Sikh Groups Call On Obama to Reinstate IRS Agent Fired For Wearing Religious Article of Faith.

On January 28, 2014 letters were sent to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder by twelve major American Sikh advocacy organizations, including UNITED SIKHS, calling on the Obama Administration to immediately reinstate Kawaljeet Tagore, a Sikh IRS Agent based out of Houston, TX fired in July, 2006 for wearing a kirpan, a Sikh religious article of faith.

Following her termination, Tagore sued the IRS and the Federal Protective Service (FPS),the federal agency responsible for the security of federal buildings, under Title VII and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act for failing to accommodate her Sikh religious practice of wearing the kirpan, a dagger-like article that symbolizes the Sikhs’ commitment to justice.  Even though FPS and IRS allow saws, box cutters, letter openers, and cake knives into federal buildings for work-related purposes, the IRS and FPS defended Tagore’s lawsuit by claiming that a federal criminal law, 18 U.S.C. section 930, prohibits them from according Tagore any accommodation for her kirpan.

In 2012, a Houston federal judge sided with the government and dismissed Tagore’s lawsuit. However, on November 13, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit—relying on a December, 2012 FPS Policy Directive that requires accommodation of kirpans —reversed the federal judge’s ruling in favor of FPS. The Fifth Circuit held that the new FPS Policy Directive “contradicts the arguments previously advanced by the government for denying Tagore an exception or exemption for the wearing of her kirpan.

Yet, to date, the government has refused to reinstate Tagore to her position as an IRS agent, compensate her, or accommodate her kirpan.

“A hard working IRS agent is being kept from work due to her religious beliefs in a country founded on diversity and religious freedom. The FPS has already allowed 2.5 inch kirpans in almost 9,000 federal buildings but will not allow Ms. Tagore to wear her kirpan to work in an IRS building. Now that this inconsistency has been addressed by the Fifth Circuit, it is time to give Ms. Tagore her job back,” said Anisha Singh, staff attorney and policy advocate for UNITED SIKHS.

In their letter, UNITED SIKHS, along with other Sikh advocacy groups, claim that the “IRS and FPS’ continuing violation of Ms. Tagore’s right to religious accommodation is contrary not only to RFRA and FPS Directive 15.9.3.1 but to the guiding principles and tenets of the Obama Administration,” including an Executive Order that requires federal agencies to promote diversity. The Sikh groups call on Obama to “direct the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, IRS, and FPS to appropriately resolve” Tagore’s lawsuit, by “reinstating her employment with the IRS and providing her with an exemption to wear her kirpan to work.”

with thanks : UNITED SIKHS

Belgium Delegation at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib with Mr. Kulmohan Singh;Chief Advisor & PR of DSGMC

Hindustan Times : 84 Riots News

Hindustan Times : 84 Riots News

Must remember :

Sikh Light Infantry is best marching contingent

New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) Army's Sikh Light Infantry has been awarded the best marching contingent among the three Services at the Republic Day parade this year while the CRPF contingent bagged the honours in the paramilitary and auxiliary forces category.

"In the Services category, Territorial Army (Sikh LI) has been adjudged the best marching contingent in the Republic Day Parade 2014.

With thanks : PTI News : LINK

Breaking News : 1984 Riots

Delhi govt will form an SIT on 1984 anti-Sikh riots after all discussion; justice will be done: Delhi Assembly Speaker M.S. Dhir.

With thanks : India Today : LINK

Worshippers escape as lightning hits Sikh temple

IANS

London, Jan 27: Worshippers at a Sikh temple in the British city of Leicester had a lucky escape when its roof collapsed after being struck by lightning.

CCTV footage showed a group of elderly women were singing hymns at the Ramgarhia Sikh Temple in Leicester on Jan 25 afternoon when a bolt of lightning struck, blowing a hole in the roof and sending worshippers fleeing in panic.

The rear wall and roof of the temple collapsed, media reported.

One person who suffered minor injuries was discharged after treatment at a hospital.

Temple president Indy Panesar told Leicester Mercury that it could have been a lot worse as there were 250 people in the prayer room about half an hour before the strike.

"There were about 20 people in the main prayer hall, with some of them being the old women singing,” Leicester Mercury quoted Panesar as saying.

"It is a miracle no one was seriously hurt or killed," Panesar said. He said the temple's holy scriptures were not damaged in the roof fall.

"The scriptures were in the main prayer hall and could have taken a direct hit but did not,” he said.

"One of the women respectfully collected them and we put them in a safe place. That was another amazing piece of good fortune." 

with thanks : IANS : LINK

Relics of Guru Gobind Singh to be shifted to Takht Kesgarh Sahib

PATIALA: the Punjab government has finally declared that Nabha is not an "ideal location" to display the over 300-year-old relics of the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and these would be kept at Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib. Residents of Nabha had given several representations in this regard and even fought a lengthy legal battle to convince the state government to display relics of Guru Gobind Singh in their town.

