Killer Cop Sumedh Saini Booked Under Murder Charges

     

                                         Sumedh Saini 

Three decades after the brutal murder of innocent Sikh youth Balwant Singh Multani, the killer cop Sumedh Saini has been finally been booked for his heinous crime. The Special Investigation Team probing this case has added Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR registered in relation to Balwant Singh Multani’s enforced disappearance case.

As Section-302 denotes a non-bailable offense so the arrest of Sumedh Saini seems almost sure after three days because the SIT can’t arrest Sumedh Saini without prior notice of three days.

The SIT is learned to have served three days prior notice to Sumedh Saini today in this regard.

It is pertinent to note here that the indictment of Sumedh Saini under murder charges has become possible because two former cops namely Inspector Jagir Singh and Assistant Sub Inspector Kuldeep Singh, who are eyewitness of brutal torture on Multani, have turned approver in this case.

Yesterday, their statements were recorded before the court under Section 164 of the CrPC i.e. on turning approver in this disappearance case.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/21/finally-killer-cop-sumedh-saini-booked-under-murder-charges/#.Xz_8AdwzbIU

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

Sarbat Khalsa Acting Jathedar Excommunicates Giani Iqbal Singh For His Controversial Remarks In Ayodhya

                             Bhai Dhian Singh Mand

The Sarbat Khalsa appointed acting Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Dhian Singh Mand has excommunicated the former Takht Sri Patna Sahib’s Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh for terming Sikh Gurus as descendants of Hindu Lord Rama’s sons Luv-Kush

              
 Notably, Giani Iqbal Singh had hurt Sikh sentiments by giving this statement while attending Ram Mandir’s inauguration at Ayodhya. Bhai Dhian Singh Mand has directed the Sikh community to not use “Giani” or “Jathedar” title for Iqbal Singh and socially boycott him.

It is pertinent to mention here that Giani Iqbal Singh has clarified in an interview that he didn’t make any self-styled statement. “What I said in Ayodhya, has been clearly written in Ramavtar part of Dasam Granth,” he said.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/21/sarbat-khalsa-acting-jathedar-excommunicates-giani-iqbal-singh-for-his-controversial-remarks-in-ayodhya/

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

Indian High Commission Felicitates Supreme Sikh Society For Services During Lockdown in New Zealand

               

AUCKLAND (Sachin Sharma): The Indian High Commission in New Zealand has felicitated Supreme Sikh Society for its exceptional community services during the alert level – 4 lockdown to stop spread of COVID – 19 here. In addition to this, Northern Region Health Coordination Centre has also acknowledged the Society’s services by sending a certification in this regard.

Society’s president Ranvir Singh Lali said that Indian High Commission bestowed the Certificate of Appreciation upon society in a function held at Wellington last week on occasion of India’s Independence Day on August 15. Society’s representative Gurnam Singh received the certificate on its behalf. Society was the first among the Indian community to take initiative and started distributing food bags among the needy people during the lockdown

As a result of this, Ggurwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini was the first intuition of Asian people to get certificate of Institutions Providing Essential Services by the New Zealand government. Society’s spokesperson Daljit Singh said that with the cooperation of whole community, 1500 foo bags were distributed among the needy people as second phase of Free Food campaign was started by Society at Takanini gurdwara on Wednesday

Society will distribute free food bags Wednesday and Sunday every week during the lockdown. As many as 170 police personnel on duty at check posts were given food bags on Thursday while Society will also provide food bags to needy people in Otara community and other people. It is worth mentioning that Indian High Commission has given Certificate of Appreciation to nine organisations of Indian people for their services during the alert level – 4 lockdown.

https://nzpunjabinews.com/english/7728/?fbclid=IwAR1UqQnvRK0DVeU3LUec47YswctimO5vSLR3P-5sdQwZZtYQ0k_kC91aK_E

 

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

Nankana Sahib Sikh Girl’s Family Keen To Leave Pakistan

Claiming that they are being humiliated by people of ‘other community’, the family members of Nankana Sahib Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur alias Ayesha Bibi have appealed to their government to send them out of Pakistan so they could live with dignity.

