Ahead Of Polls, Sikhs In France Are Worried

PARIS:  Extreme right wing leader Marine Le Pen is one of the two top contenders in the French Presidential elections. The first round of voting is due Sunday.

The European refugee crisis and the recent terror attacks in France have given the far right leader just the fuel she needed. She has been rallying for a "Frexit' and wants to put an end to free border policy under Schengen.

Le Pen (22%) is in second place just behind Emmanuel Macron (25%), the centrist leader who resigned as Economy minister last year and launched a new party "En Marche."

Marine Le Pen's father had made it to the final round of Presidential elections in 2002. Jean Marie Le Pen had earned a reputation as a hardcore far right leader. 

But Marine Le Pen fell out with him, expelled him from the party he had founded, toned down the rhetoric a bit and now has a strong appeal among French voters. 

In her last public meeting in Paris before the Sunday polls, Le Pen declared that her first measure as President of the Republic would be to close France's borders. 

There are many young voters among her supporters, including Florian Pecheux, 30, who is unemployed. "I expect Marine to put France into order by making people respect our values and traditions and restore a certain pride that we have lost."

Elisabeth, 45, a nurse tells NDTV, "She is the only one who will restore France's greatness. All these years of the right and left wing have put us in bad shape."

In a recent interview to American television, Le Pen said Sikhs living in France would not be allowed to wear turbans in public if she were to be elected.

Le Pen's advisor, Gilbert Collard, told NDTV, "We are in a secular country. In your home you live as you want. But in ours we live as we want. I absolutely respect the lifestyles of all countries but in France we have the right to live by French laws."

with thanks : NDTV : LINK : for detailed news.

In photos: Canada's first Sikh defence minister returns to India

Harjit Singh Sajjan is the first Sikh to hold the top defence job in a foreign land.
And this, says Monali Sarkar, is his first official trip to the country of his birth.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @HarjitSajjan/Facebook

Harjit Sajjan began his first visit to India as Canada's minister of national defence with a stop at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in New Delhi, one of the many around the world that are dedicated to soldiers who died in the two World Wars.

Eighteen Canadians lay among the fallen at this cemetery. He said the visit was a particularly 'poignant' one.

Sajjan was born in Punjab and migrated to Canada with his family when he was 5 -- incidentally a beneficiary of the immigration reform introduced under Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's father, then PM Pierre Trudeau.

He is the first Sikh to hold the top defence job in a foreign land.

Photograph: Press Information Bureau

He also laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, noting, 'India's contribution to supporting peace has come at a great cost. Paying respects to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.'

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Sajjan was accorded a guard of honour during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi.

He has served in the Canadian army's reserve force with deployments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan. He also became the first Sikh to command a Canadian reserve regiment.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

'India's Tri-Service Guard of Honour makes a lasting impression,' Sajjan tweeted.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @ArunJaitley/Facebook

A key engagement during the trip was Sajjan's meeting with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley. He said they had 'a great discussion… about opportunities to strengthen Canada-India defence relations.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy @HarjitSajjan/Facebook

On April 20, his last day in New Delhi, Sajjan met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

'The Canada-India bilateral relationship is strong and I look forward to further growing the ties that bind us together as two countries dedicated to peace.'

He is also scheduled to travel to Punjab and Mumbai.

Sajjan's visit to Punjab -- where he will visit his native village in Hoshiarpur, inaugurate the Canadian consulate general's new office in Chandigarh, and pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar -- has became controversial.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has refused to meet him, dubbing him a 'Khalistani sympathiser.'

Asked about the allegation by the Indian media, Sajjan said, 'I don't want to be sucked into the internal politics of a province of a nation. My goal is to build relationships. I am proud of the fact that I was born here.'

with thanks : rediff : LINK

Canada minister at Harmandar Sahib, gets cold shoulder from government

Chandigarh, April 20 (IANS) Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan on Thursday paid obeisance at the Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar and visited other places in Punjab, but the Amarinder Singh government cold-shouldered the visiting dignitary.

No Punjab minister or senior state government official either welcomed Sajjan to his native state or accompanied him on his visits to various places, including to the Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) or to his native village Bombeli in Hoshiarpur district.

