SAD to discuss anti-Sikh riots issue with Union Home Ministry

"SAD will soon discuss the ongoing legal proceedings with the Union Home Minister to ensure proper investigations and early hearings of the cases to put the perpetrators of heinous crime (1984 anti-Sikh riots) behind bars," said Badal.

He asserted that the time has come to punish the architects of "Sikh genocide".

Accusing previous UPA led Centre of shielding "culprits" of anti-Sikh riots, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said the new NDA led government at the Centre has build up the trust of Sikhs who have been fighting for the last 30 years to get justice.

Badal said SAD was confident that Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would deliver justice as early as possible by adopting every legal and administrative measure.

Answering a query regarding recently concluded Lok Sabha poll results, SAD President said they accept and respect the mandate of people in Punjab.

He said SAD-BJP will soon start introspection exercise to gauge the performance of government vis-à-vis parties.

He said the main focus of the ruling combine will would all round development of state and welfare of all sections of society.

Badal also reviewed Rs 78.08 crore Golden Temple Plaza project and issued directions to the authorities concerned to conclude the construction before given deadline.

with thanks : Jagran : Link : for detailed news.

US Sikhs Hire Hillary Strategist to Change Perception

WASHINGTON : American Sikhs have hired a political consultant, who served as a strategist for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, for the first-ever exploration of creating positive perception about Sikhs among Americans.

Geoffrey Garin, who also served as the pollster and strategic advisor to Priorities USA, the super PAC supporting President Barack Obama’s re-election in 2012, will take an in-depth survey of feelings and misperceptions towards Sikhs for the newly formed National Sikh Campaign (NSC).

This research will lay the foundation for the largest promotion of Sikhs in the western world coordinated by NSC with messaging that will deliver new information and visuals that can positively change attitudes toward Sikhs.

Gurwin Singh Ahuja, executive director of NSC who was part of Obama’s two election campaigns in Ohio, said, Sikhs have been part of American scene since they first immigrated to North America 100 years ago.

“There is no one better than Garin to properly conduct a study that can show how Sikhs can dispel the misperceptions about our community and portray us as part and parcel of American society,” he said.

With thanks : MizoNews : LINK : for detailed news.

Golden Temple Pic at Auckland Airport !

New book explores Sikh weddings

If you visit a Sikh temple you may be lucky enough to attend a wedding while you’re there.

Families who host Sikh weddings must be ready to feed more people than they actually invite because Sikh temples are open to the public and it is not uncommon for strangers to join the celebration.  

This is just one of many customs that non-Sikhs may be unaware of.

Arvinder Grewal’s book, Weddings Around The World: Sikh Weddings, is a guidebook inspired by her own experiences with weddings growing up in Vancouver. She wrote the book for the Sikh-Canadian community when she realized that some customs were being lost.

“I intended it for the generation who have lost this information, who don’t have this information passed down to them,” said Grewal. But she added that the book is for anyone who is interested in Punjab culture or the Sikh religion. “I hope that it gives people an idea of the beauty of a Sikh wedding, the richness, the culture,” she said.  

She noted a distinction must be made between Sikhism and Punjab. Sikhism is a religion, whereas Punjab is a region in northern India that extends into eastern Pakistan.

According to a 2011 Statistics Canada report, 11 per cent of Vancouverites self-identify as South Asian, 10 per cent speak Punjabi at home and 6.5 per cent follow the Sikh religion.

With thanks : vancourier : LINK : for detailed news.

Akali Dal to implement Nanavati report on 1984 riots: Harsimrat

IANS

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal will get the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots implemented to bring those behind the riots before law, newly appointed Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Tuesday.

Harsimrat, who assumed charge as minister, said that justice has eluded victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots for the last nearly 30 years.

"The NDA government under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had constituted Nanavati Commission to investigate the riots but unfortunately its report was not implemented by the Congress government. The Akali Dal would get this report implemented in letter and spirit to bring all those perpetrators of this heinous crime behind the bars," she told media persons after taking charge.

Hundreds of Sikhs were targeted and killed in Delhi and other places across India by mobs in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh security guards in October 1984.

with thanks : IANS : LINK : for detailed news.

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Pakistan Sikhs threaten protests against holy book desecration

A Sikh organisation in Pakistan has threatened to launch countrywide protests if those who allegedly desecrated the Sikh holy book are not arrested by Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club yesterday, Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) patron Ramesh Singh demanded that a judicial commission be constituted to investigate how and why such incidents had all of a sudden started happening across Sindh province, reported the Dawn.

He said that all the culprits should be arrested, tried and awarded stern punishment so that it could act as deterrence to others. He also demanded security for the religious places of minorities.

Recounting instances in which copies of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib were burnt, Singh alleged that various incidents had been reported from across the province including in Sukkur, Dadu and Shikarpur districts.

Earlier this month, similar incidents were reported in Karachi and Shikarpur.

with thanks : DNA : LINK : for detailed news.

New York: A Sikh temple in the US is facing local opposition

New York: A Sikh temple in the US is facing local opposition because of plans replace its existing prayer hall with a 12,000-sq-ft building with gold domes in a rural neighbouhood, media reported Monday.

The construction of a new building has been opposed by the people in Sacramento County in California. Gurdwara authorities are questioning the residents whether race has played a role in the opposition, since building a church does not face any such opposition, the Sacramento Bee reported.

The Community Planning Advisory Council is scheduled to hear the Sri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara’s proposal Wednesday.

County officials have denied claims of racism raised by any project opponents.

“When someone keeps complaining without reason, then you might guess that racism is the reason,” a county resident, Ramesh Banger, said.

Charlea Moore, a member of the Community Planning Advisory Council, said neighbours have legitimate concerns about the project, but she said she thinks they can be resolved.

Residents raised complaints about how the temple would use properties adjacent to the prayer hall and a few complained about the drainage in the property due to the constant floods in the area. They also asked how parking would be handled, Moore said.

The project’s supporters have addressed the concerns with plans for a detention pond and shuttle bus service when large events are scheduled.

with thanks : MizoNews : LINK

Aap sab nu Guru Amar Das Ji de Parkash Purab Diyaan Lakh-Lakh vadhaiyaan hovan ji.

Aap sab nu Guru Amar Das Ji de Parkash Purab Diyaan Lakh-Lakh vadhaiyaan hovan ji. SikhsIndia

American Sikh Congressional Caucus strengthened with two more co-chairs

Washington, May 23 (ANI): The bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus has announced the appointment of Congressman John Garamendi and Patrick Meehan as additional co-chairs of the caucus.

They will serve as leaders of the caucus with the current co-chairs Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman David Valadao.

The selection of Garamendi and Meehan was made official through a letter to the House Committee on Administration.

Garamendi has worked with the California Sikh community for decades. His Congressional District is home to tens of thousands of Sikhs and many Sikh run farms.

"It is an honor to be selected as co-chair of the bipartisan American Sikh Caucus. I am proud to take this next step in my work with Sikh-Americans to defend civil rights, fight discrimination, and educate Members of Congress and the public about the community," said Garamendi.

with thanks : Yahoo News : LINK : for detailed news.

Protesting Sikhs push into Pakistan parliament

ISLAMABAD — Dozens of baton-wielding Sikhs pushed past the front gate and entered the grounds of Pakistan's parliament Friday, protesting recent attacks on their houses of worship.

Sikhs staged a two-hour sit-in on parliament's lawns in Islamabad before dispersing after speaking with police officials and lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party, senior police officer Aftab Cheema said. They assured the Sikhs they'd receive full protection, Cheema said.

Cheema said investigators would look into how protesters made it past the gate.

Zafar Ali Shah, a lawmaker from the PML-N party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told reporters that the Sikh leaders protested against several attacks on their places of worship in southern Sindh province.

"We assured them that the government will provide them full protection, and they peacefully dispersed," he said.

Darshan Singh, a lawmaker from the minority Sikh community, said the protesters apologized over entering the parliament's grounds.

Sikhs are a tiny minority in predominantly Muslim Pakistan. Most of them live in Sindh province and they never held such a protest in the past.

with thanks : bradenton : LINK

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/05/23/5167396/protesting-sikhs-push-into-pakistan.html#storylink=cpy