The state government has taken the decision on the basis of the report submitted by the five-member committee, which included officials of the Patiala district administration and department of archaeology and culture, set up to exploring suitability of a site for displaying relics at Nabha.

Acting on a petition filed by Gurmail Singh, who pleaded that sentiments of Nabha residents should be considered while deciding a site to display the relics, the Punjab and Haryana high court had on December last year directed the state government to examine the "suitability of the location of the place as suggested by the petitioner."

The petitioner had pleaded that the relics could be placed either at Gurdwara Sangat Sar Sahib or Gurdwara Deep Baba Ajaypal Singh (Ghorewala Gurdwara). However, the state government has decided that both sites are not suitable to keep the relics.

"The court had ordered us to select an appropriate site in consultation with the people of Nabha. Acting on the order, we had formed a committee that had the deputy commissioner and the director (culture affairs) as its members. After consulting all quarters, the committee has recommended that there is no ideal place in Nabha to display the relics. Hence, these would be shifted to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib," said S S Channy, principal secretary, department of archaeology and cultural affairs.

Of the total 14 relics, some of those belonging to Guru Gobind Singh were handed over to the state government by Delhi-based descendants of Nabha royals after a court order in 2008. In December 2013, the descendants of Nabha royals had agreed to hand over the rest of the relics to the state government.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Sikh businessman sues AAP's Vishwas for 'insulting community'

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas has once again landed in trouble, this time for allegedly insulting the Sikh community. 

Sikh businessman Manjit Singh Abrol, 56, has filed the case against Vishwas at the Chembur police station after watching a video that showed Vishwas allegedly making fun of the community during a show some years ago. 

"The video is clearly derogatory and has hurt the sentiments of our community," said Abrol. 

AAP leaders said complaints against Vishwas are completely "motivated" to prevent him from fighting the elections against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.

with thanks : Dailymail : LINK

Pics : Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib : Delhi

With Thanks : Sd. Hardeep Singh Gurware

Must remember !

Delegation from Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium, at Golden Temple, Amritsar

Thanks Dr Gurdeep Kaur & K U Leuven, Belgium

Pentagon to relax rules on personal religious wear — including beards, turbans

By Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube, NBC News

The Pentagon on Wednesday is expected to announce widespread changes to rules governing religious items and religion-based physical attributes that service members can maintain while in uniform — including beards, some religious tattoos, and turbans.

NBC News obtained an early draft of the new Department of Defense instruction which states that the military will make every effort to accommodate “individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs” (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) of service members.

It goes on to say that unless doing so could have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, health and safety, or any other military requirement, commanders can grant service members special permission to display their religious articles while in uniform.   

Requests for religious accommodation can be denied when the “needs of mission accomplishment outweigh the needs of the service member,” the directive will explain.

Earlier this month, a major in the U.S. Army who is a Sikh American took his case to staffers on the Hill, explaining how he and other Sikhs should be able to serve in uniform and still maintain their religious beliefs, including wearing turbans and unshorn hair, including beards.

The new directive will explain that if the articles of faith or physical attributes interfere with the proper function of protective clothing and equipment, the request could be denied.  For example, a beard or unshorn hair cannot interfere with gas masks or helmets.

Jewish service members can request permission to wear a yarmulke while in uniform. Muslim service members can request to wear a beard and carry prayer beads. Even Wiccan service members, those who practice "Magick," can seek accommodation — the directive covers all religions recognized by the U.S. military.

The policy will also spell out that service members have the right to observe no religion at all.

According to Defense Department statistics, which are based solely on self-reporting, there are only a handful of Sikh Americans in the military (about 3).

There are nearly 3,700 Muslims, nearly 6,300 Buddhists, and more than 1,500 Wiccans.

The immediate commander can approve some of the religious accommodation, but some will have to be kicked up to higher headquarters.

In some cases wearing something that impacts the uniform (religious apparel), grooming (beards, longer hair), religious tattoos, and some jewelry with religious inscriptions.

The directive stresses that “the importance of uniformity and adhering to standards, of putting unit before self, is more significant and needs to be carefully evaluated when considering each request for accommodation.”

It goes on to say that “it is particularly important to consider the effect on unit cohesion.”

Each individual service member has to re-apply for new permission at each new assignment, transfer of duty stations, and for each deployment.

with thanks : USNEWS : NBCNEWS : LINK

Must remember :

Delegation from Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium ( 2014)

KU Leuven India Study Group 2014

From January 17th to February 16, 2014, a group of 20 European students ( Masters and Bachelors) along with Prof.dr.Bert Broeckaert from Faculty of Theology and Religiou Studies ( KU Leuven,Belgium) is to visit India for a India Study Course on Indian Religions.