Sajjan — the first Sikh to become the defence minister of a western country — was, however, provided security as per the protocol.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh stirred a controversy last week when he said during the Canadian Minister’s Punjab visit he will not meet the “Khalistani sympathiser”. Amarinder Singh accused Sajjan and other ministers in Canada of having links with radical elements who demanded a separate Sikh state of Khalistan.

Amarinder Singh remained adamant on not meeting Sajjan despite the Canadian minister proposing a meeting.

Sajjan flew into the Sikh holy city of Amritsar on Wednesday evening. He was received at the airport by junior officers of the Amritsar district administration. Members of some radical groups were also present outside Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport with banners to welcome Sajjan.

The Canadian minister started his day early on Thursday with a visit to Harmandar Sahib to offer prayers at the holiest of the Sikh shrines.

Sikh radicals, belonging to hardline Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and other Sikh organisations, raised pro-Khalistan slogans and clashed with a task force of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee outside the complex as Sajjan arrived there.

However, the visiting dignitary avoided radical elements and was received by top SGPC functionaries, including its President Kirpal Singh Badungar, to a red-carpet welcome.

Sajjan remained at the shrine for over an hour, during which he prayed inside the sanctum sanctorum and listened to hymns. SGPC task force ensured the radical elements did not create any scene inside the shrine complex.

Sajjan, 46, was later honoured by the SGPC with a ‘siropa’ (traditional robe of honour) and presented a replica of the Golden Temple and a sword.

The minister then visited the Pingalwara Charitable Trust premises near Amritsar to meet destitute children housed there. He also visited an all-girls orphanage in Jalandhar city, 150 km from here.

Sajjan visited his family house in native village Bambeli, 15 km from Hoshiarpur. His father Kundan Singh Sajjan and other relatives were present to receive him.

Chaos prevailed as village residents and those from neighbouring areas thronged Bombeli to catch a glimpse of the Sikh Canadian Minister.

This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

with thanks : india.com : LINK

Delhi Congress stalwart Arvinder Singh Lovely joins BJP

Delhi Congress stalwart Arvinder Singh Lovely joined BJP. He said that he was being ignored since last two years while he was willing to serve the city. He was not included in the various committees formed by Ajay Maken. Even though he is an automatic member of the manifesto committee, as he was Ex  President of the Delhi Pardesh Congres committee, he was not invited while declaring the manifesto. While joining BJP, he showed faith in the Leadership of  Modi ji & Amit Shah. 

1984 anti-Sikh riots: Tytler refuses to undergo lie detector test yet again

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Tuesday yet again refused to undergo a lie detector test in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

A Delhi Court has reserved its order till May 9.

Earlier in February this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought the court's permission for lie-detector tests on Tytler and arms dealer Abhishek Verma.

Earlier, the CBI had in its plea requested the court to direct the duo to appear before it and accord their consent for conducting polygraph test so that further investigation can be conducted in the matter.

Tytler is accused of leading a mob in the 1984 Pul Bangash case in which three Sikhs were killed.

with thanks : 
Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news

EXCLUSIVE: Sikh taxi driver assaulted, turban stolen by drunken passenger in the Bronx

A drunken passenger roughed up a Sikh cabbie and snatched the turban off his head in an assault the NYPD is investigating as a possible hate crime.

Harkirat Singh, 25, said the theft of his religious garb was the culmination of a scary encounter early Sunday with a belligerent boozehound and his three buddies that has made him too scared to drive another night shift.

“I'm so afraid. I don't want to work,” Singh told the Daily News at his home in Ozone Park, Queens.

"It's an insult on my religion, also,” he said. “An insult of my faith. It's horrible.”

The immigrant from Punjab, India, said he picked up three men and a woman - all in their 20s - around 5 a.m. at the corner of Eighth Ave. and 30th St., a few blocks south of Madison Square Garden.

The quartet said they wanted to go to E. 165th St. and Jerome Ave. in the Bronx. When the yellow taxi reached that intersection, the passengers complained that Singh took them to the wrong destination — but the drunks couldn’t give the cabbie a straight answer about where to go next, he said.

with thanks : nydailynews : LINK : for detailed news, Video & pics

Happy Gurupurab

Thousands crowd into Times Square April 15 for Turban Day

Close to 10,000 people crowded into Times Square on April 15, to celebrate Turban Day, a colorful event hosted by Sikhs Of New York, an organization founded by Sikh youth. It combined a celebration of Vaisakhi, the harvest festival, with raising awareness about Indian-Americans of the Sikh faith who have felt particularly vulnerable post-9/11. The National Sikh Campaign also launched its “We are Sikhs” media blitz at the same event, and the U.S. Congress released a “proclamation” declaring April 15, 2017 as “Turban Day” and “Sikhs of New York Day”, an initiative led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-NY.