“We are unable to send our young daughters to schools or to the market places alone, people of other community humiliate us whenever they get a chance to do so,” said Manmohan Singh, brother of Jagjit, while talking to TOI over phone from Nankana Sahib on Thursday.

He said on Thursday his family comprising nine members, including women of the house, gave a letter to deputy commissioner of Nankana Sahib urging him to arrange them passports so they could live in some other country without fear.

After living for nearly a year in Dar ul Alam in Lahore, Lahore high court had directed police to send Jagjit with her husband Mohammad Hassan on August 12. However, her family members resented that the court didn’t even give them five minutes to meet Jagjit. They also accused Pakistan government as well as Pakistan Punjab governor Muhammad Sarwar Chaudhary of keeping them in dark and making them false promises.

“The most surprising fact is that none of the mainstream Sikh leader of Pakistan came forward to help us,” said Manmohan. He said the family had also sent a copy of their letter to all the Sikh political as well as religious leaders of Pakistan. “We are knocking at every door for help,” he said.

Intelligence sources here said Jagjit’s family is also willing to migrate to India . “It is better for us to leave Pakistan to stay anywhere in the world, life here has become very difficult for us, especially after being ditched by our own leadership,” he said.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/nankana-sahib-sikh-girls-family-keen-to-leave-pakistan/articleshow/77664935.cms

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

Jasleen Sabharwal: Glen Cove High School, Sikh Community Join to Feed Families

 Glen Cove High School has been holding food drives and making deliveries to families in need since March. The school collaborated with the local Sikh community, with efforts led by Jasleen Sabharwal.                        

                                            Jasleen Sabharwal

Jasleen Sabharwal has always been inspired by her faith to help those in need — one of the essential values of Sikhism is selfless service. “The biggest summation of Sikhism is brotherhood and to love everyone equally,” she said.

Organizer Jasleen Sabharwal at Glen Cove High School's food drive, held in partnership with various community groups and Island Harvest.

At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak,Jasleen Sabharwal started off by buying hand sanitizer, face masks and gowns to deliver to rehabilitation centers. Then, she and some friends started delivering home-cooked meals to hospitals.

Jasleen Sabharwal works with other Sikh volunteers during Glen Cove High School's food drive on Wednesday. 

After doing this for some time, she felt like a need had been met, but didn’t want to stop there. So, she took to social media to find out about food drives going on in her area.

That’s how she discovered the food pantry and deliveries to local families in her community of Glen Cove. Every Wednesday, a team of faculty, students, alumni and community members gathered at Glen Cove High School to put together packages of food for local families struggling during the pandemic.

Sabharwal knew she wanted to be involved in a hands-on way.“I could easily write a check of $100 to go and give somebody,” she said, “but part of our religion is to not only donate; our religion tells us to go out and do something.”

So, she mobilized a team of volunteers: “We are Sikh women who carry out [our] faith by doing service to all, which is without any questions.”

Her group, which she calls "Volunteers Without Walls", collected donations every two weeks, Sabharwal said. Once they’ve raised about $700 to $1,000,one of the volunteers, a caterer, purchased food in bulk from Restaurant Depot. By doing it that way, they've steadily provided food contributions to Glen Cove's pantry for months.

Many of their monetary donations have come from people they know through the Sikh Gurdwaras in Glen Cove and Hicksville. She has also received donations from Indian communities on Long Island.

Glen Cove High School assistant Principal Allen Hudson III leads this effort. volunteers started making food deliveries to local families. Each package included canned goods, pasta, cereal and produce, Hudson said.

“Jasleen put me in contact with other members of the Sikh temple, and a lot of them became our drivers,” he said.

He added that a typical donation to the pantry usually includes “two or three bags of food,” but Sabharwal and her volunteers would show up with “a trunkload of food.”

https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/coronavirus/acts-of-kindness/glen-cove-high-school-food-pantry-sikh-1.48293822

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

Harmeet Singh:Pakistan National Press Club's First Sikh Member

                            Sikh Journalist Harmeet Singh

Pakistani Sikh journalist Harmeet Singh has earned the honor of becoming the first Sikh journalist  to be elected in the National Press Club of Pakistan. Harmeet Singh bagged the 7th position in the election. The election was held for the selection of 15 members, and Harmeet Singh secured 775 votes.

