searches for sikhs

Sikhs travelling through Britain's aiports will no longer undergo 'humiliating' searches of their turbans following fierce criticism of the policy.

Just two months ago security staff were told they could pat down and unravel a sikh's turban if the metal detector bleeped as they walked through.

But these powers - given under European legislation - were branded as unaccpetable by the religion's leaders in Britain and the Department of Transport has had to act quickly.

'It is considered very offensive to remove or touch a Sikh's turban, especially in public,' said Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, advisor to the Commission for Racial Equality.

'It's the equivalent of asking someone to undergo a strip search in public in western culture.

'Different things are considered insulting in different cultures - there are different ways of upsetting people, and we should try to keep that to a minimum.'

A spokesperson for Birmingham International Airport said: 'On Thursday the Department for Transport advised all UK airports to continue using the previous methods of screening religious headwear, which eliminates the need to carry out hand searches. We have reacted accordingly.'

Sikhs who set off alarms at airport body scanners will now have their turban scanned by a hand held wand, and will only be subjected to searches by hand if metal is detected in the turban.

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with thanks : source : dailymail

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SRK wouldn't have qualified for this role

CHANDIGARH: Even if the czars of Bollywood, the Khan trio of Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir, wanted to land this role, they would not have qualified for it!

Unlike the other stars performing in the make-believe world of films, Gurpreet Singh, the 6ft tall and handsome Sikh who enacts the role of the legendary Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, would not only “not drink or smoke and maintain complete ‘Sikh Swarup' — the 5 Ks of Sikh identity in his real life — but would also refrain from accepting any such role in future which could bring a blot to the name of the great Sikh general.” When translated in black and white, this rules out any role, which involves enacting the role of a drunkard, raping a woman, or any other ‘debased' act.

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

with thanks : source : Times of India

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The Great General

A new film celebrates the life and exploits of Sikh general Baba Banda Bahadur Singh

In the early 18th century, Sikh warrior Baba Banda Bahadur Singh set forth from Nanded in Maharashtra to Punjab, where governor Wazir Khan had unleashed a rule of tyranny and brutality. He was accompanied by 25 soldiers and a hukamnama (edict) from his master, the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Banda Bahadur’s strategies and courage, still celebrated in song and lore, won the battle of Sirhind, the Mughal provincial capital which was second only to Delhi in importance. Now, Banda Bahadur’s exploits will be celebrated in Cinevision writer-director Harjinder Singh Ricky’s feature film called Baba Banda Bahadar Singh. The film, being produced by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), was released at a press conference at the Government Art Gallery and Museum, Sector 10, on Wednesday.

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

with thanks : source : Indian Express

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Celebration of martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev ji in Liege Gurudwara,Belgium

PM asks Sikh community in Canada to remain united

On Board PM's Special Aircraft, Jun 29 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked the five lakh (rpt) five lakh strong Sikh community in Canada to remain united and not to allow the "divisive" politics of the Indian subcontinent to derail their cohesiveness.

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with thanks : source : PTI News

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