Scotland Sikh Foodbank ToContinue Operating After 80,000 Lockdown Meals

A Community group formed to deliver lifeline lockdown help has served up 80,000 meals to vulnerable people.Volunteers created The Sikh Foodbank in late March to aid shielding and struggling households from all backgrounds.

As well as basics, it has provided culturally-specific groceries not normally found in food bank parcels to people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

And while stay-at-home rules have lifted for most of the population, Co-Founder Charandeep Singh says the impact of growing job losses means more people continue to seek support.Due to cultural and language barriers, many of those from ethnic minority backgrounds are unaware of their rights.

In response, the Sikh food bank is now providing help on accessing support through leaflets and videos in some of the most-used South Asian languages in Scotland as well the latest Covid-19 information.

To ensure that those from different minority communities are not left behind. He said: “We are seeing people who have been placed onto consultation and know they are going to be made redundant, or people who are on zero hour contracts or have lost their jobs, particularly in hospitality.

“These are people who have never claimed for government support before and perhaps don’t know how to. We will continue to be there for them.”

https://www.thenational.scot/news/18639209.sikh-foodbank-continue-operating-80-000-lockdown-meals/

https://www.facebook.com/TheSikhFoodBank

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Shiromani Akali Dal Badal :L block Hari Nagar Community along with Senior Party Member

Pics Courtsey,
Mr.Harmeet Singh Kalka
General Secretary
DSGMC

"Mai Bhago Brigade": Women wing of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal Delhi State made a New Wing

Pics. Courtsey,
Mr.Harmeet Singh Kalka
General Secretary
DSGMC

Shiromani Akali Dal :Making of New Circle at Harmeet Singh Kalka Ward

Pics. Courtsey,
Mr.Harmeet Singh Kalka
General Secretary
DSGMC

Punjab CM Amarinder Sing: Fight coronavirus like a soldier

                   Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday 10th August appealed to the people of the state to fight the coronavirus pandemic in unison and with morale like that of a soldier

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday appealed to the people of the state to fight the coronavirus pandemic in unison and with morale like that of a soldier.

"Back in my Army days, I had learnt a very important lesson that when we fight together we don't get battle fatigue," he said in a tweet.

"I urge all Punjabis to come together against Covid-19 for it's a long fight and we'll need to inspire one another and, importantly, keep up our morale."

On the Chief Minister's directive, the state Medical Education and Research department has set up four new Covid-19 viral testing labs to enhance the daily testing capacity of 4,000 tests from the next month with 1,000 tests per day per lab.

Also, the total viral testing capacity in three medical colleges in Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot cities would be ramped up to 5,000 tests per day per college by August 31, an official spokesperson told IANS.

He said this initiative would go a long way to fight the pandemic as early diagnosis is key to contain and curb the spread of the disease.

Over 6.15 lakh tests have been carried out in the state till date.

Punjab has so far reported 23,903 cases with 586 deaths.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/fight-coronavirus-like-a-soldier-says-punjab-cm-amarinder-singh

COVID-19 Pandemic :India Records 62,064 New Corona Cases, Record over 1,000 Deaths in Single Day

India, the third country worst hit by COVID-19 pandemic, recorded a spike of 62,064 coronavirus cases on Monday 10th August, pushing the total tally to 2,215,074. The country tested a record over 1,000 deaths in a single day.

The number of recoveries mounted to over 15 lakh, more than twice the active cases. Out of the total cases, 6,34,945 are active cases, 1,535,743 have recovered from the disease while 44,386 people have lost their lives in the fight against the deadly virus.

Notably, India recorded the highest number of recoveries in a single day at 54,859. The recovery rate has gone up to 68.78 per cent.

On Sunday, the government tested 7,19,364 samples, which dipped to 4,77,023 on Monday. A total of 2,45,83,558 samples have been tested so far.

Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with a total of 5,03,084 cases and 17,367 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,90,906 cases and 4,808 deaths. The southern state is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Globally, , the overall number of coronavirus cases has topped 19.7 million, while the deaths have increased to over 729,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

As of Monday morning 10th August, the total number of cases stood at 19,778,566 and the fatalities rose to 729,692, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities at 5,044,435 and 162,919 respectively, according to the CSSE. Brazil came in the second place with 3,035,422 infections and 101,049 deaths.

https://yespunjab.com/record-over-1000-deaths-in-a-single-day-india-covid-figures-continue-to-climb/

Indian Hockey Player Mandeep Singh Tests Positive For Covid-19

                                Mandeep Singh

Indian hockey team forward  has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the sixth national player to contract the dreaded infection, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on Monday.

The 25-year-old from Jalandhar is asymptomatic and is being treated along with the other five players by doctors in Bengaluru, where the national camp is due to start on August 20 at the SAI centre.

Defender Surender Kumar, Jaskaran Singh, drag-flicker Varun Kumar and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak are the other four players, who tested positive.

 According to the SAI doctors, all the players were showing only "mild symptoms" and are doing well. They are housed in the National Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/77456171.cms

Randeep Hothi :Indian-American Sikh PhD student Sues Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Randeep Singh Hothi

New York: An Indian-American student and Tesla critic Randeep Hothi has sued Elon Musk, claiming that the accusation made by the Tesla CEO that he “almost killed” his factory employees is defamatory.

                               Elon Musk,Tesla CEO 

A doctoral candidate in Asian languages and cultures at University of Michigan,Randeep Hothi has created @skabooshka Twitter account where he fact-checked Elon Musk and Tesla’s “published claims regarding the electric vehicle manufacturer’s automation, technology and production processes.

According to Randeep Hothi’s lawyer, his client started fact-checking Tesla via a Twitter account “as a social experiment through crowd-sourcing information related to his social science doctorate work.”Beginning in 2018,Randeep Hothi,donning the role of a social activist, observed Tesla’s production at its Fremont, California-based factory.

“He also documented construction of Tesla’s Model 3 assembly line tent, sharing photos with his Twitter followers”.

Tesla also apparently investigated Hothi from their end.

In 2019, Hothi saw a Tesla-owned vehicle with roof-mounted cameras on the road that was recording audio, video and data. “Hothi followed the vehicle, observed it, photographed it and posted the photographs at Twitter. At no point did Hothi either drive recklessly or endanger the safety of the occupants of the Tesla vehicle,” the defamation lawsuit read.

A few days later, Tesla filed a civil restraining order against Hothi claiming he trespassed, stalked, harassed and endangered Tesla employees.

The harassment case against Hothi was dropped by Tesla later.

But Musk apparently had not let the dispute go, according to the report.

In an exchange of emails with Aaron Greenspan, the owner of the litigation publishing website PlainSite.org, Elon Musk said: “As for the people you mention below, they have actively harassed, and in the case of Hothi, almost killed Tesla employees”.

“What was a sideswipe when Randep Hothi hit one of our people could easily have been a death with 6 inches of difference,” the email further said, which has been cited in Hothi’s lawsuit.

“As one of the highest-profile and wealthiest individuals in the world, Elon Musk knew or should have known his accusations concerning Randeep Hothi would be conveyed to a worldwide audience and would result in the accusations receiving significant publicity,” the lawsuit claimed.

Tesla or Musk were yet to comment on the lawsuit.

According to Randeep Hothi’s bio on University of Michigan’s website, he is interested in how minority communities specifically diasporic Sikhs – -creatively respond to the world around them.

“My interest in Sikh Studies is inspired by a real need to contribute knowledge to Sikh communities while also contributing to academic debates in the in the humanities and social scientists,”.

https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/this-sikh-phd-student-has-sued-tesla-ceo-elon-musk/?fbclid=IwAR1fJyYyLKWq30-s6h_5wgKXIMgKAw0MIICnu7mn7TSiJZ6-3cnwXu_-ZlE

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

‘We Have To Choose Between Beard or Emergency Shifts During COVID-19’: Australian Sikh Doctors

Dr Amandeep Singh Bamra, a Sikh doctor at work in an operating theatre using PAPR. 

