COMMUNITY ALERT: Turbans to Always be Searched at Nation’s Airports

November 5, 2010 19th Katik (Samvat 542 Nanakshahi) Donate now Volunteer Tell a friend Subscribe Press Release

COMMUNITY ALERT: Turbans to Always be Searched at Nation’s Airports

Sikh Organizations Coordinating Joint Action

WASHINGTON, DC: Early last month, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials told representatives of UNITED SIKHS, the Sikh Coalition, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) that Sikhs should now expect turbans to always be searched at American airports. While procedures which allow Sikhs to pat down their own turbans and have their hands swabbed by a TSA screener shall remain in place, what has changed is that Sikhs must go through an additional hand wand scan of the turban as an extra screening procedure 100% of the time. This is true for Sikh travelers who voluntarily choose to be screened by going through the new Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines. The AIT machines (otherwise known as whole body imaging machines) are being placed in airports nationwide over the coming years. UNITED SIKHS, Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF oppose this policy and question its necessity. Targeting turbans for additional scrutiny sends a message to other passengers that Sikhs and their articles of faith are to be viewed with suspicion by fellow travelers. The policy is a serious infringement on our civil rights and liberties. What to Expect at the Airport Air travel checkpoints in the United States employ different screening technologies. While most checkpoints only have metal detectors, many airports are now installing AIT machines. The AIT machines are new whole body imaging devices that will be installed in every airport in the United States over the coming years. According to the TSA, regardless of whether a Sikh clears the metal detector or the new AIT machines, they will still have to go through an additional procedure in which their turban will be checked for non-metallic items. During this second screening procedure, a Sikh will have a choice of either: a pat-down of their turban by a TSA screener; patting down their own turban and having their hand swabbed for traces of chemical explosives; or requesting a private screening (in a room outside of public view) of their turban. In addition, after this extra screening of the turban, a third screening procedure (under AIT screening policies) will subject Sikhs to a metal detecting wand that will be scanned over the turban. Please remember, that under current procedures, a Sikh can always ask that they pat down their own turban rather than have a screener pat it down. If a Sikh traveler opts out of the AIT screening, they will immediately be subjected to a full body (rigorous) pat-down by a TSA official plus a hand wand screening. If you are asked to undergo a full-body pat down, you have the right to ask for this screening to occur in a private room or other setting away from the rest of the traveling public. The TSA’s Rationale The TSA says that because a turban is “non form-fitting,” it is more capable of concealing dangerous items than other forms of clothing. The TSA also says that its new AIT machines cannot see through the folds of a turban to determine if it is concealing a dangerous item. Our organizations vigorously question these rationales. First, the Department of Homeland Security’s own website states that the AIT machines are capable of screening threat items “concealed under layers of clothing.” Second, on Christmas Day 2009, a person was able to smuggle explosives onto a plane headed to the United States in his undergarments. If explosives can be concealed in undergarments, all garments should be targeted for extra scrutiny, not just turbans. Going Forward Each one of our organizations will continue to oppose this unjust policy. We will call upon Sikhs in the coming weeks to communicate directly with the TSA and their members of Congress. Each one of our organizations are also aware that the Sikh American community is as invested in the national security of the United States as any other community. Nevertheless, the TSA cannot target turbans for extra scrutiny without cause. We will continue to vigorously question the necessity of this policy given the weak rationales presented for it. Coordination Amongst Sikh Organizations Our three organizations would like the community and government to know that it is our intention to work together to combat unlawful profiling of Sikhs by the TSA. We will jointly strategize and communicate with both the government and the Sikh community about our work on this issue.

Wishing you a very Happy Diwali

Why I don't like firecrackers :

1) They create unnecessary air and noise pollution. They can prove fatal for people with Asthma or heart patients. Can we turn so unconcerned for such people? For others too, why do we have to go through all this pollution, just because someone wants to ‘celebrate’ !

