Amarinder flays Punjab government

Hoshiarpur (Pb), Dec 11 (PTI) Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said the SAD-BJP government was trying to polarise Sikh masses in the state to further its own interest.

"Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in aware that he will not come in power in the state again," Amarinder told reporters here.

He alleged that the recent incidents in Ludhiana regarding confrontation between Panthik organisations and followers of Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan Sect head Ashutosh Maharaj was a clear cut indication of Badal's "bad" intentions.

Amarinder said the state government was trying to further crush people of state who were already facing skyrocketing prices of essential commodities by imposing new taxes.

Replying to a question regarding installation of nuclear power plant in the state, he said it should be installed in the deserts of Rajasthan with the association of state government there.

with thanks source : PTI NEWS : http://www.ptinews.com/news/419740_Amarinder-flays-Punjab-government

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Selling a dream: Rocket Singh charges up youth

CHANDIGARH: It is not everyday that Harpreet Singh gets the full glare of stardom for himself and his ilk. But on Friday, as Rocket Singh becomes a must watch film in the weekend itinerary, our very own Harpreet is glowing.

His reel life avatar, essayed by Ranbir Kapoor who plays the salesman named Harpreet Singh in the film, echoes the sentiments of a clique of turbaned salesmen. And whether it is in the shrewdness of Rocket Singh, his "natural persuasive charm", or his less than average grades that lead him to being a sales guy, this land of many Rocket Singhs have found a defining moment for their career. And life.

Harpreet, who is a young Sikh into sales, is ecstatic with Rocket Singh. He cracks up, "I swear I can identify with the glib Harpreet, aka Ranbir Kapoor in the film. His stories, dreams, though vain, are so believable for us." What brings greater cheer to these youth in the field is the fact that Ranbir is perhaps the first Sikh in Bollywood who portrays a turbaned character who is suave. "So far, the hero or any character with a turban is the comic element in the plot. He is never depicted as someone with as much panache as the other clean shaven heroes who are macho, fly machines and save the girls from the goons," says Satwinder Singh, a sales person in a pharmaceutical company.

Rattanbir Singh, a salesman with a radio channel can pinpoint the "finer nuances" of Rocket Singh that he also calls his own. "The film shows that Ranbir barely manages to scrape through his graduation with below average marks hence he decides to get into the sales line. Well, that's true in real life too," he laughs.

But the real fondness for Rocket comes from his street smartness, a trait most of our real life Sikhs have been waiting for. Preet Arjun Singh, who works in the marketing division of an IT company, says Ranbir's character is etched very close to real life and depicts the strife that a sales job brings.

"Sikhs were the original sales persons because of their diligence and capability to think innovatively. A maxim in our culture says - if you want to sell something, give it to a Punjabi," adds Jagdish Singh, another salesman.

with thanks SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Selling-a-dream-Rocket-Singh-charges-up-youth/articleshow/5328765.cms

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Don't interfere in Sikh affairs: Majithia

Friday , Dec 11, 2009 at 0112 hrs

Former cabinet minister and MLA from Majithia, Bikram Singh Majithia today reacted strongly against the statement of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh offering support to Paramjit Singh Sarna of the DSGMC in the forthcoming general elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

He said the Congress party, which projects itself as secular, has always inteferred with the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

He said Sarna is a Congress supporter and has no interest in Sikhs or Punjab.

He also blamed the Congress for instigating terrorism in the state during the 1980s.

Majithia said the Sikh community played a pivotal role in the fight for independence but were not rewarded accordingly by the Congress.

Majithia also reacted to a statement by the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal demanding dismissal of a government elected by the people. He demanded Rajinder Kaur Bhattal should apologise for the un-parliamentary behaviour by Congress MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Don--t-interfere-in-Sikh-affairs--Majithia/552716

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Punjabi University to revamp Sikh studies

Friday , Dec 11, 2009 at 0354 hrs

PATIALA: To spread the message of universal brotherhood and philosophy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Punjabi University will draw a roadmap and revitalise its departments relating to the studies of Sikh gurus and scripture, said Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day national seminar on ‘Guru Granth Sahib: Global Sarokaar’ on Thursday.