During their one month stay in India they will study religious richness and cultural Diversity of fascinating sub-continent.They will visit religious & historical places in Delhi,Amritsar,Varanasi,Bodh Gaya,Sikkim/ participate in a wide variety of rituals/attend lectures deliver by local professors and specialists/ join-in discussions with representatives of various traditions to immerse in the world of Sikhism,Hinduism,Buddhism, Jainism,Christianity,Islam,Bhai & Iscon.

Prof.  Dr. Bert Broeckaert                                                                                                               

This study visit is an overall efforts of Prof. dr.Bert Broeckaert who (since 2002) has been organizing courses on Indian religions for students of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies,KU Leuven to build insights of number of world religions amongst Europeans to deal with religious and cultural diversity.

Delegation will stay in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib,New Delhi and in Goden Temple,Amritsar from 18th January till 22nd January 2014.

DSGMC President Mr. Manjit Singh G.K. will felicitate the group and Mr. Kulmohan Singh,Chief Advisor and PR of DSGMC will give them a lecture on "Sikh Prayers" in the Conference Room of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on 20th January 2014

KU Leuven Students in Golden Temple in 2012                                                                                 

KU Leuven Students in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in 2009                                                                 

KU Leuven Students with late Mr. Pushpinder Singh at Chelmsford Club,New Delhi in 2012                  

KU Leuven Students with late Mr. Dalwinder Singh Narang ( Ayur ) at Chelmsford Club in 2012      

KU Leuven Students preparing langar in Golden Temple kitchen in 2012

 KU Leuven Students at Humayun's Tomb ( New Delhi ) in 2012                                                            

KU Leuven Students at Jama Masjid ( Old Delhi ) in 2012 

http://theo.kuleuven.be/nl/studenten/indiablog/

https://www.facebook.com/Indiareis2014

Photos : courtesy of Prof. Bert Broeckaert.

Dr. Gurdeep kaur

SGND Khalsa College

University of Delhi

INDIA

Funniest or Horrible ? Only you can decide ! Must watch it :

Must watch the Emergency Exit : 
Just click the link below :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2W-D0A7gaY

Wo tera noor tha .....

George Hine House to become Leicester Sikh free school

Part of a former mental health hospital has been chosen as the site of the first Sikh free school in Leicester.

Falcons Primary School is expected to open in September 2014, taking children from all faiths.

The school aims to supply the demand for a Sikh education in Leicester, which it says is not currently met by the city's existing schools.

Planning applications have been submitted to use part of the Towers Hospital site in Gipsy Lane.

A school spokesperson said the Sikh faith was not represented "in the Leicester family of schools" which parents who wished their children to have an education "in a faith environment are at a disadvantage".

Towers Hospital, an institution for people with mental illness, closed its beds in 2000 and saw its last outpatients in 2013.

George Hine House, a Grade II listed building on the site, was later used as the headquarters of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Architects propose converting George Hine House into the schoolbut the outside of the building would mainly remain the same.

Ward blocks behind the George Hine Building would be demolished.

Some parts of the site have already been developed into apartments.

with thanks : BBC News : LINK

Sikh driver shot dead by police in southern California

A 45-year-old Sikh truck driver was shot dead by police in the city of Bakersfield in southern California on Sunday morning. According to reports in the local media, the victim has been identified as Jaspal Singh. The police reportedly responded to a call about domestic disturbance from a home near Oswell Street on San Mateo Drive in Bakersfield.

When cops reached the spot, Singh reportedly had his gun pointed at them. He was fired at five times.

Detective Todd Farnsworth was quoted as saying by local news networks, “Upon arriving on scene, officers were encountered with a male subject with a gun. The subject pointed the gun at officers.”

He said Singh was hit by five shots fired by one of the two officers. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Singh, who came to California from Bharo Majra village near Phagwara in Punjab about a decade ago, was reportedly suffering from depression. No details about his family were known.

The officer who shot at Singh has been sent on leave as police continue their investigations.

Bakersfield is home to some very successful Sikhs in southern California, including Mehnga Singh Sangera who was the first Indian to own car dealerships (Mercedes, Volvo and Subaru) since the 1950s.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK 

Awareness about Sikhism

The Sikh Coalition designed this billboard in collaboration with the Midwest Sikh Gurdwara in Kansas to create awareness about Sikhs among fellow Americans.
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sikhawareness

Mr.B.S.Vohra with Arvind Kejriwal

                        Sd.B.S.Vohra (Social & RWA activist, Blogger & Citizen journalist ) with Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal .

Merry Christmas !!

                               Children on their way to school to participate in Christmas celebrations in Patiala.

PTI Photo https://www.facebook.com/Outlookindia

A Sad story : NBT, Delhi

90 % of Sikh heritage sites are in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A United Kingdom-born researcher, writer, historian and award-winning filmmaker, Bobby Singh Bansal, has said 90 per cent of the Sikh heritage sites are located in Pakistan, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The writer, who is considered an authority on the Sikh history and heritage in Pakistan, visited Peshawar and other parts of KP for a week to explore the community heritage sites for his upcoming book, “Sikh Monuments of Pakistan and India.”

Talking to The News, the 45-year old writer said during his Pakistan trip he visited for documentation various forts built during the Sikh rule. “I have already been to Jamrud and Shabqadar forts and saw the Balahisar from outside. Other Sikh-era forts include those in Bara, Lockhart, Michini, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, Mansehra and Oghi. I have explored the ruins of Khairabad, Akora Khattak and Jehangira forts [in Nowshera district] built by the Sikhs,” he explained.

Bansal visited the site of the famed March 14, 1823 battle of Nowshera and located Samadh of Bhai Phoola Singh Akali, a general of the Sikh Army who fell in the battle and was cremated on the site located near the northern bank of Kabul River at Pir Sabak.

Asked what motivated him to document the Sikh heritage sites, he said although he was born in England, his roots were in Pakistan. “My parents belong to Rawalpindi. I used to visit the holy Sikh sites in this country. This created a desire to conduct research on the subject and give it the shape of publication or film,” said Bansal, who has authored, “The Lion’s Firangis: Europeans in the Court of Lahore” in 2010 to trace the history of the chief European officers in the service of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh right up to their present descendants living in various parts of the world.

Bansal said the response to his first publication encouraged him to produce and direct in 2012 a documentary film “Sikhs of Kabul” that highlighted the plight of the community whose numbers have dwindled considerably in the Afghan capital. This year he produced another film “Sikhs of Burma” to be screened in March next year.

“I have a strong belief that this is our shared heritage and not just for the Sikhs of Pakistan but for Sikhs globally,” he said. He called for conservation of the ancient monuments, gurdwaras, forts and havelies associated with his community in Pakistan.

Bansal believed documentation of the Sikh heritage sites would also benefit Pakistan. “I want all the Sikh heritage sites here documented and put on the tourist map. Every year thousands of Sikh yatris come to Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib. It is my wish that these yatris should also visit sites of military, historic and religious significance for Sikhs when they are in Pakistan. This will boost tourism and help the Sikhs to know about these places and strengthen their identity,” he stressed.

The researcher has the conviction that the heritage sites should be owned and conserved without any discrimination. “During my current visit, I discussed issues pertaining to gurdwaras that are falling apart and are in need of urgent protection. The problem of paucity of funds can be overcome once the matter is publicised at the international level,” said Bansal, who is father of two.

He deplored that there is a lot of propaganda about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. ” I have been to this province several times and even during my present visit I found security situation satisfactory. The people are kind and hospitable. But it is strange that there is negative impression about this province in the outside world that needs to be dispelled,” he said.

In his quest for searching the Sikh history, Bansal went to Italy recently because the second Sikh Governor of Peshawar from 1838 to 1842, General Paolo Di Avitabile (October 25, 1791 - March 28, 1850) was an Italian. He met the family members of Avitabile in Naples. He wanted Peshawar and an Italian town Agerola of Naples declared sister cities.

The researcher even brought a letter from the Agerola mayor about the twinning, but is yet to be contacted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to help materialise the plan. “Just think of the attention Peshawar will get when an Italian or any tourist learns that Agerola is a sister city of Peshawar,” argued Bansal.

“Peshawar is an important ancient living city. During my current visit I went to Gurwarda Bhai Joga Singh Sahib in Dabgari and met several fellow Sikhs. I attended the 91st birthday of legendary actor Dilip Kumar (Muhammad Yousaf Khan) in his hometown and met government representative on the minorities’ affairs Sardar Soran Singh. I visited several other towns and delivered a lecture at the Hazara University at Mansehra on the Sikh heritage monuments of Pakistan. I am returning to Britain with fond memories and this will compel me to come again” he added.

with thanks : The News : Link

US court dismisses Sikh group's case against Badal

From Lalit K Jha 

Washington, Dec 24 (PTI) A US court has dismissed an alleged human rights violation case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying the New York-based Sikh group never physically served the summons on him.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in its order upheld the decision that Sikh for Justice (SFJ) did not effectuate service of the Federal Court summons on Badal.

with thanks : PTI News : LINK

Turban Tashan : Hindustan Times