Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sikh soldiers to guard Queen Elizabeth - ll - Video show
With thanks : Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4844546.cms
SikhsIndia
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Monday, August 10, 2009
SGPC won’t tolerate separate body in Haryana: Makkar
Chandigarh, Aug 10 (IANS) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikhs, Monday announced it would not tolerate any attempt by Haryana to set up a separate organisation to administer gurdwaras in that state.
Strongly opposing the statement by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who heads the Congress government, that a new SGPC for Haryana could be announced Nov 1, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the main SGPC would oppose this move at all costs.
“The Congress is not a secular party. They are trying to divide the Sikhs and suppress their voice. The Congress is doing this to garner Sikh votes in Haryana elections,” Makkar told the media after a meeting of the SGPC executive committee held here.
The executive’s resolution, opposing the move of the Hooda government for a separate Sikh body for Haryana, will be put up before a general body meeting of the SGPC at Amritsar Friday.
The SGPC, headquartered at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, is dominated by the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab.
Makkar said: “This is a sensitive issue for Sikhs. Hooda’s statements in this regard are to instigate the community. His talk about holding a referendum of Haryana Sikhs is a sham. We will not tolerate if anyone tries to break the SGPC.”
But there were opposing voices in the SGPC executive meeting as well here.
Baldev Singh Khalsa, an executive member from Haryana, said Sikhs in Haryana wanted a separate SGPC.
“Sikh shrines in Delhi and Pakistan have separate committees to manage gurdwara affairs. This has not weakened the Sikh ‘panth’ cause,” Baldev Singh Khalsa pointed out.
Hooda’s announcement is being seen in the light of the impending assembly polls in the state to be held latest by February next year. The state has a sizeable Sikh population.
The SGPC, which manages all the big gurdwaras, including the holiest Sikh shrine Harmandar Sahib popularly called Golden Temple in Amritsar, is unlikely to let go of its control over the Haryana gurdwaras without a fight.
The SGPC has an annual budget of Rs.4.5 billion.
The Haryana government’s decision has come five months after the Chatha Committee, set up by Hooda to study the possibilities of having a separate Sikh organisation in the state, gave its recommendations this February based on 128,566 affidavits of Sikh activists.
Following this, the government formed a three-member committee under the advocate general to examine the case and facilitate its implementation.
The demand first came to the fore when seven Haryana members of the 170-seat SGPC levelled allegations of neglect of the state’s historical gurdwaras “even though they were adding Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million) of revenue in the SGPC’s kitty every year”.
There are seven major historical gurdwaras in Haryana under the direct control of the SGPC. Eighteen others are under its indirect control - elected members form the local management and one member from the SGPC is co-opted into the panel.
-Indo-Asian News Service
with thanks : source : http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/sgpc-wont-tolerate-separate-body-in-haryana-makkar_100230254.html
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal
Strongly opposing the statement by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who heads the Congress government, that a new SGPC for Haryana could be announced Nov 1, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the main SGPC would oppose this move at all costs.
“The Congress is not a secular party. They are trying to divide the Sikhs and suppress their voice. The Congress is doing this to garner Sikh votes in Haryana elections,” Makkar told the media after a meeting of the SGPC executive committee held here.
The executive’s resolution, opposing the move of the Hooda government for a separate Sikh body for Haryana, will be put up before a general body meeting of the SGPC at Amritsar Friday.
The SGPC, headquartered at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, is dominated by the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab.
Makkar said: “This is a sensitive issue for Sikhs. Hooda’s statements in this regard are to instigate the community. His talk about holding a referendum of Haryana Sikhs is a sham. We will not tolerate if anyone tries to break the SGPC.”
But there were opposing voices in the SGPC executive meeting as well here.
Baldev Singh Khalsa, an executive member from Haryana, said Sikhs in Haryana wanted a separate SGPC.
“Sikh shrines in Delhi and Pakistan have separate committees to manage gurdwara affairs. This has not weakened the Sikh ‘panth’ cause,” Baldev Singh Khalsa pointed out.
Hooda’s announcement is being seen in the light of the impending assembly polls in the state to be held latest by February next year. The state has a sizeable Sikh population.
The SGPC, which manages all the big gurdwaras, including the holiest Sikh shrine Harmandar Sahib popularly called Golden Temple in Amritsar, is unlikely to let go of its control over the Haryana gurdwaras without a fight.
The SGPC has an annual budget of Rs.4.5 billion.
The Haryana government’s decision has come five months after the Chatha Committee, set up by Hooda to study the possibilities of having a separate Sikh organisation in the state, gave its recommendations this February based on 128,566 affidavits of Sikh activists.
Following this, the government formed a three-member committee under the advocate general to examine the case and facilitate its implementation.