Entertainers at the event included Top Naach, a Bhangra group from Virginia; American Sikhs, an instrumental band from the 3HO Foundation in Los Angeles; The Lost Strings of New York, and mandolin player Gagandeep. A Bhangra workshop was also held.

Volunteers stretch colorful meters of cloth to help tie turbans at Times Square April 15, for Turban Day, organized by Sikhs of New York (Photo: H.P. Singh)

This was the second time that  Turban Day was held at Times Square. It attracted people from as far as Los Angeles and Alberta, Canada, many of whom volunteered to tie the turbans. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s head of Immigration Affairs Jenifer Rajkumar, attended the event.

Close to 500 volunteers helped wrap turbans on those wanting them. Though the event was to start at 12 noon,  people of various ethnicities and cultures lined up from 9:30 am to wear their turban, Chanpreet Singh, 24, founder of Sikhs of New York, told Desi Talk. Turban Day was an opportunity for those that do not wear a turban to experience it and learn about its significance first hand, organizers said.

The four hour Times Square event was live streamed. “Some 400,000 people saw it live. And over 24 hours since the event took place, half a million people have seen the video on our Facebook site,” said Chanpreet Singh, founder of Sikhs of New York.

with thanks : newsindiatimes : LINK : for detailed report & pics.

Happy Gurupurab. Sahib Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji de Parkash Purab diyaan Lakh Lakh Vadhaaiyaan hovan ji

Happy Baisakhi !

300 saal guru de naal : SikhsIndia - 27.5.2008

Can't forget those days. This Jagriti yatra was passing from various locations of Delhi. My father was very much willing to go to any such place to have the darshan. But we were unable to do that, as he was suffering from the last stage of Cancer. He had got paralysis of the lower limb. He waited for the yatra till his last minutes and expired on 18th May 2008 at around 4 pm. And the yatra came to our door steps on 27th may, 2008, i.e. just after 9 days of his death. RIP.

HEAVYWEIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOR MANJINDER SIRSA IN FINAL PHASE

HEAVYWEIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOR MANJINDER SIRSA IN FINAL PHASE : SMRITI IRANI, PARESH RAWAL, SUKHBIR BADAL AND OTHERS PITCH IN ON LAST DAY

New Delhi, April 7 :  Final day of the election campaign for Rajouri Garden assembly constituency saw heavyweight leaders of the BJP-SAD alliance campaign for the combine candidate Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

          Union Textile Minister Mrs. Smriti Irani led the campaign battle by holding a road show and a public rally for Sirsa in the constituency.  Addressing the rally  Ms Smriti Irani said Mr Sirsa is struggling for the issues of the sikh community since long time and when he met her first time after assuming charge as Union Minister, he had brought several issues before her. She said that it was perhaps hard work of Mr Sirsa which resulted in solving those issues which was hanging on since last 30 years.

          Lashing out at Delhi CM and AAP convener Mr. Arvind Kejriwal Ms Irani said that he was man who has betrayed the trust of the people and miserably failed to deliver on promises he made during the last assembly elections. He said that AAP will meet the same fate here which it had met in Goa and Punjab.

          Ms Irani said similar will be fate of the Congress party  which was facing successive defeats in elections due to it wrong policies adopted during the UPA tenure and running government in Delhi. She said that on the other hand Prime Minister Mr Narinder Modi is guiding the BJP to successive wins only because of its pro poor and welfare oriented policies of the government.

          Addressing a hugely attended rally in favour of Mr Manjinder Singh Sirsa Senior Member Parliament and Bollywood celebrity Mr. Paresh Rawal said that Mr Narinder Modi is leading BJP who is the known for his commitments and selfless service for the nation. On the other hand Mr Kejriwal has taken oath of his children that he will not enter politics but forgot the commitment when the time came for becoming Chief Minister. He said that after becoming he started dreaming of becoming Prime Minister and went to Goa where he was duck out in the recently concluded assembly elections. He said that what happened to AAP in Punjab is known to everybody and these liars are now avoiding meeting public for their lies.

