Nihang turns ‘demolition man’ to free Amritsar of encroachments

A superintendent with MC, Tarsem Singh Khalsa says he will make Amritsar look like Singapore, free it from all encroachments, ‘provided there is no political interference’

He does not come across as a government servant at first glance. Dressed like a Nihang Sikh, Tarsem Singh Khalsa hits the roads every day to get the city’s public properties freed of encroachment that dot its every nook and corner, paying no heed to political or any other “pressure”.

A superintendent with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Tarsem has earned the name of “demolition man”. Accompanied by a group of four to five employees, two policemen and a huge crane, he would select one colony, public park or some other site every day and embark upon the difficult task of implementing the law to remove illegal structures, stalls, makeshift shrines and concrete hedges.

with thanks : source : indian express : Link in headline above for detailed story

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9 injured in clash over removal of holy book from temple

As many as nine people sustained injuries when a clash took place between the members of Jat Sikh and Ravidasi communities at Manan village and the police intervened. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the new granth of the Ravidasia community, Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas, was removed from the Ravidasi temple around 1 am and sent to Dera Sachkhand Ballan.

The injured were admitted in Jalandhar civil hospital. The police have registered a case of attempt to murder against a mob for attacking Constable Sarabjit Kaur, who has been hospitalised.

with thanks : source : indian express ; link in headline above for more detailed news.

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Ravidasis, Jats clash over placing new religious book in temple

There was tension in the Manan village since Monday morning and a small skirmish between the Ravidasi and the Jat Sikh communities over placing the Ravidasi’s new granth Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas, a portrait of their guru Ravidas and the new religion’s symbol Nishan Sahib in the main hall of the village’s Ravidasia temple.

The temple is near the Dera Sachkhand Ballan, which had announced the new Ravidasia religion in January this year. Now , the new religion’s holy book is the Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas.

Earlier, the Sikh religious book, Guru Granth Sahib, was kept in the main hall of the temple. The attempt was to shift the Granth Sahib to the upper hall and put the new religious book in its place.

with thanks : source : Indian Express : link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Sarnas miss date with Akal Takht, called again on Aug 7

Five Sikh high priests met at Akal Takht on Monday and decided to give Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna another chance to ‘explain’ his stand on the controversy that sparked off following Sarna’s alleged outburst against 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims’ counsel H S Phoolka. The hearing on the issue has been deferred to August 7.

Sarna and his brother, Harvinder Singh Sarna, meanwhile, did not appear before the Takht and sent a written clarification through their messenger Bhajjan Singh.

The jathedars met Walia and expressed resentment over Sarna ignoring the hearing, but later decided to give him another chance to clarify his stand.

“As announced earlier, Sarnas will have to appear in person and explain the serious allegations against them,” stated Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, adding they would not take up the matter in their next meet on August 7.

with thanks : source : Indian express : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Phoolka ready to face probe, disclose assets

In the wake of allegations hurled against him by the DSGMC head, senior lawyer HS Phoolka, who has been appearing on behalf of the victims in 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases, on Sunday said he was ready to face any kind of probe by the Income Tax Department. The advocate, who has accused DSGMC president "gry-line" P S Sarna of levelling reckless allegations against him, said he would welcome any kind of inquiry against him provided Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee members were also covered under such a probe.

Phoolka had recently announced his withdrawal from all the anti-Sikh riot cases following allegations levelled by Sarna.

However, he took back his decision after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, intervened and asked him to continue appearing on behalf of the victims.

"I will welcome any kind of inquiry by the IT office. But at the same time, the IT probe should be conducted against all DSGMC members," Phoolka told PTI.

with thanks : source : Hindustan Times : Link in headline above for the detailed news.

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‘Sikhs not coming forward to participate in SGPC polls’

In the light of poor response from Sikh voters to get their votes made ahead of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, the state government extended July 14 deadline by a month.

The Sikh leaders have been making appeals to the Sikhs to get forms filled up and submit to the MCs in urban areas and patwaries in the rural areas before August 14.

To mobilise the Sikhs qualified for becoming voters, Jathedar Harpal Singh Pali and Haryana Akali Dal Secretary General Jathedar Ranbir Singh Fauji held a joint press conference here today, admitted that Sikhs were not coming forward to participate in the electoral process.

with thanks : source : Indian Express : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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Phoolka says allegations part of deep rooted conspiracy

Accusing the DSGMC of levelling reckless allegations against him, senior lawyer H S Phoolka, who has been appearing for the victims in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, on Saturday claimed it was part of deep rooted conspiracy as some of cases were finally reaching a logical conclusion. The advocate had announced his withdrawal from all the riots cases following allegations of "personal benefits" levelled against him by a Delhi High Court judge and President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

However, he took back his decision after Akal Takth --the apex decision making body in the Sikh religion --intervened and asked him to continue appearing on behalf of the victims.

"No money whatsoever has been paid to me by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for the expenses or for the fee," Phoolka said in an email.

with thanks : source : Hindustan Times : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee comes under RTI :HC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has held that Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is a public authority making it mandatory to reveal information under the RTI Act.

Justice S Muralidhar dismissed the plea of the committee for not bringing it within the ambit of the transparency law.

The committee had approached the court after the Central Information Commission had directed it to reveal information sought under the RTI Act and set up the necessary infrastructure for the purpose.

with thanks : source : Times of India : link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Phoolka to file case against ex-HC judge

After the tussle between the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Paramjit Singh Sarna, and senior advocate H S Phoolka, a fresh twist developed on Friday, with the lawyer saying he would file a defamation case against former Delhi High Court judge R S Sodhi for terming his actions “professional misconduct”.

Phoolka had on Wednesday morning announced he would withdraw from all 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases as Sarna had accused him of “wasting” money given to him for the cases on behalf of the victims. However, after the Akal Takht intervened and requested Phoolka to stay on, he deferred his final call till Monday, when Sarna would explain his statement to the Takht.

A day later, Justice (retired) Sodhi, who now practises in the Supreme Court, said a lawyer must render the accounts whenever asked for by his client. Not doing so amounted to professional misconduct, he added.

With thanks : source : Indian Express : Link for the detailed news in headline above.

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Students’ body protests against Sarna brothers, burns effigy

Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) held a state-wide protest on Thursday against Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna, for alllegedly making derogatory remarks against H S Phoolka, counsel for the 1984 riot victims.

Under the leadership of their president Paramjeet Singh Khalsa, the members of SSF (Mehta) held a protest march from Gurdwara Kalgidhar Singh Sabha to Jagraon Bridge and burnt the effigies of Sarna brothers. Khalsa said, “Phoolka has been sincerely fighting for the cause of the victims of 1984 riots. By commenting against such person, the Sarna brothers have exposed that they are hand-in-glove with the Congress government and with anti-Sikh forces.”

with thanks : source : Indian Express : Link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Akal Takht summons Sarna over his remarks against Phoolka

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Tuesday summoned Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Parmjeet Singh Sarna to clarify his stands on the allegations that he has made against Advocate H. S. Phoolka.

Advocate Phoolka has been fighting cases for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots cases for over 26 years.

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on Tuesday summoned Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Parmjeet Singh Sarna to clarify his stands on the allegations that he has made against Advocate H. S. Phoolka.

Advocate Phoolka has been fighting cases for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots cases for over 26 years.

Perturbed by the allegations by Sarna, Phoolka has threatened to withdraw from all the cases he has been fighting to get justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He has approached Akal Takht in the matter.

DSGMC chief Sarna has alleged that the advocate has wasted the money in course of the campaign for personal gains.

Sarna claimed that DSGMC has spent over one crore rupees to fight the cases in courts.

Following his remarks, Sarna has been summoned to appear before the Akal Takht on July 25 and 26.

In Amritsar, addressing the media, Akal Takht Chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said that Sarna's allegations against Phoolka was a serious matter, and it's been decided to call Sarna before the Akal Takht for clarifications.

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

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