2) For today's youth, Diwali is no more than a source of showing their might; they are least concerned about its history. If you don't agree, just ask any kid lighting firecrackers, as to why is he is doing so, or what happened on this day. It's just a rat race, as to who can light the most magnificent or most colourful crackers. No wonder we have people competing for the loudest crackers till 12am- 1am on Diwali night.

3) Lighting crackers depicts one's inner destructive self. When a festival can be celebrated quietly and by thanking God, why do we need to be so loud with our celebration, creating inconvenience to others? If one may consider it this way, crackers resemble the inner turbulence created by Vikaars. On the contrary, Gurmukhs do Simran/read Bani to tackle this inner turbulence and attain a 'Sehaj awastha'.

4) And not to forget the thousand of rupees spent on crackers could have been spent in a much more productive manner, like feeding the poor, helping the underprivileged or taking the responsibility of teaching a poor child !

Bhulan Chukan Di Khima,

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,

Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

SHABADVICHAR

Cabinet nod for renaming Amritsar airport after 4th Sikh guru

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to rename Amritsar's Rajasansi International Airport to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport.

Guru Ram Dass Jee was the fourth of the 10 Gurus of Sikhs and was the founder of Amritsar. The Airport Authority of India ( AAI ) operates and manages the airport, which is suitable for operations of large aircraft like Boeing 767 and jumbo B747 in all-weather conditions.

The Cabinet decided to provide greater impetus to its commercial ties with Indonesia, by opening a Consulate in Bali. It approved to create four India-based posts, including that of Consul General at the level of a joint secretary, besides six local openings.

With thanks : Times of India : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Happy Diwali

Wishing you a Very Happy Diwali.

With Best Regards

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

Sikh place of worship: The gurus of Gravesend

A cash-strapped project to build a Sikh place of worship in Gravesend procured the large marble domes, arched windows and highly ornate stonework from India - and saved more than £2m along the way

Even putting its striking appearance to one side, you still couldn’t describe the gurdwara in Gravesend as a conventional build. As a place of worship for the UK’s third-largest Sikh population, the project has been on site for the best part of eight years. When it started there was only enough money to complete the foundations; the rest of the cash still had to be raised, most of it from donations. And to get the best value for money, and keep control of the complex project, the local community set up its own construction company.

Added to all this was the intricately detailed stone cladding.

Teja Biring, a partner in Calford Seaden, the architects behind the gurdwara (door to the guru), says: “The community wanted a very traditional-looking building.” As a result, it incorporates plenty of the design cues of a traditional gurdwara such as the five large marble domes, the arched windows and the Indian motifs which embellish the stonework. Procuring such an ornate design was always going to be tricky given the tight budget, and it quickly transpired that the best way to achieve the traditional detail at a realistic price was to obtain the stone, already carved, directly from India.

Teja Biring, partner in charge at Calford Seaden, spent two weeks touring India until he found a company capable of handling the project. Trivedi Tectonics based in Ahmedabad in western India had expertise in hand carving and also the CNC machine tools to cut and carve large quantities of stone, which was a must if the project was going to complete in the next decade.

It also had its own marble quarry. However, Biring had concerns about using marble because of the UK climate and the porosity of the stone. “I was looking for a life expectancy of 100 years plus, like a church or cathedral,” he says. For this reason a mix of pink and grey granite has been used for a large proportion of the building, particularly where weathering might be an issue, such as ledges. Marble, easier to work with, has been used where there is intricate detailing and to create the traditional covering for the domes.

The entrance porch

The structure of the Gravesend Gurdwara has been kept simple to make it cheap and easy to build. It uses conventional insitu reinforced concrete clad with ready carved granite and marble panels. The entrance porch is one of the most detailed sections of the building, bringing together intricately carved columns, marble Jali windows, traditional Indian motifs and a marble clad dome.

1 Gold finial

2 Screen created from marble

3 Solid marble petals

4 White marble sections

5 Insitu concrete structure

6 Concrete soffit clad with ceramic mosaic tiles

7 Pink granite

8 White marble

with thanks : Buildings.co.uk : link in headline above for more details.