          He urged the people to vote for Mr Sirsa to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Mr Narinder Modi and said that after the victory the BJP-SAD alliance will ensure completion of works which have been stalled because of AAP government since last over years.

          Meanwhile the SAD President and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal also addressed a rally in favour of Mr Sirsa last evening. He said that more than 37 candidates of AAP lost their security deposits in recently concluded elections AAP was only able to get 21 percent share. He exuded confidence that AAP and Congress will face similar fate in this election in Delhi.

PR : MS Sirsa

Sikh community shaken after AM-PM fatal shooting

YAKIMA, Wash. - Kamaljit Singh has lived in Yakima for 11-years and said he had never heard of such an incident against a Sikh member in this community.

"I was pretty shocked, the guy just came from India he was new, got shot its terrifying," said Sikh temple member, Kamaljit Singh.  

The 25-year-old male clerk who was killed during an armed robbery Thursday morning has been identified as Yikram Jaryal from Punjab, India.

Sikh community members said he had just arrived about a month ago, just looking to work his way up.

His family members looking for a way to take his body back to India.

Sikh community members ready to help.

"We are going to get together and hopefully support the family of the victim," said Singh.

But what shocks the community the most is that the suspects shot Jaryal even though he handed the suspects the money.

with thanks : YakTriNews : LINK : for detailed news

1984 anti-Sikh riots case: SC tags petitions seeking probe

The Supreme Court today said that a plea seeking a CBI probe into a 1984 anti-Sikh riots incident in Kanpur in which 127 persons had died, will be heard along with a petition in which an SIT inquiry has been ordered.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and A M Khanwilkar tagged the plea with another similar petition related to the 1984 riots which will come up for hearing on April 24.

"Since an SIT inquiry is already going on, we are tagging this petition with the earlier one," it said.

The plea filed by Manjit Singh GK, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said that even after 33 years, no constructive action has been taken by the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government to provide justice and rehabilitate and compensate the victims of the 1984 riots in Kanpur.

The petition has claimed that the Centre and the U P government have not taken any action to punish the accused persons despite having "clear and cogent data".

"Looking at the gravity of the situation and apathetic attitude of the respondent (governments), it is expedient and in the interest of justice that likewise Delhi, in the inquiry and investigation with regard to deaths, disabilities, destruction of property and compensation, the investigation may be referred to either the CBI or the SIT, so that the truth could be unearthed and victims could be compensated.

with thanks : DNA : LINK : for detailed news

India rejects Ontario Assembly's move to call 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide'

New Delhi: The Indian government on Thursday strongly rejected the motion passed by the legislative assembly of Ontorio in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. 

Earlier today, the Ontario government termed the 1984 Sikh massacre in India as 'genocide'. 

However, the Indian government strongly rejected the move and termed it as misguided. 

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay confirmed the report and said that Indian government has taken up the matter with the Canadian leadership.

"We have noted the passage of a Private Members' Motion in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on April 6. We reject this misguided Motion which is based on a limited understanding of India, its constitution, society, ethos, rule of law and the judicial process."

"Our views have been conveyed to the government and political leadership in Canada," he said. However, the spokesperson did not give further details.

He was replying to a question regarding passage of a private members' motion in the legislative assembly of Ontario.

The motion by Harinder Malhi, a Liberal member of provincial parliament, read "That, in the opinion of this House... Should reaffirm our commitment to the values we cherish - justice, human rights and fairness - and condemn all forms of communal violence, hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance in India and anywhere else in the world, including the 1984 Genocide perpetrated against the Sikhs throughout India, and call on all sides to embrace truth, justice and reconciliation."

with thanks : Zee News : LINK : for detailed news

Canada’s provincial assembly recognizes 1984 Sikh massacre as genocide

JALANDHAR: The legislative assembly of Ontario province of Canada on Thursday passed a motion recognizing the anti-Sikh violence of November 1984, as genocide. The motion was moved by Liberal member of provincial parliament (MPP) Harinder Malhi (Brampton-Springdale) and it received support from all three provincial parties.

