Gobind ghat : Pics from various sources

Shocking vid : Gobind Ghat

Must view vid : Gobind Ghat

Gobind Ghat after the heavy floods : pics from various sources

Worried NDMC rehearsed 13-sec drill to paste riot memorial notice

Pasting a notice on a structure considered illegal by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) proved to be a daunting task for the civic body.

The notice had to be pasted at the site where the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) proposed to build a memorial to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. But NDMC officials were scared of stirring a row with the guards at the site inside Gurdwara Rakabganj. At the same time, they felt it would be unwise to take police cover before entering the gurdwara to paste a warning, asking the DSGMC not to build without permission.

After long and detailed deliberations, senior officials of the NDMC came up with an ingenious plan. A team of four members were selected to paste the notice. These men were then made to practice how the job could be done in the least possible time and without any friction with the guards.

An NDMC official said he, along with a driver and two staff members, rehearsed the whole procedure - of running to the structure, quickly pasting the notice, clicking a photograph for proof and then sprinting back to an already moving car to avoid any clash - for hours at a stretch.

with thanks : INDIAN EXPRESS : LINK : for detailed news.

Pakistan may declare Panja Sahib as a holy city

CHANDIGARH: 

Arif Chaudhry, President of Pak-Indo friendship association and legal consulate ministry of interior on Friday hinted that the government may declare “Panja Sahib” as a holy city, Press Trust of India reported.

This decision was made known during Chaudhry’s meeting with the Indian Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in Chandrigarh.

He said the government is looking to resolve the issues faced by Sikhs who live at the pilgrimage site, Press Trust of India reported.

Panja Sahib is believed to contain a rock with the hand prints of the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak. It is considered to be a holy pilgrimage site for Sikhs all over the world.

During his visit, Chaudhry also extended an invitation to Badal to attend a function arranged by the association marking the occasion in Pakistan, the timings of which would be confirmed in accordance with his availability.

Badal accepted the invitation and stated that he has always upheld the cause of strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries and has been a strong proponent of opening the Fazilka and Hussainiwal border.

He hoped the newly elected government in Pakistan would help improve ties between the countries so that cultural exchange avenues could be explored between the two.

Officials from Pakistan said the forum would endeavour to resolve all issues faced by the Sikhs living in Panja Sahib.



with thanks : Tribune PK : LINK : for detailed news.

World Blood Donor Day : 14th June

Sikh pilgrim dies of heart attack in Pakistan

LAHORE: A Sikh pilgrim from India died of a heart attack while travelling in a train in this eastern Pakistani city, officials said.

Jaswinder Singh, a 69-year-old resident of Delhi, suffered a severe heart attack while travelling in the train at Chowki Shahdara Railway Station and died instantly yesterday, officials of a state-run rescue service said.

with thanks : HINDUSTAN TIMES : LINK FOR DETAILED NEWS.

1984 anti-Sikh riot killing memorial: NDMC warns of action against DSGMC

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today declined to grant stay on the construction of a memorial at Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahib complex here for those killed in 1984 anti-Sikh riots as NDMC told the court that legal action will be taken soon if they go ahead with the project in violation of the statute. 

The court, however, issued a notice to Delhi government, NDMC, DDA, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee(DSGMC) and its President Sardar Manjit Singh GK and sought their replies by July 17 on former DSGMC President Paramjit Singh Sarna's plea to stop the construction as they have not got approval of competent authority.

Justice Jayant Nath recorded the submissions of NDMC counsel Vivek Sood that "action has been initiated. On June 6, a show cause notice was issued to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and its President Sardar Manjit Singh GK in which the legal consequences were also mentioned...It will take action as per law in 2/3 days." 

with thanks : TIMES OF INDIA : LINK FOR DETAILED NEWS.

Press Release by Sd Param Jit Singh Sarna

New Delhi-12-06-2013 S. Paramjit Singh Sarna former President DSGMC in a press statement here today that the Writ Petition filed by me to built the memorial of 1984 Sikh Riots outside the historical Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib has been admitted in the Delhi High Court and notice is issued to the DSGMC, NDMC, Government of NCT of Delhi. He further said that the counsel of the NDMC has submitted to the Court that it is going to issue order within two days for the stoppage of construction of the memorial as the DSGMC has not replied to the show cause notice as well as has not obtained necessary approval/sanctions.

Mr. Sarna said that it is unfortunate and condemnable that the counsel of the DSGMC has given a false statement before the Court during the hearing of the Writ Petition that the DSGMC has not raised even a single brick in connection to the construction of the memorial. It is for the first time in history of the DSGMC that its president has asked the counsel to give false statement to mislead to Court to protect them from any adverse order. Despite the fact that DSGMC today i.e. 12-06-2013 has held a mega function of the foundation laying of the memorial. Structure, platform and the plaque (Foundation Stone) were clearly visible in the live telecast of PTC News.  

He further said that we have brought the facts and merits of the Writ Petition into the notice of the Court that no memorial of any kind can be built inside the historical Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.

Mr. Sarna categorically said that we are not against the construction of memorial of 1984 Anti Sikh Riots, but it should be built outside the complex of historical Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. We have already requested the Govt of Delhi for the allotment of land for it during my tenure as a president of DSGMC.

Mr. Sarna Said that if this memorial will be raised outside the historical Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, he will be the first person to provide all financial and other assistance for it. 

As received by E mail.

Foundation stone of 1984 Sikh genocide memorial laid

The foundation stone of 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial being built in Gurdwara Rakabanj Sahib Complex was unveiled on Wednesday.

Hearing in a petition challenging construction of memorial in the Gurdwara premises was also listed for hearing in Delhi high court but the foundation stone was laid before the case came for hearing.

Before the foundation stone was to be laid, there was obvious tension at the site where foundation stone was to be laid. A large number of Sikhs carrying swords were guarding the site and movement of every person was closed watched.

It needs mention here that former president of DSGMC Paramjit Singh Sarna has moved Delhi high court against building of memorial in the Gurdwara premises.

Foundation stone was unveiled by head priests of Sikhs - Jathedar of Takht Shri Damdama Sahib Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh and Jathedar of Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh.

Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal president and deputy chief minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, his MP wife Harsimrat Kaur, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK and Shiromani gurdwara parbandhak committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar were also present.

The foundation stone laying ceremony coincided with martyrdom day of fifth Guru Arjan Dev. A large number of Sikhs gathered at the site where foundation stone was laid.

Before the elections of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) in January earlier this year, building of a memorial to commemorate those Sikhs killed in 1984 riots, was part of election manifesto of Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal in the elections.

"We have fulfilled our promise," said Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal president Sukhbir Singh Badal after unveiling ceremony.

Later addressing the media-persons, Sukhbir Badal said that justice was denied to the families of innocent Sikhs killed in 1984 riots for past 29 years and now the congress party led government in Delhi was making attempts to stall construction of the memorial.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.