Harmeet Singh is the first Sikh candidate to contest this election.The followers of other minority faiths like Hindus and Christians were appointed in this Pakistan’s largest press club but it never had a Sikh member.

Harmeet Singh holds a post-graduate degree in journalism from the Urdu University of Karachi.

It may be recalled here that Harmeet Singh (30) had hit the headlines after he was offered a break as a news anchor with “Public News”, a 24X7 Urdu channel in 2018. At a time when the minorities in Pakistan fought for their rights, it was an apt opportunity that came his way to represent his community at the global level.

Harmeet Singh said that he hopes to raise minority issues with the Pakistan Government officials.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/20/pakistans-national-press-club-gets-its-first-sikh-member/#.Xz6os9wzbIU

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

`War-Like Preparedness’ To Deal With The Massive Covid Spike :Capt. Amarinder Singh Announces Emergency Measures

Calling for `war-like preparedness’ to deal with the massive Covid spike in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered a series of emergency measures, including extension of weekend lockdown with daily night curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. in all  the 167 cities/towns in the state from tomorrow 21st August.

He has also ordered a total ban on all gatherings except weddings and funerals across the state till August 31. Government and private offices will work at 50% capacity till the end of this month, as per the directives issued by the Chief Minister during a Video Conference meeting with top officials to review the Covid situation in the state, which is witnessing a massive increase in daily cases and an increase in deaths.

Captain Amarinder also directed the concerned officials to restrict public visitors in government officials and to encourage the use of online grievance redressal system, which has been significantly strengthened by the state government to minimise in-person contact with hassle-free online engagement.

In the five worst affected districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and SAS Nagar (Mohali), restrictions on vehicular capacity have been imposed again, with buses and other public transport to operate with 50% capacity and private four-wheelers not allowed to carry more than three passengers per vehicle. The Chief Minister has also directed the DCs  in these five districts to allow only 50% of the non-essential shops to open on a daily basis to check crowding.

“Enough is enough,” said Captain Amarinder, adding that “we need to be tough without affecting the state’s economic activity.” Pointing to the 920  Covid deaths reported in the state so far, he said “each death pains me, and the projections for the coming weeks are grim.”

The Chief Minister said the state is in an `health emergency’ situation, necessitating harsh measures, which might have to be further intensified in the coming days to curb the Covid spread.  Though the cases were currently concentrated mainly in urban areas, rural areas were also witnessing an increase, he said, adding that if needed, travel restrictions may have to be imposed.

http://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=106900

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

Italy's Sikh Slaves:The Exploitation of Sikh Agricultural Workers in Italy By Organised Crime Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic.

The vast agricultural plains of the Agro-Pontino in central Italy is now one of the country's main areas of food production.

This 100 mile-long stretch of land facing the Tyrrhenian Sea was marshland until a century ago when fascist dictator Benito Mussolini organised a mass migration from northern Italy to drain the swamps and turn them into fertile farmland.

Sikh Workers Toiling in Fields Get Just Half a Day Off A Week, With Most of Them Spending That Time in The Local Gurdwara.

Mostly Sikhs from Punjab in northern India, they are economic migrants who have come here to work in local farms and send money home to give their families a better life.

Some manage to do just that. But for many others, their dreams are crushed.Instead, they face abuse and exploitation from both profit-driven agri-businesses and organised crime - labouring for pitiful wages, often without official documentation, and trapped in a system from which there is no escape.

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2020/08/italy-sikh-slaves-200819073932216.html

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

Pardon to Langah:Akal Takht summons Taksal’s Media Adviser

                         Sarchand Singh

Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, has summoned Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal’s media adviser Sarchand Singh on August 22 for his alleged role in granting pardon to excommunicated former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah. Besides, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken action against its five employees for their involvement in the pardon row.