Malhi also quoted Indian home minster Rajnath Singh's use of expression "genocide", at a public event in December 2014, for the massacre as she argued for the motion.

The motion read, "That, in the opinion of this House, the legislative assembly of Ontario, should reaffirm our commitment to the values we cherish - justice, human rights and fairness - and condemn all forms of communal violence, hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance in India and anywhere else in the world, including the 1984 genocide perpetrated against the Sikhs throughout India, and call on all sides to embrace truth and reconciliation."

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news

’84 riots: Kanpur victims file fresh petition in SC

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 7

Victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots from Kanpur today moved the Supreme Court demanding setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murders of over 125 people.

In a petition filed in the apex court, petitioners Manjit Singh GK and others demanded re-investigation of at least seven cases registered at Bazaria and Nazirabad police stations that had been closed by the police for want of evidence.

Complaining that no significant action had been taken by the authorities, the petitioners said: “There is mockery of criminal justice system as far as the case of riots victims is concerned.”

The petitioners alleged that even after 33 years there was no constructive action on part of the Uttar Pradesh Government and the police to provide them justice or to rehabilitate and compensate them.

“It’s an irony...that in the city of Kanpur, in the knowledge of the petitioners, 127 persons belonging to the Sikh community were brutally murdered/burnt to death in different police station areas. However, none of the police stations is even ready to acknowledge their deaths,” the petitioners submitted.

Petitioners’ counsel Prasoon Kumar told a Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that no action had been taken to prosecute perpetrators of the crime.

The Bench posted the matter for hearing on April 24 along with another PIL on anti-Sikh riots in Delhi where almost 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the riots that broke out following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

with thanks : Tribune : LINK : for detailed news

UNION MINISTER VENKAIAH NAIDU, MANOJ TIWARI AND PARVESH VERMA LEAD IMPRESSIVE ROAD SHOW FOR SIRSA

New Delhi, April 6 : Union Minister Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Delhi BJP President Mr. Manoj Tiwari and Member Parliament Mr. Parvesh Sahib Verma today led the impressive road show in favour of the Bhartiya Janta Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal combine candidate Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden.

        This road show started from Khayala and passed through different areas of the constituency.

        Addressing enthusiastic supporters and workers of the BJP-SAD combine Mr. Naidu said that the huge response to the road show has made it ample clear that like the people of the country, residents of this constituency too have made up their mind to vote for the good work being done by the NDA government led by Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi. He said that pro BJP-SAD combine wave in the constituency is clearly visible and this victory in this bye poll will begin an era of victory of the BJP-SAD in the ensuing MCD elections and later in the assembly elections.

        Union Minister said that ruling AAP and Congress are out of race in this bye election which is visible from poor response to their election programs. He said that the one point agenda of the Delhi CM and AAP convener Mr. Arvind Kejriwal is to use the public exchequer for his personal gains and the party has nothing to do with the welfare of the public or development of Delhi. He said that similar is the case of the Congress which is facing series of defeats due to its non performance while running the UPA government for 10 years and ruling Delhi for 15 years.        Mr Naidu said that on other hand agenda of governance of the BJP led NDA government at the centre and in other states was a guiding principle for the government to work for welfare of people and development of nation.

        Speaking on the occasion Mr. Manoj Tiwari Delhi BJP President said that people of the Delhi had voted for AAP to get rid of the corruption of the Congress party but Mr. Arvind Kejriwal has created a new definition of corruption by legalizing the loot of the public exchequer and finding ways to use the public money for promotion of his party. He said that this party had increased salary of MLAs manifold after assuming power  and spent huge amount of money of people of Delhi in Punjab campaign by giving advertisements worth crores of rupees with which Delhities had nothing to do. He said that now people here have realized their blunder and they want to make a new beginning and this new beginning will be in the form of victory of Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Garden.

        On the occasion Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa thanked entire leadership for canvassing for him and assured them that with the blessings of people and after emerging victorious he will immediately start working on the development of constituency and welfare of public as per the guidelines of Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi.

                Other prominent who were present on the occasion included senior BJP leaders Sham Jaju, Vijay Goel, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, OP Babbar, Subhash Arya,  Rajiv Babbar, Ramesh Khanna and Satya Narayan Dang besides others.

Sikh Heritage Month In Canada: John A. Macdonald, Harjit Sajjan Poster Illustrates 150 Years Of Change

The image shows the country's first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, eye to eye with Canada's first defence minister of Sikh heritage, Harjit Sajjan.

Macdonald's featured quote, "Send me an army of Sikhs," is excerpted from a letter he wrote to Queen Victoria:

"War will come someday between England and the United States and India can do us yeoman's service by sending an army of Sikhs … across the Pacific to San Francisco and holding that beautiful and immortal city with the surrounding California — as security for Montreal and Canada."

While his suggestion is somewhat cheeky, Macdonald's words reveal a lot about how Sikhs were viewed in 1867, and for years after that.

That contrasts greatly with the caption above Sajjan's photo: "An army led by a Sikh."

And that's exactly the difference 150 years makes.

The poster was created by the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada as a "conversation piece" to "stir emotion and create dialogue."

with thanks : huffingtonpostcanada : LINK : for SLIDE SHOW AND DETAILED NEWS STORY. MUST VIEW.

US Congress recognises Vaisakhi as creation of Khalsa

In a resolution in the first session of 115th Congress, the house of representatives on Wednesday recognised the day of Vaisakhi, a Sikh festival, as the creation of Khalsa in 1699.

The resolution was submitted by Congressmen John Garamendi and Patrick Meehan, who co-chair the American Sikh Congressional Caucus.

The resolution has come at a time when incidents of hate crime against the Sikh community are on the rise in the United States and the U.S. administration is apparently eyeing to create awareness to control such incidents.

The resolution said, "Vaisakhi is an annual Festival celebrating the spring harvest season and it is particularly significance to the Sikh religion and is one of the most important dates in Sikh History."

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news

30 years after anti-Sikh riots, cops issue fresh summons to two accused

Three decades after the anti-Sikh riots, police have issued fresh summons to two people for their alleged involvement with the case pointing to India's crawling criminal justice system.

Thousands of Sikh men and boys were bludgeoned, slashed and burned to death by mobs in the days after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Activists have accused the then ruling Congress of having turned a blind eye and say some of its leaders helped orchestrate the violence.

That year, a mob allegedly killed and injured some Sikhs in south Delhi's Mahipalpur area. Among those who died were Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh. The then investigation officer had submitted an "untraced" report and the person, who was booked for rioting, was acquitted by the trial court in 1986.

Cops have booked two 54-year-old residents of Mahipalpur- Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh. Both are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, weapon possession, attempt to murder, murder, etc. They have been summoned to court on April 6.

with thanks : Yahoo News : LINK : for detailed report

Sikh woman raped, killed by homeless man: UK court told in murder trial

An Indian-origin hotel housekeeper whose body had been discovered from a wasteland near Heathrow airport in west London last November was raped and murdered by a homeless stranger, a UK court was told on Wednesday.

Pardeep Kaur had been reported missing on October 17, 2016, by a relative after she did not come home from work.

The 30-year-old’s missing person’s investigation was soon taken over by the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, who arrested and charged Vadims Ruskuls, from Latvia, for Kaur’s murder and preventing her lawful burial.

Her murder trial opened at the Old Bailey court in London this week, where the jury was told that Ruskuls “pounced” on Kaur as she walked to work, ‘Evening Standard’ reports.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news

Shah Rukh Khan is a Sikh, Anushka Sharma turns a Punjabi kudi as they shoot a song together, see pics

Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma have been shooting for the last schedule in Punjab for their untitled film directed by Imtiaz Ali. While their earlier pictures saw them roaming in sun-baked fields of Punjab, giving us a major throwback to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the duo has been caught by the camera again as they shot for a Punjabi number. The song is being choreographed by Bosco Martis. Now, every time Shah Rukh has donned the character of Punjabi, he has got all the elements just right. Given that this is a romantic film, how can he not dance to a Punjabi love song?

Bosco Martis has made several celebrities dance to his tunes. Kala Chashma (Baar Baar Dekho), Cheez Badi (Machine) and Tamma Tamma Again (Badrinath Ki Dulhania) are a few of his recent hits. So, we can be assured that the choreographer will yet again spread some magic on the silver screen.

with thanks : Indian Express : LINK : for detailed news story.

Man charged for attacking woman at Gresham Sikh Temple

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Criminal charges have been filed against a 37-year-old man who is accused of attacking a woman inside a Sikh Temple.

Timothy Walter Schmidt allegedly attacked a woman on March 26 in the 19000 block of Southeast Stark.

The alleged victim told police that she had been living at the temple off and on for the past several weeks, according to court documents. After the woman finished praying around 9 p.m. that day, she went to the lobby where she saw Schmidt. He was inside smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer.

When the woman asked Schmidt to leave, he reportedly grabbed her and made comments about wanting to have sex with her.

Schmidt pulled out a weapon and told her not to call the police, according to court documents.

When someone else inside the temple confronted Schmidt about attacking the woman, Schmidt turned the knife towards that person, records show.

The case is being investigated by the Gresham Police Department. Schmidt is charged with attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful use of a weapon, burglary and attempted assault. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning.

with thanks : KOIN : LINK

ISSUE LESS AAP AND CONGRESS WILL GET BIGGEST DEFEAT IN DELHI IN BYE POLL AND MCD ELECTIONS : MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA

New Delhi, April 3 : The Bhartiya Janta Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal combine candidate Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa said today that issue less and non performers Aam Admi Party and Congress will get their biggest ever defeat at the hands of the people of Delhi in the present bye poll to Rajouri Garden Assembly seat and MCD elections.

        Addressing different meetings in Rajouri Garden Assembly constituency, Mr. Sirsa said that this election is witnessing a contest between non performers versus star performers. He said that on one side is Aam Admi Party and Congress who are least cared to work for the betterment of people and development of Delhi and on the other is BJP-SAD combine which believes in working round the clock for the people. He said that people are amused to see the non performers seeking votes from them devoid of any issues and promising moon to them whereas on the other hand the BJP-SAD alliance is reaching out to people to know their problems and issues being faced by them because of  non performance of AAP and Congress in Delhi, so that these problems can be solved after the elections are over. He said that people are already aware of the performance of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi.

        Mr. Sirsa said that AAP and Congress are the biggest liars of the day and they have nothing to do with the development agenda or working for upliftment of poor and downtrodden. The maximum work they have done for upliftment and welfare is confined to themselves only. He said that AAP has considered government treasury as its own personal account whereas Congress has got fame for creating a records of sorts for corruption. He said that on the other hand BJP-SAD alliance believes in working for welfare of  people and evolved their policies and programs based on this agenda.

        The BJP-SAD combine candidate said that a clear waive in favour of BJP-SAD alliance is blowing in Delhi and people are more eager to see the victory of the BJP-SAD in Delhi as they also want to be part of nationwide enthusiasm among the people for the policies and programs being implemented by NDA government in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi.

PR : MS Sirsa

Sikhs in US 'intimidated, harassed' at alarming rate

Washington, April 1

Sikhs in the US are reporting an increase in violent threats and harassment against the community amid rising incidents of hate crimes against Indian-Americans in the country.

Chairman of the Sikhs Political Action Committee (SikhsPAC), Gurinder Singh Khalsa, said so far there have been two death threats and two reports of vandalism against Sikhs in the state of Indiana, TheIndyChannel.com, an ABC Television Network affiliate, reported on Thursday.

One incident included a direct threat against a Sikh from a man carrying a handgun in Fishers city, according to the report.

"Somebody showed him the gun and asked him: 'Who are you? What country do you belong to?'" Khalsa said there have been other incidents too where Sikhs were threatened.

Sikh-American physician Amandeep Singh said he was directly threatened last week with a text message and doesn't understand why this is happening to Sikhs around the nation.

Singh said he felt a range of emotions after the threats, including fear for his family and his patients.

"Fear, especially if you have family, kids, the safety of your family and kids, that comes to mind first," said Amandeep. "Then you try to make sense of it." "I believe I've been living here 14 years and never experienced anything like that specifically," Singh said.

"My job is serving the people you know, everyday I'm there for the people and taking a stand with them and serving the community. It was hard for me to comprehend even something like that coming to somebody's mind." SikhsPAC has contacted the US Attorney General's Office and is working with law enforcement. The threats were under investigation.

Indiana is one of only five states in the US without a hate crime law, said the report.

—IANS

with thanks : TribuneIndia : LINK