The demand first came to the fore when seven Haryana members of the 170-seat SGPC levelled allegations of neglect of the state’s historical gurdwaras “even though they were adding Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million) of revenue in the SGPC’s kitty every year”.
There are seven major historical gurdwaras in Haryana under the direct control of the SGPC. Eighteen others are under its indirect control - elected members form the local management and one member from the SGPC is co-opted into the panel.
-Indo-Asian News Service
with thanks : source : http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/sgpc-wont-tolerate-separate-body-in-haryana-makkar_100230254.html
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal
Sunday, August 9, 2009
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SIKHSINDIA
9th August, 2009
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Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sikh writer, activist and philanthropist Patwant Singh is no more
New Delhi, India: Well known Sikh Writer and philanthropist Patwant Singh has passed away in the national capital following a cardiac arrest. He was 84. Singh, who died at his residence here yesterday, is survived by wife Meher and adopted son Satjiv Singh Chahil.
Singh wrote over 10 books on history, politics and international affairs. His latest ‘Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ was released in Washington DC on June 18. Educated in Delhi, Patwant Singh, who made headlines with path-breaking Design magazine before turning his focus to issues that the Sikh community was grappling with, authored a definitive biography of Bhagat Puran Singh and several books about Sikhs.
The cremation will be at 6 pm in Delhi on Saturday, Aug 8, at the Lodhi Road crematorium.
Patwant Singh was a much respected commentator on Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Second Kashmir War in 1965. Since 1984, Patwant Singh delved deep into Sikh issues, editing and contributing the opening essay of Punjab: The Fatal Miscalculation, which was published in 1985. The Golden Temple, published in 1989, aimed to be the definitive volume on the Harimandir Sahib and show how central this “fountain of inspiration” has been to Sikhs since its construction.
Garland Around My Neck, the story of Bhagat Puran Singh, the barefoot soldier of remarkable humanitarian concerns was presented by Patwant Singh as a colossus that he was in real life.
Patwant Singh also wrote extensively for newspapers and magazines. Many in the US last remember him for his lecture on July 22, 2006 at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York in conjunction with, I See No Stranger: Early Sikh Art and Devotion, an exhibition jointly sponsored by the Sikh Foundation and the Sikh Art and Film Foundation.
His book The Sikhs, published in London by John Murray and in India by Harper Collins in March 1999 and in the US by Alfred Knopf and Canada by Random House in 2000, remains a best seller. Doubleday published the paperback edition in the US, as did Rupa in India. His articles appeared in The New York Times, Canada’s Globe and Mail, the UK’s Independent and elsewhere.
Source: sikhsangat.org
SikhsIndia
Friday, August 7, 2009
EXTREME RACISM - REALLY SHOCKING
SikhsIndia
7th August, 2009
.....a deep sense of shame at the treatment meted out to a party of Sikhs whose coach caught fire on Tuesday. They were returning to their homes in Luton from a day out at the seaside when their double-decker bus burst into flames. They managed to get out with the help of an off-duty policeman seconds before it exploded and melted. As they stood terrified on the hard-shoulder, passing motorists not only failed to stop and help, but actually slowed down to hurl racist abuse at the victims. Several gave them the finger and shouted at them to bet back into the blazing coach.....
Please read detailed news in this blog as " Our shameful treatment of Britain's Sikh saviours." Please mail your comments.
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal
7th August, 2009
.....a deep sense of shame at the treatment meted out to a party of Sikhs whose coach caught fire on Tuesday. They were returning to their homes in Luton from a day out at the seaside when their double-decker bus burst into flames. They managed to get out with the help of an off-duty policeman seconds before it exploded and melted. As they stood terrified on the hard-shoulder, passing motorists not only failed to stop and help, but actually slowed down to hurl racist abuse at the victims. Several gave them the finger and shouted at them to bet back into the blazing coach.....
Please read detailed news in this blog as " Our shameful treatment of Britain's Sikh saviours." Please mail your comments.
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal
Top 51 Sikhs
Times Books (publisher) with TOI, Nav Bharat Times & Ayur have published a book named TOP 51 SIKHS. The official description is as below :
Sikhs have always been an integral part of India. Their contribution to the country and society is outstandi ng. This book honours 51 best Sikhs of India. Featuring names likes Ajit Cour, Deepak Sandhu, Capt. Amrinder Singh, Manmohan Singh, KPS Gill, JJ Valaya, Milkha Singh, Khuswant Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Daler Mehendi, Mandira Bedi, Manpreet Brar and more. It highlights their achievements and contribution the society. The book aims to serve as an inspiration for many.
Though the official price is Rs. 399 /-, NBC India.com is offering 25% discount. NBC price is Rs. 299.25
BJP demands statement from PM on gurdwara committees
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, August 06, 2009
Both houses of parliament were repeatedly disrupted on Thursday following protests from the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Haryana's decision to form a separate Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to manage Sikh shrines in the state, even as a demand for a statement on the issue by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was turned down.
"Why are you bringing the leader of the house into this?" Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked SS Ahluwalia when he demanded a statement from Manmohan Singh.
MPs from the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were on their feet in both houses against what they saw as the government's move to have separate SGPCs in each state. Currently, the SGPC in Amritsar is the supreme body controlling Sikh shrines and religious affairs.
Unable to pacify the MPs, presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were forced to adjourn proceedings twice.
In the Lok Sabha, two Akali Dal members Harsimrat Kaur and Ratanjit Ajnala went towards the speaker's podium to demand the suspension of question hour to discuss the issue.
There was also a heated exchange of words on the issue between leader of the house and Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav.
Speaker Meira Kumar had initially adjourned the house till 11.30 am. However, the protests continued when the house resumed and she adjourned the house till 12 noon.
Both the houses reassembled at noon. In the Lok Sabha, Akali Dal members were allowed to put forth their opinion. However, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 1 pm after the protests continued unabated.
When the Rajya Sabha reassembled, Ahluwalia said: "This is a religious matter. The leader of the house should respond." Khan, however, shot this down.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has declared that the separate SGPC will become a reality on Nov 1, Haryana Day. The announcement was received with both anger and anxiety by the SGPC, a mini parliament of Sikhs with an annual turnover of around Rs 400 crore.
The Haryana government's decision has come five months after the Chatha Committee, set up by Hooda to study the possibilities of having a separate Sikh body in the state, gave its recommendations this February based on 128,566 affidavits of Sikh activists. Following this, the government had formed a three-member committee under the advocate general to examine the case and facilitate its implementation.
The demand first came to the fore when seven Haryana members of the 170-seat SGPC levelled allegations of neglect of the state's historical gurdwaras "even though they were adding Rs 10 crore of revenue in the SGPC's kitty every year".
There are seven major historical gurdwaras in Haryana under the direct control of the SGPC. Eighteen others are under its indirect control -- elected members form the local management and one member from the SGPC is co-opted into the panel.
with thanks : source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=f6230c20-b483-4a1d-a72a-f8414d3cb46b&Headline=BJP-nbsp-demands-PM-s-statement-on-SGPC
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal
New Delhi, August 06, 2009
Both houses of parliament were repeatedly disrupted on Thursday following protests from the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Haryana's decision to form a separate Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to manage Sikh shrines in the state, even as a demand for a statement on the issue by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was turned down.
"Why are you bringing the leader of the house into this?" Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked SS Ahluwalia when he demanded a statement from Manmohan Singh.
MPs from the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were on their feet in both houses against what they saw as the government's move to have separate SGPCs in each state. Currently, the SGPC in Amritsar is the supreme body controlling Sikh shrines and religious affairs.
Unable to pacify the MPs, presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were forced to adjourn proceedings twice.
In the Lok Sabha, two Akali Dal members Harsimrat Kaur and Ratanjit Ajnala went towards the speaker's podium to demand the suspension of question hour to discuss the issue.
There was also a heated exchange of words on the issue between leader of the house and Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav.
Speaker Meira Kumar had initially adjourned the house till 11.30 am. However, the protests continued when the house resumed and she adjourned the house till 12 noon.
Both the houses reassembled at noon. In the Lok Sabha, Akali Dal members were allowed to put forth their opinion. However, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 1 pm after the protests continued unabated.
When the Rajya Sabha reassembled, Ahluwalia said: "This is a religious matter. The leader of the house should respond." Khan, however, shot this down.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has declared that the separate SGPC will become a reality on Nov 1, Haryana Day. The announcement was received with both anger and anxiety by the SGPC, a mini parliament of Sikhs with an annual turnover of around Rs 400 crore.
The Haryana government's decision has come five months after the Chatha Committee, set up by Hooda to study the possibilities of having a separate Sikh body in the state, gave its recommendations this February based on 128,566 affidavits of Sikh activists. Following this, the government had formed a three-member committee under the advocate general to examine the case and facilitate its implementation.
The demand first came to the fore when seven Haryana members of the 170-seat SGPC levelled allegations of neglect of the state's historical gurdwaras "even though they were adding Rs 10 crore of revenue in the SGPC's kitty every year".
There are seven major historical gurdwaras in Haryana under the direct control of the SGPC. Eighteen others are under its indirect control -- elected members form the local management and one member from the SGPC is co-opted into the panel.
with thanks : source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=f6230c20-b483-4a1d-a72a-f8414d3cb46b&Headline=BJP-nbsp-demands-PM-s-statement-on-SGPC
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal
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