                                Sucha Singh Langah

Langah, who also served as a member of the SGPC, was excommunicated in October 2017 as the Sikh clergy found him guilty of misconduct and violation of the Sikh tenets after a video allegedly showing him in an objectionable position with a woman was widely shared on social media. He was pardoned by the ‘panj pyaras’ (five beloved ones of the Guru) at Gurdwara Baba Banda Singh Bahadar in Gurdaspur district on August 3.

Confirming the development, Jaspal Singh, personal assistant of Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said: “He (Sarchand Singh) has been asked to submit his clarification on August 22. If his reply is unsatisfactory, the five Sikh clergies will take against him as per the maryada.”

Acting on a report of the probe panel, SGPC has taken departmental action against five of its employees for their involvement in the pardon row.

The next meeting of the Sikh clergy is expected to be held by month-end to take action against the remaining persons, said the PA to jathedar.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pardon-to-langah-takht-summons-taksal-s-media-adviser-sgpc-takes-action-against-5-employees/story-srVrV99ZFBizegMziUpxpK.html

http://sikhsindia.blogspot.com/2020/08/declared-tankhayia-duo-says-did-no.html

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

Swacch Survekshan Awards 2020 : Amritsar City Ranked The Second Cleanest City in Punjab After Ludhiana

                  Amritsar second cleanest city in Punjab after Ludhiana

Amritsar city was ranked the second cleanest city in Punjab after Ludhiana, slotted 39 and 34, respectively, among 47 cities across the country with a population of more than 10 lakh in the Swacch Survekshan Awards 2020.(Getty Images)

Amritsar city was ranked the second cleanest city in Punjab after Ludhiana, slotted 39 and 34, respectively, among 47 cities across the country with a population of more than 10 lakh in the Swacch Survekshan Awards 2020 announced on Thursday. The city also registered a steep rise up the rankings from 184 last year and 208 in 2018.

However, authorities can hardly afford to be complacent as Amritsar still has a long way to go. Garbage remains piled up in many parts of the city, most public toilets are in a bad shape with no maintenance or water supply. Plastic is yet to be banned and there are not enough dustbins and cleaning equipment. The green belts are unkempt and require proper care.

“We are working on numerous cleanliness projects in the city as our ranking is not up to the mark. We have hired a new private company for looking after cleanliness in the city and efforts are being made to get a more improved ranking next year,” Commenting on the matter, municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Komal Mittal said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/amritsar-second-cleanest-city-in-punjab-after-ludhiana/story-sz7eA6N2h5pkHcpPmdP2fP.html

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

गुरुद्वारा मजनू का टीला मार्ग खोले दिल्ली सरकार - कुलवंत सिंह बाठ

नई दिल्ली, 20 अगस्तः दिल्ली में सिखों के पहले गुरू श्री गुरु नानक देव जी व छटे गुरू हरगोबिंद साहिब जी की याद में स्थापित ऐताहिसक गुरुद्वारा, गुरुद्वारा मजनू का टिला के सामने जी.टी रोड का मार्ग दिल्ली सरकार के मुखिया श्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने दिल्ली पुलिस के साथ मिलकर बंद करा दिया है। जिस कारण दिल्ली के सिक्खों में भारी रोष पैदा हो गया है।

दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा के कार्यवाहक अध्यक्ष स. कुलवंत सिंह बाठ ने अरविंद केजरीवाल को मांग करते हुए कहा कि दिल्ली, पंजाब व हरियाणा से हजारों की संख्या में श्रद्धालु गुरुद्वारा साहिब में माथा टेकने व गुरु साहिब के चरणों में अरदास करने के लिए आते हैं। वर्षों से सिख धर्म के लोगों द्वारा यहाँ पर खालसा पंथ का स्थापना दिवस वैसाखी का पर्व भी बड़ी धूमधाम से मनाया जाता है। लेकिन दिल्ली सरकार की कुटिल नीतियों के कारण गुरुद्वारा साहिब के सामने का मार्ग बंद किये जाने से आज श्रद्धालुओं को समस्या का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। स. बाठ ने अरविंद केजरीवाल द्वारा दिल्ली के सिखों के साथ सौतेला व्यवहार किये जाने की निंदा करते हुए कहा है कि एक तरफ तो केजरीवाल कहते हैं कि हम सभी धर्मों का आदर करते हैं । लेकिन वहीं पर दिल्ली के सिखों के साथ उनका सौतेला व्यवहार उनकी कथनी और करनी में अंतर प्रकट करता है।