SikhsIndia

Law officer in the dock gets 'Sikh of the year' award

NEW DELHI: A day after the law ministry asked him to explain his conduct in connection with two incidents, additional solicitor general (ASG) Amarjit singh Chandiok was conferred with `Sikh of the year' award by a UK-based organisation.

`The Sikh Forum International' in a press release said the ASG was chosen for the award because, apart from his other achievements, "he has maintained the dignity of the bar and its members by setting high standards in judicial practices at national and international forums''.

The senior law officer took the opportunity to deny having violated any rules and claimed he was yet to receive any communication from the law ministry.

"I have always abided by rules. At no point of time I have flouted any rule. I would certainly reply if I get any communication from the government,'' Chandiok said.

with thanks : timesofindia : link in headline for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

BJP demands punishment for guilty in anti-Sikh riots

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by its senior leader Arun Jaitley Tuesday took out a candle-light march here to demand punishment for those guilty in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Addressing the workers, Jaitley blamed the Congress for the murder of thousands of Sikhs in the aftermath of the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

'It is regrettable that today one of the Sikhs is the prime minister but he is unable to ensure justice to the Sikhs. Not a single guilty person of the riots has been punished. Due to delay in justice, there is great anger among the community,' he said.

BJP workers tried to march from Jantar Mantar in central Delhi to parliament, but were taken into preventive custody midway.

Leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) also took part in the march.

with thanks : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Sikh-born Haley elected governor in South Carolina

Washington - South Carolina on Tuesday elected Republican Nikki Haley, the daughter of Sikh immigrant

parents, as the first Asian woman to become a US governor.

She beat fellow state legislator Vincent Sheheen, taking 51 per cent of the vote to his 47 per cent.

'Tomorrow morning there's going to be a lot of news and a lot of observers who say we made history. And in some ways, you can look at me and say, 'Yes, we did,'' Haley said Tuesday night in her victory speech.

'But what I want this to be is that we're turning a page. We're turning a page on where we've been, but the history is going to be on where we're going to go.'

She made little of her immigrant family background during her speech, aside from a reference to her parents reminding her how lucky she is to live in the United States. Instead, the speech accentuated that she is through-and-through American, with references to family, '80s music and politics all delivered with the hint of a southern drawl.

'Regardless of how you voted, I'm going to get to work for you,' she assured voters.

An accountant and businesswoman, she has served in the South Carolina legislature since 2004, when she became the first Indian American elected to a state office.

Haley, 38, was born Nimrata Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina, one of three children of parents from Amritsar, India. She eventually went to work in the family's prosperous apparel business.

with thanks : monstersandcritics : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Punjab bandh call: Radical Sikh leaders arrested

CHANDIGARH: Punjab police on Wednesday arrested radical sikh leaders as a preventive measure after many groups called a state wide shutdown to highlight the delay in justice to victims of the 1984 anti - sikh riots.

"Keeping in mind the law and order situation in the state, we have made some preventive arrests. Only those people were arrested who were trying to damage public property and to halt rail traffic. We did not use force against anybody," a police officer said here Wednesday.

The Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), the Dal Khalsa and some other Sikh groups had Oct 28 given the call for state wide bandh.

with thanks : timesofIndia : link in headline above for detailed news.

Sikhsindia

Victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots stage protest in Delhi

A large number of victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots staged a protest rally here on Monday against the Central government's failure to punish the accused in murder of innocent Sikhs.

Atma Ram, one of the relatives of the riots, said that the Supreme Court should punish the main accused in the 1984 riots at the earliest.

"We want to appeal to judiciary that criminals like Sajjan Kumar (1984 riots accused), who is facing charges under section 302 according to the Indian Penal Code should not be given bail and he should be behind bars. This is how we will get satisfaction.

with thanks : ANI : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia