In charge of DSGMC, Badal's SAD has say in Delhi

The newly-formed Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has started bearing fruit for the Shiromani Akali Dal. The turn of events during the past fortnight has proved that being in charge of the DSGMC is not an ordinary achievement for the SAD. 

SAD's Delhi president Manjit Singh GK, who took over as the committee president on February 26, led the protests in Delhi, against the central government in the past 10 days, forcing the central government to bow, promising to move an appeal in a higher court against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, an accused in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, who was acquitted recently.

After acquittal of Sajjan Kumar 10 days ago, the activists of the SAD swung into action and went on the rampage in Delhi, blocking traffic, stopping metro trains, holding a protest outside the house of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and doing everything to draw the attention of the central government.

Finally, the central government succumbed to the pressure and a signal was sent to the Akalis to come for discussion across the table.

On May 8, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, deputy Chief minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the entire SAD team, including MLAs, MPs and other leaders, gathered in Delhi. A memorandum was given to the President, and a core committee meeting was held, asking the DSGMC and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to move the Supreme Court, seeking directions to the central government to form a special investigation team to probe all cases of the anti-Sikh riots that broke out in the country in 1984.

The entire team, along with Akali Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, also went to Jantar Mantar where riot victim Nirpreet Kaur was on a hunger strike as a mark of protest, and asked her to end her fast.

Speaking here, Parkash Singh Badal acknowledged the efforts of the Delhi unit of his party and the DSGMC, which fought for the Sikh cause. It was made evidently clear that the Akali faction having control over the DSGMC could only make things move in the central government.

The Delhi faction of the SAD is also closely following the case of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who is on death row for a bomb blast in the early 1990s. The SAD is seeking clemency for Bhullar and the DSGMC is acting as a catalyst in this.

Badal also must have realised that there can't be a better choice for the post of the DSGMC president than Manjit Singh GK, who was made to join the SAD in 2008. GK is the son of slain Akali leader Jathedar Santokh Singh, and has a flair for handling Sikh issues. Youth Akali leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, general secretary of the DSGMC, is complementing GK and has shown that he can match the Akali aggression and can undertake long protests for which Akalis are known.

With GK in charge of the DSGMC, Badal has got the opportunity to come closer to the urban Sikhs and show to the masses that the SAD is not a party of peasants only. Political analysts also see the recent turn of events as efforts to make his son and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal have a better say in the national politics.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Sikh Regiment's passion for excellence

The room reverberated with talk of Tongpeng La, Raja Hill, Burki, OP Hill, Poonchh, Siramani and Tiger Hill 1999 - battles long ago emblazoned on the Sikh Regiment's glorious history. 

Keeping them and other laurels fresh in our minds were the regiment's veterans with their tales of  honour and glory. The occasion was this year's Baisakhi Lunch organised by the Sikh Regiment as an annual get-together of its veterans, serving officers and other associates of the regiment. Not just battle honours and gallantry awards, the regiment's history is a saga of achievements whether in sports or professional competitions.

How did the regiment achieve these commanding heights? No doubt the legends of the regiment, commanders like Harbaksh Singh, Dewan Ranjit Rai, Satinder Singh, NN Khanna, Trevor Morlin, Prem Vadhera and others handed down the tradition of excellence that has sustained it.

A command style of 'Follow Me', leadership by example and a passion for superiority are what they bequeathed to their worthy successors. One could well ask, how's the Sikh Regiment different, the officers of all the regiments do that? In this case, the regiment's commanders channelised the natural characteristics of the men they commanded - positivism, a 'can do' attitude and spirited exuberance into a battle-winning factor. The Sikh Regiment brings this reaching for the stars into everything that they do.

India's most highly decorated infantry regiment always does things in great style befitting a great regiment, whether advancing on the battlefield in the face of tremendous odds or organising a reunion of old comrades. In keeping with the regiment's traditions, the function ended with a rousing Jaikara raised by the Colonel of the Regiment, General Sumer Singh, which would've been the envy of any Jathedar in Punjab!

A soldier and his charitable work

Soldiers despite their preoccupation with war and destruction have a strong sense of compassion and empathy for less fortunate human beings. Lieutenant General JL Malhotra was commissioned into the Sikh Regiment in 1957, served with 5 Sikh on counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and in defending Chhamb in 1971 and commanded 1st Sikh.

Later, while commanding 7 Division in Punjab, he initiated the successful induction of his troops into combating terrorism which eventually bought about peace. The experiences in counter-insurgency in both places, including helping the local population, left him thoughtful. Should he continue to enjoy God's bounty while others less fortunate were denied it? He resolved to do his best for the world's deprived.

After retiring in 1994, he came in contact with Colonel DS Vohra whose Prosthetic Centre at Zirakpur, near Chandigarh, was able to help a large number of people live a normal life. Malhotra decided to help a dozen people every year with prosthetics using his life savings.

As the word about his philanthropy spread, others came forward to help him. In about five years' time, he was able to help some 360 people with artificial limbs, wheelchairs and other aids by acting as a link between them and prospective donors. This gave him tremendous fulfilment.

A new phase of his charity work started in 2002 when he was approached by a poor woman to help educate her daughter in an English medium school. This set the underpinning for the Society for Meritorious Students with the help of other like-minded generous people keen to give back to society.

The dedicated team members identify meritorious but needy students and sponsor their entire education including training in personality development and life skills. Their pragmatic approach ensures that the students get good placements and are set for life. So far, the organisation has helped 1,200 students realise their dreams.

Malloo, as he is popularly known in the Army, is a satisfied man having lived a life of accomplishment but as a good soldier wants to do more to give back to society what he got from it.

ECHS facility for reimbursement of travel

One of the lesser known facilities available to veterans covered by the Ex-servicemens' Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is reimbursement of cost of travel when referred to another station due to non-availability of the required facility at one's local station.

The authority for this is Central Organisation, ECHS letter no. B/49782/AG/ECHS dated 8th November 2005. Travelling allowance is subject to of course in the first place being referred by the local polyclinic to another station due to non-availability of the required facility at the local station.

In addition, travelling allowance will be limited to rail fare as per entitled class as applicable to the individual at the time of retirement. If the journey is made by road because the desired station is not connected by rail, then actual bus fare is admissible.

Naval Aviation's 60th anniversary

Congratulations to the Fleet Air Arm on completing 60 years of guarding our maritime frontiers on May 11.

Please write in with your feedback, comments, suggestions and personal narratives of war and military service to msbajwa@gmail.com or call on 093161-35343

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

27 Sikh couples tie knot in Hyderabad mass marriage ceremony

Hyderabad: It was a dream come true for 27 Sikh couples who got married in a befitting manner without spending a penny in the presence of over 25,000 Sikhs who came from across the state to bless them.

The happiest of them were the couples' parents who never dreamt of their sons and daughters getting married in such a grand and befitting manner that too without spending any money from their pockets.  Government officials and Sikh Heads graced the function and blessed the newly-wed couples. On behalf of the State Government, they handed over cheques to the newly wed couples.

The marriages were organised by the Prabhandak Committee, Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawni, Attapur under the Chairmanship of S. Gurcharan Singh Bagga. On Sunday, as many as 27 couples got married at 'Samuhik Vivaha Samagam' (Mass Marriages) under one umbrella at Gurudwara Saheb Barambala in the presence of noted religious heads. Most of the brides and bridegrooms hailed from Hyderabad city and few from other districts.

The Samuhik Vivaha Samagam started at 10 AM with a colourful 'Baraat' of bridegrooms on horses from Asha Singh Bagh Gurudwara, Sikh Chawni to Gurudwara Barambala Saheb. "Anand Karaj (Lawan Phere)", ie, soleminsing of marriage was performed at 11 AM.