A group of Sikh doctors has petitioned the federal and New South Wales governments to make powered air-purifying respirators or PAPR freely available for bearded healthcare workers who work in hospital emergency departments. They believe their campaign will help healthcare workers from other faiths too, who can't shave off full beards.

N95 masks don't provide a safe seal for faces with beards.

COVID-19 has thrown a unique challenge before bearded healthcare professionals across the world. Owing to their facial hair, they are unable to wear N95 masks (also called P2 masks) properly while performing emergency duties in hospitals.

Dr Gurdial Singh says the solution to this lies in a specialised personal protective equipment (PPE) called powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR), which is what you’d see welders wear, complete with a transparent helmet and an air tube affixed to the nose with a mask.

Dr Amandeep Singh Bamra, an anaesthetist in regional New South Wales’ Bowral and District Hospital says that thanks to the PAPR kit provided by his hospital, he is ready to treat COVID-19 patients if the need arises.

Dr Bamra working with PAPR.

“It will be helpful for the community if bearded healthcare workers can be provided PAPR. However, those who don’t get it, may feel left out when they see others using it, and that can be a challenge for any hospital administration. I feel supported by my hospital in that regard,” says Dr Bamra.

The false choice presented to Sikh Doctors serving Covid patients

Some healthcare workers with beards have been unable to perform emergency duties for this reason or have opted to buy their own PAPR so as to continue getting shifts in the emergency department.

Dr Pavitar Sunner, a Sydney-based orthopaedic Sikh surgeon

“It is a peculiar situation. Sikhs can't shave off their beards for religious reasons. Being put off the emergency roster can mean a significant drop in income for healthcare professionals,” says Dr Pavitar Sunner, a Sydney-based orthopaedic Sikh surgeon.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/we-have-to-choose-between-beard-or-emergency-shifts-during-covid-19-australian-sikh-doctors

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

SGPC Chief Holds Protest Over Missing ‘Saroop’

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Saturday held a protest in front of the office of Patiala SSP and accused Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur of remaining mute spectators and even refusing to comfort the Sikh Sangat, which is in turmoil after a ‘saroop’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from Ardaspura Sahib Gurdwara near CM’s Moti Mohal residence in Patiala.

The SGPC president said 17 days have passed since the historic ‘saroop’ was stolen from the gurdwara, but shockingly the CM and his wife Preneet Kaur have not spoken a single word to condemn this dastardly act. He warned the district police to recover the ‘saroop’ immediately and arrest those responsible for this heinous crime, failing which the SGPC would be forced to agitate more forcefully to ensure justice in the case.

Longowal said the theft of the ‘saroop’ is another effort in the long line of steps being taken by anti-Sikh forces to weaken the Sikh panth as well as its representative bodies, including the SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He said some ‘jathebandis’ are also playing into the hands of the Congress party. He said the same organisations were used by the Congress to divide the Sikh community following sacrilege cases and that they are again playing into the hands of the Congress by remaining silent about the theft of the ‘saroop’ from Kalyan village.

He also led a delegation, comprising senior SGPC members Rajinder Singh Mehta, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, Harinder Singh Dhami and Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, to the SSP office and submitted a memorandum demanding recovery of the ‘saroop’ and arrest of the culprits.

In a brief media interaction, Bhai Longowal said the SGPC has been forced to protest because the district police has taken the heinous crime casually and not made the required efforts to nab the perpetrators.

