Sikh Association gets 10000-dollar grant from Victoria govt in Oz

A Victoria-based Sikh association on Tuesday received a grant of 10,000 dollars from the Australian state's Labour government as part of a programme to strengthen multi-cultural communities through inter-faith dialogue and collaboration.

James Merlino, Minister assisting Premier John Brumby on Multicultural Affairs, and Member for Burwood, Bob Stensholt, presented the Victorian Sikh Association with the grant.

"Victoria is the most multi-cultural, harmonious state in Australia and rivals any of the multicultural centres of the world," Merlino said.

"Our Government is working with dedicated community organisations like the Victorian Sikh Association to promote interfaith dialogue and collaboration and religious harmony," he said.

This funding will provide a multitude of benefits to the Victorian Sikh community and to the broader Victorian community as they strengthen multi-cultural communities, Merlino said.

with thanks : source : INDIAN EXPRESS : Link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Sikh temple shooting trial starts in Austria

VIENNA – Six men went on trial Monday in connection with last year's bloody shooting at a temple in the Austrian capital.

A Sikh sect leader was killed and more than a dozen others were wounded — including a second Sikh cleric — during the incident May 24 in which worshippers used a frying pan and microphone stands to fend off assailants wielding knives and a handgun. The rampage triggered riots in several cities in northern India.

The main suspect is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. The other five are accused of accessory to murder and attempted intentional aggravated assault. None have been officially identified but the Vienna public prosecutor's office said five are Indian citizens and that the nationality of a sixth suspect is unknown.

With thanks : source : News Yahoo : Link in headline above for detailed story.

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Delhi HC gives compensation to anti-Sikh riot victim

PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi high court has awarded a compensation of Rs7 lakh to a 90 year-old man who lost his young son in 1984 anti-Sikh riots here.

Directing the government to pay the amount within 8 weeks, justice S Muralidhar said "if the payment is not made within time, the government has to pay further 6% rate of interest per annum".

"It appears to be a genuine case where a 90 year-old father has been fighting for justice for the death of his son in the unfortunate incident that took place in Delhi in the aftermath of the assassination of the former prime minister Indira Gandhi," the court said and allowed a petition filed by S Hardayal Singh seeking a direction to government to grant compensation.

With thanks : source : DNA : Link in headline above for detailed news

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Policemen were among anti-Sikh rioters in 1984: Witness

NEW DELHI: A woman, who lost five of her family members in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, today claimed before a Delhi court trying Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others that she did not go to the police station after the incident as policemen were among the rioters.

"I did not want to go the police station because the police officials were among the rioters," Jagdish Kaur told Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta.

Recording her statement before the court, she said "I had lost faith in everybody and therefore I did not approach the Chief Minister, Home Minister or any other Minister in Punjab or any other authority."

To a question posed by counsel S A Hashmi, appearing for accused Balwan Khokhar, nephew of Sajjan Kumar, the 69-year-old witness said she came to know about CBI only when they approached her for recording her statement.

with thanks : source : Times of India : Link in headline above for detailed story

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Witness Identifies Sajjan Kumar In 1984 Massacre Of Sikhs Case

NEW DELHI – Jagdish Kaur, a witness of November 1984 Sikh massacre, during her cross examination in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta identified Sajjan Kumar as a person instigating the mob during the massacre.

Along with Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Kaur identified Sajjan Kumar’s nephew Balwant Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal as accomplices. Further, she told the court that she had made the same statements before all authorities, be it Nanavati Commission, CBI or the magistrate in Punjab.

She further stated in the court that on November 2 and 3, she went to the police post in the area but the report was not lodged and the officer told her that ‘abhi aur log marne hain, ikkathe report likhenge’”.

with thanks source : the link paper : plz view link from headline for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Canadian Sikh Wins Discrimination Lawsuit Against Home Depot

TORONTO – A Canadian Sikh security guard in Toronto, who moved the Ontario provincial human rights commission for being forced to wear a hard helmet by Home Depot, has won his case against the world’s largest home-improvement retailer.

In its ruling, Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal said Home Depot (Canada) discriminated against Deepinder Loomba by “enforcing” a hard hat on him and threatening him with dismissal if he didn’t comply.

Headquartered near Atlanta in the US, Home Depot has about 180 stores across Canada.

In its ruling, tribunal vice chair Ena Chadha has named Home Depot assistant manager Brian Busch for “discriminatory treatment” of Loomba and using “rude and offensive comments” against him because of his religion.

“I am satisfied that the complainant was treated differently because of his turban and that this was negative differential treatment,” Chadha said.

With thanks : Source : thelinkpaper : with original link in headline for the detailed news.

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B S Vohra in Hindustan Times - HT Live East

with thanks : source : Hindustan Times

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Sikh centre given an award by the Queen

The Queen has recently given the Sikh Nishkam Centre in Birmingham an award for its exemplary voluntary services to society. The group running the centre is headed by “Bhai Sahib” Mohinder Singh, whom I previously discussed in the “Music of Unity/Politics of Division” article.

Bhai Sahib is also the chairman of the British Sikh Consulative Forum (BSCF), and has been heavily involved in numerous charitable and humanitarian activities along with interfaith bridge-building efforts for many years. As mentioned in the previous article, Bhai Sahib was responsible for escorting the Queen around the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, India during her visit there in the late 1990s; he has also been involved in co-ordinating multifaith efforts to counteract the growing bigotry and hostility towards ordinary British Muslims in recent years. Bhai Sahib’s other activities have included visiting Jewish leaders in Israel, and participating in the global conference of religious leaders last December which was attended by numerous dignitaries including the Dalai Lama. Furthermore, BSCF’s director, Dr Jasdev Rai, has publicly condemned the EDL’s “Sikh” spokesman Guramit Singh (sometimes known as “Amit” Singh) for his anti-Muslim propaganda and his virulent efforts to whip up hatred against ordinary Muslims.

The Nishkam Centre, which is staffed by volunteers, is based on the Sikh principle of selflessly performing humanitarian work for the assistance of others and for the uplift of society as a whole, in the spirit of “Sarbat da Bhalla”, ie. “Goodwill to the whole of Mankind”. It focuses on providing educational services, training, medical services (specifically health screening), counselling, employment assistance, art and heritage, along with promoting interfaith, intercultural, intercommunity dialogue, and championing social justice and inclusion.

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

with thanks : source : Pickled Politics

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1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Charges framed against Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday framed charges of murder and rioting against senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which six persons were killed in Sultanpuri in New Delhi.

Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta, after finding prima facie evidence against the Congress leader and others, decided to record statements of witnesses from August 23.

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

with thanks : source PTI & NDTV

SikhsIndia

Anti-sikh riots witness again fails to record statement due to ill-health

NEW DELHI: After seeking exemption from deposing before the court on Monday citing ill-health, a key witness in the 1984 anti-sikh riots case allegedly involving senior congress leader Sajjan Kumar once again failed to get her statement recorded after she developed uneasiness during the proceedings on Tuesday.

Additional sessions judge Sunita Gupta posted the matter for Wednesday as Jagdish Kaur, a key witness in the Delhi Cantonment case, developed high blood pressure while in court. She was taken to a hospital due to the same problem on Monday. Her counsel had yesterday informed the court that her blood pressure was very high and she was being treated in Ganga Ram Hospital.

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

with thanks : source : Times of India

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Pics of 21 Akhand paths held earlier at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Krishna nagar