All the Sikh Gurudwaras of Hyderabad extended support for the successful conduct of these marriages. Various Gurudwara Committees and individuals presented domestic articles to the newly married couples which will help in settling their lives.

The Minorities Welfare Department has extended a financial support to each couple in form of household articles.

The Prabhandak Committee President Harbans Singh and General Secretary S Iqbal Singh said that only Gurmukh and Amritdhari Sikhs were allowed to participate in the marriages. The Prabhandak Committee made all arrangements including accommodation facilities and Guru-ka-Langar.

with thanks : Deccan Herald : LINK

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Sikh population nearly doubles in a decade in Canadian city

The Sikh population in the city of Abbotsford in the Canadian province of British Columbia almost doubled in the period between 2001 and 2011, show official figures.

Sikhs numbered 28,235 or 16.9 percent of the city's population compared to 16,780 in 2001, the Vancouver Desi reported citing data from the 2011 National Household Survey conducted by Statistics Canada.

According to Daniel Hiebert, a professor of geography in the University of British Columbia, the settlement of Sikh immigrants in Abbotsford, along with Surrey, also in British Columbia, and Brampton in Ontario, is unique among Canadian immigration patterns.

"Immigrants used to arrive and settle in the big cities and then move out to the suburbs," the report quoted Hiebert as saying. 

"Canadians haven’t seen a lot of this (settling in smaller cities) in the past.”

The new data also revealed that half of the 5,935 immigrants who settled in Abbotsford between 2006 and 2011 came from India, with the next largest number coming from the United Kingdom (nine percent) followed by Americans (4.4 percent).

“The doubling of the Sikh population (in Abbotsford) is adding to the very fabric of what makes our community so unique in its diversity,” Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra, coordinator of the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at the University of Fraser Valley, was quoted as saying.

Sikhs comprise 1.4 percent of Canada's population of around 35 million, according to the new data.

with thanks : Deccan Herald : LINK

US Justice Department voices concern over harassment of Sikh student

WASHINGTON: Raising concerns over the harassment of a Sikh student in Georgia for bearing turban and being called a 'terrorist', theUS Justice Department has rapped the school administration for not taking enough steps to prevent such 'verbal and physical' abuse. 

A complaint in this regard was filed to the Department of Justice by a non-governmental Sikh coalition against the DeKalb County School district in Georgia, alleging that the student had been repeatedly targeted with verbal and physical harassment because of his Sikh faith, the Federal body said yesterday. 

Though, as a result of the investigation, the School administration has agreed to take steps to implement anti-harassment training at the student's middle and high school. 

The Justice Department said that the school had not investigated witness' statements regarding the student being called a 'terrorist' and that there was a history of fellow students targeting him because of his turban. 

"Students of all faiths must be protected from harassment and other forms of discrimination," said Jocelyn Samuels, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. 

Following an inquiry into the student-specific complaints, the Department notified the school of its concerns that it had failed to respond promptly and appropriately to the Sikh Coalition's allegations of harassment, including that the student was called "Aladdin" because he wore a turban and was told by a fellow student to "go back to his country".

with thanks : Economic Times : LINK

Elderly Sikh man assaulted outside US Gurdwara, one arrested

In a suspected hate crime, an elderly Sikh man has been brutally assaulted with an iron rod outside a Gurdwara in the US and was in a serious condition, as police arrested a person in connection with the incident.

The incident happened outside a Gurdwara in Fresno which is located in the heart of the Central Valley of California.

The individual arrested for the suspected hate crime has been identified as Gilbert Garcia, the Fresno Police chief Jerry Dyer told a gathering of Sikhs at the Gurdwara where the victim Piara Singh, 82, worked as a volunteer.

Piara Singh was beaten brutally with an iron bar outside the Gurdwara on Sunday morning. Still unconscious, he has 20 stitches, broken bones and ribs. His condition is reported to be improving.

Late in the evening, a Dyer-led team of government officials, including representatives of the FBI and the Department of Justice among others met members of the Sikh community to assure them that they are taking enough measures to protect them from any hate crime.

“This is a hate crime,” said Gurdev Singh Muhar, a priest of the Fresno Gurdwara.

Fresno is located in the heart of the Central Valley of California that has a sizable Sikh/Punjabi population.

The incident has sent shock waves not only among the entire Sikh community in the US, but also among Hindu-Americans and Arab-Americans, who for long have been demanding that attack against them be registered by the FBI as hate crime.

In a statement, the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, condemned the brutal attack on the elderly Sikh man.

“We stand with the Sikh community in rejecting the religious and ethnic hatred that leads to such brutal and cowardly attacks,” said CAIR-SV executive director Basim Elkarra.

Condemning the incident, the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) said Piara Singh was a volunteer at the Gurdwara and performs daily chores there.

The incident took place outside the premises of Gurdwara Nanaksar when he was walking towards his house after performing some morning duties in the Sikh Temple.

With thanks : The Hindu : LINK

1984 Anti-Sikh riots verdict: The pen was mighty but the hands were trembling

It was nothing like anything. The scenes that unfolded at the Karkardooma Court post 2:40 pm on 30th April 2013 were a bewildering reminder of how the unpredictable can surface when you least expect it.

The verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case where five people were killed near Delhi Cantt on the 1st and 2nd of November 1984 was to be pronounced at Court no. 2 of the trial court at 2 pm.

The verdict was postponed by an hour. The media had already reached; 3-4 correspondents per channel. Two reporters outside the court premises providing constant (live) information about the history of the case and what could be the course of future for Sajjan Kumar, if he would be convicted. And two other outside the court room, waiting, expecting the verdict. Every channel had their plans - grand plans - ready. A quick reaction by Sajjan Kumar, the perspective of lawyers from both sides and of course the victims who had been fighting for 29 long years now. Prime time shows had decided their focus. This undoubtedly was a big story. After all, there was a chance of it being the first time ever when a high-profile political leader would have been convicted in the 1984 riots case that left almost 3000 Sikhs dead.

At 2 pm the Delhi police cordoned off the court room holding thick ropes and barricading the entry. We were told this is for security reasons, the media will be allowed at 2:40 pm. We waited - anxiously discussing the probabilities and the impact the verdict may have on obvious individuals. At 2:40 pm we were stopped again - this time the ACP came and bartered for 5 more minutes before he would let us in, clearly this was not just a security requirement. After 5 minutes we lost our patience (our tribe has often been ridiculed for the same but this time I like to believe they asked for it) and moved towards the entry gate of court no. 2 - we were once again stopped for 'proper frisk checking'.

Then a senior police official whisked us aside barking out orders to 'give side' approached. Behind him was Sajjan Kumar, the prime accused. As soon as the man entered the doors of the court were shut on media. We yelled for our right to enter - slammed on the door that didn't open. Within a few minutes we heard loud noises from inside. Curiosity and the need to flash the big news first was killing us. The door swung open and a dazed Karnail Singh rushed out with one slipper on his feet - later we would find out that Karnail Singh had hurled a show towards the judge after he had pronounced what Singh thought was a biased judgement.

The police would detain and later arrest him.

The victim's lawyer HS Phoolka was next to come out but he didn't answer any questions He only stared at us blankly and pushed off. As we entered I saw Sajjan Kumar standing in one corner with tears in his eyes. He was quickly whisked away. The judge was nowhere to be seen. Only a completely shaken and almost shattered Jagdish Kaur and her son screaming and thumping the table. And then as I could gather my wits I found that the absolute unexpected had happened. Sajjan Kumar had been acquitted of all charges. He was from that moment a free man.

with thanks : IBN LIVE : LINK

Protest against Sajjan Kumar in Geeta colony in East Delhi

Vijay Goel joins protest against acquittal of Sajjan Kumar

protest march pm house