Earlier, at the dharna site, the sangat recited ‘Satnam waheguru’ and expressed its angst against the district police and administration as well as Congress ministers and legislators of the area for neither condemning the incident nor visiting Ardaspura Sahib Gurdwara to express solidarity with the sangat. Senior leader Gurcharan Singh Grewal announced that in case the administration does not deliver results, the SGPC would announce its next line of action on August 18.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/sgpc-chief-holds-protest-over-missing-saroop/articleshowprint/77439769.cms

DSGMC: "Langar On Wheels"

Pics Courtsey,
Mr.Manjinder Singh Sirsa
President
DSGMC

मनजिंदर सिंह सिरसा ने सिख ग्रंथी व अन्यों के साथ मारपीट करने वाले पुलिस मुलाज़िमों को निलंबित करने पर शिवराज सिंह चैहान व हरसिमरत कौर बादल का किया धन्यवाद

हरसिमरत कौर बादल द्वारा मामला को उठाने पर हुई कार्रवाईःस. मनजिंदर सिंह सिरसा

नई दिल्ली, 7 अगस्तः दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा प्रबंधक कमेटी के अध्यक्ष स. मनजिंदर सिंह सिरसा ने मध्यप्रदेश में ज्ञानी प्रेम सिंह ग्रंथी व अन्य सिखों पर बेरिहमी से अपमानजनक हमला करने के दोषी दो पुलिस वालों को निलंबित करने पर मध्यप्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री श्री शिवराज सिंह चैहान व केन्द्रीय मंत्री हरसिमरत कौर बादल का धन्यवाद किया है।
यहां जारी किए एक बयान में श्री सिरसा ने कहा कि यह मामला केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्रीमति हरसिमरत कौर बादल ने मध्यप्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री के समक्ष उठाया था और बताया था कि कैसे इन दो पुलिस मुलाज़िमों ए.एस.आई सीताराम भटनागर व हैडकांस्टेबल मोहन जामरे द्वारा ज्ञानी प्रेम सिंह ग्रंथी एवं अन्य सिखों पर बेरहमी से हमला किया गया जो अमानवीय व्यवहार है और किसी तरह से स्वीकार्य नहीं है। उन्होंने बताया कि देश के लिए कुरबानी देने वाले सिखों के साथ ऐसा नफरत भरा व्यवहार करने वाले लोगों के खिलाफ ऐसी सख्त कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए तांकि अन्यों के लिए सबक बन सके क्योंकि ऐसे गुनाह के लिए कोई माफी नहीं है।
स. सिरसा ने बताया कि हरसिमरत कौर बादल द्वारा मामले को उठाने के बाद दोनों पुलिस मुलाज़िम निलंबित कर दिए गए हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि जब भी सिख भाईचारे की बात आती है तो श्रीमति हरसिमरत कौर बादल हर मुद्दा उठाती हैं। उनके द्वारा मुद्दे को उठाए जाने के कारण ही मध्यप्रदेश सरकार कार्रवाई के लिए मजबूर हुई व मुख्यमंत्री श्री शिवराज सिंह चैहान ने स्वंय इस कार्रवाई की जानकारी श्रीमति हरसिमरत बादल को दी। उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली गुरुद्वारा कमेटी इस कार्रवाई के लिए श्री चैहान और श्रीमति बादल का धन्यवाद करती है।
उन्होंने मध्यप्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री को यह भी अपील करते हुए कहा कि केवल निलंबन ही काफी नहीं है बल्कि इन दोनों के खिलाफ केस दर्ज कर इन्हें सलाखों के पीछे पहुंचाना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि सिख कौम दुनिया की सब से बहादुर व दिलेर कौम है और दुनिया भर में कहीं भी किसी को भी सिखों के साथ दुव्र्यवहार करने की इजाज़त नहीं दी जा सकती।

News Courtsey,
Mr.Sudeep Singh
Honorary Media Advisor
DSGMC

गुरुद्वारा नानक प्याउ साहिब के वाईस चेयरमैन नियुक्ति

 