दिल्ली कमेटी के कार्यवाहक अध्यक्ष स. कुलवंत सिंह बाठ ने केजरीवाल को अपील करते हुए कहा है कि अगर केजरीवाल को गुरुद्वारा साहिब का मार्ग बंद करना है तो दिल्ली सरकार को गुरुद्वारे के सामने तत्काल फ्लाई ओवर बनाना चाहिए। जब तक फ्लाई ओवर नहीं बनता तब तक इस मार्ग को संगत के लिए खोल देना चाहिए। तांकि गुरुद्वारा साहिब में आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं को सामस्या का सामना ना करना पड़े स. बाठ ने आम आदमी पार्टी के सांसद भगवंत मान की चुप्पी पर भी सवाल खड़ा करते हुए कहा कि स. मान जो हर बात में सोशल मीडिया पर लाईव होकर अपना महिमामंडन करते हैं उनके द्वारा भी गुरुद्वारा मजनू का टीला के मार्ग बंद किये जाने पर भी कोई प्रतिक्रिया ना दिये जाना हैरान करता है।

 

News Courtesy,
SudeepcSingh
Honorary Media Advisor
DSGMC

Turban Traveller: Amarjeet Singh Chawla Drove Delhi-London In The Most Epic Road Trip

 Singh Chawla traveled from Delhi to London in his car. He traveled for 40,000 Kms, 30 Countries in 148 Days.

This unreal travel journey of The Turban Traveller is most definitely crazy!

                His Name is Amongst 20 Inspiring Sikhs Worldwide

This 60-year-old Sikh man covered 40,000 Kms, 30 Countries in 148 Days and his passion for travel is unimaginable! Amarjeet Singh Chawla drove all the way from Delhi to London in his SUV car!!

In 2018 July, Amarjeet Singh set out his journey for this adventurous trip from Delhi to London. He started from India to Nepal and further drove to China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Monaco, France, Netherlands, Denmark and reached London.

 

He finally completed this journey in the month of December after 6 months of driving around in his Toyota SUV. His car became such an important part of his journey, it was turned into a scrapbook where people could write well wishes, notes, sign on it and even take pictures standing alongside it.

 

It took Amarjeet almost four months of proper planning for his trip, making the itinerary, deciding the pitstops, arranging for visas and god knows what else. But it is true what people say, passion can drive you crazy! 

But his expedition was not all that easy, he faced some rocky times. He fell ill when he was in Estonia, the left side of this body had turned numb and that is when he realized he cannot travel further without proper treatment. He returned to India immediately. He was fortunate enough to find an Indian family in Estonia who let him park the car until he returned. Through these times his family and friends were immensely supportive; he was back on his feet within weeks and managed to reach Estonia to continue his expedition.

 

In his interview with Better India, he mentioned that his visa was nearing expiry when he was in Mexico. “Fortunately, the Indian ambassador helped me with that. That was the beauty of the trip. At any point throughout the journey, whenever I stumbled upon precarious situations, help was always nearby,” . Nothing stops a man who is driven with dedication, passion and the pure love to see the world.

 

                      Kiara Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan

On his journey, he even met famous Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger who signed his car and gave him his best wishes.

When he reached London, to his surprise, his family came there to receive him. Throughout his journey, he knew back home he has immense support and love. Even his old folks who had once denied him his travel dream were delighted to see their son in London. Well, this story doesn’t stop here , his family was upgraded to business class by the flight crew of British Airways.

https://curlytales.com/turban-traveller-amarjeet-singh-chawla-drove-delhi-london-backpacking/?read_more

 

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