“It all the more unfortunate that even people of native areas of Bhagat Kabir are not aware that religious writings of this great saint have been preserved and included in the Guru Granth Sahib and are revered by Sikhs. Similarly, a majority of Muslims are ignorant that the ‘bani’ of their sufi saints like Baba Farid has been given a lofty and respectable place in the Sikh scripture, thus representing an anthology of religious culture,” Singh said.

According to chief coordinator Sarabjinder Singh, as many as 20 papers were presented and debated by eminent scholars at the seminar.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/In-Brief/552862

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First Turbaned Sikh Police Officer in Newzealand

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Poster by : Prof. Darshan singh Khalsa

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PRESS RELEASE : Prof. Darshan Singh ji Khalsa

Singh Sahib Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa
Ex-Jathedar, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sri Amritsar

PRESS RELEASE

6 December, 2009

Another Massive Attack on the Principles of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

First, it was the attempt to install a Guru from the Bacchitar Natak, parallel to Guru Granth Sahib, and then came an attempt to create a parallel Harmandar Sahib. And now is the worst of all - an attack on the throne of justice itself: a small office in a nondescript street behind the Nishaan Sahib has been designated as the ‘Office of The Akal Takht‘. This office is in competition to The Akal Takht and now its Jathedar does not recognize an appearance at the Akal Takht as legitimate; only an appearance at [this newly designated office in a back street] is deemed appropriate where people are kept in dark about the decisions made - as has been happening over the past many years.

It has been explained in their press release by the Jathedars that the issue of the attendance of one summoned to The Akal Takht is heard only at the ‘secretariat‘. It is also said that this policy of a closed door hearing was adopted ten years ago and is now their our policy. This is proof of the fact that this policy dates from the past ten years and that Surjeet Singh Barnala's case was heard in open public setting, consistent with earlier policies.

I want to clarify that those who are unfamiliar with our old traditions, they may acquiesce to these closed door hearings and then come to some arrangements with you. But, with the Guru's grace, I had cleared this matter with you that we have only one Akal Takht and I will appear only before that Akal Takht. In their note of 17 November, they asked me to appear before The Akal takht; so on 5 December, I appeared there in the presence of the press and the sangat. But today, they do not recognize The Akal Takht and instead recognize only their closed [back-alley office]. I do not to, and will not recognize any such closed room as The Akal Takht.

I had previously fully clarified my position that reverence for Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a matter of significance to the whole Sikh community. Therefore it should be explored at The Akal Takht in the presence of the Panth, not in any closed room. Today, I am still of the same belief. That is why I appeared today at The Akat Takht and waited for almost an hour, so that the truth could be brought before the community. Some responsible brothers - Dalmegh Singh, Secretary; Jasvinder Singh, Advocate; Giani Kewal Singh; Chairman Tarsem Singh and Paramjeet Singh Sarna, Chairman, Delhi Committee, repeatedly tried to bring the Jathedars to The Akal Takht but the latter lacked the courage to face the truth and did not come; they continued to insist that their [back-alley] office would serve as The Akal Takht. After waiting an hour, I ascended the steps to The Akal Takht and presented my file before the Guru Granth Sahib; I prayed for the ability to reverse the insult that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is subjected to at some gurdwaras. After spending about two hours on the premises of Darbar Sahib, I returned.

Almost an hour and a half later [after I had departed], the Jathedars did turn up at the Akal Takht; hiding their own weakness in lies, they accused me of not coming to The Akal Takht, claiming they had been waiting, even though the sangat and the press witnessed the whole episode. Despite this, they did not hesitate to lie at The Akal Takht and, to please their masters, shamelessly declared me a "tankhaaiyya."

The press statement of those who have labelled me selfish and egotistical clearly confirms that "Professor Darshan Singh did present his statement before the Guru Granth Sahib; we have not yet read it nor will we send for it to be read by us." Let the sangat decide who is full of ego and selfishness. Those who think of themselves as higher that Sri Guru Granth Sahib and cannot even pick up and read the file left in front of the Guru Sahib - how can they render such judgment against me?

People need to wake up, recognize and challenge this new danger - and ensure that these Jathedars, at the behest of their masters, do not set up a competing Akal Takht in a closed room, to compete with the one that was bestowed by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib.

[A rough translation of the original in Punjabi, to English, by Dr. I.J. Singh]

with thanks sikhchic

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