नई दिल्ली 9 अगस्त : दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा प्रबन्धक कमेटी सदस्य एवं शिरोमणी अकाली दल दिल्ली इकाई के महासचिव विक्रम सिंह रोहिणी द्वारा रोहिणी क्षेत्र के गणमान्य लोगों को शिरोमणी अकाली दल से जोड़ा जा रहा है और लोग सेवा करने के इच्छुक हैं उन्हें गुरुद्वारा साहिबान एवं कमेटी अधीन आते संस्थानों में सेवा करने का मौका दिया जा रहा है। इसी कड़ी में आज रोहिणी के सूरज पार्क से अवतार सिंह, दलेर सिंह एवं जसबीर सिंह बीएसटी को गुरुद्वारा नानक प्याउ साहिब में बतौर वाईस चेयरमैन नियुक्ति किया गया। इस मौके पर कमेटी के संयुक्त सचिव एवं गुरुद्वारा नानक प्याउ साहिब के चेयरमैन हरविन्दर सिंह केपी, कमेटी सदस्य सरवजीत सिंह विरक सहित रोहिणी की अनेक गणमान्य शख्सीयतें मौजूद रहीं।

सः विक्रम सिंह ने कहा कि कमेटी के मौजूदा प्रबन्धकों द्वारा की जा रही सेवा से प्रभावित होकर दिल्ली के अलग अलग इलाकों से लोग स्वयं आकर अकाली दल का हिस्सा बनते जा रहे हैं और लोग चाहते हैं कि उन्हें भी सेवाओं में शामिल किया जाये इसी के चलते कमेटी अध्यक्ष मनजिन्दर सिंह सिरसा एंव महासचिव हरमीत सिंह कालका द्वारा सेवा का जजबा रखने वाले लोगों को गुरुद्वारा साहिब एवं कमेटी के संस्थानों में सेवा सौंप रहे हैं।

News Courtsey,
Mr.Sudeep Singh
Honorary Media Advisor
DSGMC

संतगढ़ में शिरोमणी अकाली दल पदाधिकारियों का सम्मान

 

नई दिल्ली, 9 अगस्तः  शिरोमणी अकाली दल दिल्ली इकाई के संरक्षक एवं तख्त पटना साहिब के अध्यक्ष जत्थेदार अवतार सिंह हित, दिल्ली इकाई के अध्यक्ष एवं दिल्ली कमेटी महासचिव हरमीत सिंह कालका, स्त्री अकाली दल दिल्ली इकाई की अध्यक्ष एवं कमेटी की वरिष्ठ उपाध्यक्ष बीबी रणजीत कौर का पश्चिमी दिल्ली के संतगढ़ में भव्य स्वागत किया गया। इस मौके पर अकाली दल की अनेक गणमान्य शख्सीयतों के इलावा संतगढ़ के सम्मानिन्त लोग उपस्थित रहे।

संतगढ़ के गुरुद्वारा साहिब की कमेटी द्वारा शिरोमणी अकाली दल के संरक्षक और अध्यक्ष के साथ साथ बीबी रणजीत कौर के पुनः स्त्री अकाली दल दिल्ली इकाई में अध्यक्ष बनने की खुशी में कार्यक्रम रखा गया था जिसमें कमेटी पदाधिकारियों ने सभी सदस्यों को सिरोपा पहनाकर स्वागत किया।
संतगढ की समुह संगत बीबी रणजीत कौर और दिल्ली कमेटी के कार्यों से खासी प्रभावित है और उन्होंने इस बार पहले से ही मन बना लिया है कि बीबी रणजीत कौर को इस बार संतगढ़ से चुनाव लड़वाकर कमेटी में भेजेंगे। बीबी रणजीत कौर को पिछले चुनावों में अकाली दल ने कोआपट कर सदस्य बनाया था इस बार संगत चाहती है कि वह चुनाव लड़ें संगत का भरपूर समर्थन और प्यार उनके साथ है। इस मौके पर बड़ी संख्या में महिलाएं, पुरूष व युवा वर्ग अकाली दल में शामिल हुए।

News Courtsey,
Mr.Sudeep Singh
Honorary Media Advisor
DSGMC