Pakistan’s Minority Minister orders inquiry into Gurdwara land deal

Ravinder Singh Robin

New Delhi, Dec. 18 (ANI): Taking note of the deal of a land belonging to the Sikh Gurdwara in Pakistan, the Pakistan federal minister of minority has ordered an inquiry and directed authorities to submit the report at the earliest.

Saying he has ordered an inquiry in this (Gurudwara land deal) case and whosoever be the guilty would brought to justice, the federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti told ANI over phone that the Government of Pakistan is committed to safeguard the life of all belonging to the monitories living in Pakistan.

Bhatti even said that after the investigation, action would be taken against the culprits and went on to add: “Even if it was found that any high official was involved and proved guilty, he would not be allowed to escape from law.

It is pertinent to mention that reports says that the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB) has reportedly sold around 850 canals worth multi-million rupees on a nominal price, which includes a piece of land of nearly 311 canals belonging to Mota Singh near the posh locality of Defense Colony in Lahore and second piece of land of nearly 500 canals belonging to Samadh Bhai Mann Singh and Gurdwar Deh in Lahore.

Sikhs Diaspora has strongly registered their protest against the sale of Sikh land by PETPB.

Sikh bodies like, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (AGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) already registered their protest to their respective governments and urged them to intervene in to the matter to make sure the safety of the life and belongings of the minority living in Pakistan.

Notably earlier also the PETPB had to withdraw the two deals related to the Sikh Gurdwara after the intervention of the Pakistan court and due to international pressure from Sikh diaspora.

According to the information, there is about 64,000 acres of land in Pakistan, which belongs to various Gurdwaras in Pakistan out of which 16,000 acres belongs to Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak.

Sources informed that most of the lands of the Gurdwaras were leased out and still under the possession of miscreants.

Sources say that the deal is violation of the Nehru-Layqat pact that says that both the government would not be allowed to sale any religious land belongs to the Hindu, Sikh or Muslims in their respective countries. (ANI)

with thanks : source : http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/pakistans-minority-minister-orders-inquiry-into-gurdwara-land-deal_100291516.html

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Pak sells Gurudwara land to Army

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Dodra Sangat Samagam Details

Details of Gurudwara Braham Bunga Trust, Dodra, Mansa, Punjab.
Submitted by : Sd. Surinder singh ji, Planning, Philips Electronics India Limited, Gurgaon.

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SGPC seeks to meet Pakistan High Commissioner over attack on Pakistani Sikh advocate

Karachi News.Net
Thursday 17th December, 2009 (ANI)

Amritsar Dec.17 : Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has sought an appointment from the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi to take up the case of a Sikh advocate, who was brutally beaten and forced to convert to Islam in Pakistan recently.

A 17-member delegation led by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar would meet the Pakistan High Commissioner in the national capital.

SGPC, in a letter to Pakistan High Commission, expressed deep concern over the issue stating that Sikh community around the world felt pained and resentful over the incident.

On November 21, Anoop Singh, an advocate, was attacked by a group of about eight to ten people in broad daylight and was brutally beaten up and left seriously injured. Fearing for his life, Anoop Singh and his family took shelter in Gurdwara Panja Sahib near Islamabad.

Dalmegh Singh, Secretary of the SGPC, said that the Pakistan police is trying to implicate Ravinder Singh, the brother of Anoop Singh in some false case. He said that according to media reports, Anoop Singh was threatened by attackers that if he did not convert to Islam, he would be killed by them.

SGPC has also requested Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to approach Pakistan Government to take a serious cognizance of the incident. By Ravinder Singh Robin

Source : www.http://www.karachinews.net/story/578708

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Indian sect members vow to marry sex workers

More than 1,000 followers of a multi-religious sect in northern India have pledged to marry female sex workers who want to escape exploitation.

Young Hindu, Muslim and Sikh men have been queuing up at the Dera Sacha Sauda (Abode of the Real Deal) in the town of Sirsa as "wedding volunteers".

They say they are doing so to stop the women from being exploited in brothels.

They also claim that their move is part of a campaign to stop the spread of the HIV/Aids virus.

The Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) is one of many religious sects operating in northern India.

Most take root by offering community services, social welfare and spiritual leadership but over time, as their followings grow, they often seek political influence.

Correspondents say that in religious terms, the DSS is hard to classify. Many experts argue that it is not, as some have said, an offshoot of Sikhism.

More than 1,200 DSS members have signed pledges to marry the sex workers following a call from DSS chief Ram Rahim Singh a little over a month ago.

Mr Singh commands a huge following of predominantly lower caste Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs across the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Two years ago his growing influence brought the DSS chief into confrontation with the mainstream Sikh clergy who claimed he had tried to imitate their beliefs.

The sectarian violence that ensued across Punjab - as well as subsequent rape and murder charges brought against Ram Rahim Singh - have cast a shadow on the affairs and functioning of the DSS ever since, observers say.

But the group's supporters believe the new campaign is to halt the spread of HIV by offering respectable options to sex workers and is part of a long list of related initiatives against drug abuse and female foeticide.

"By helping drug users and sex workers we are trying to help remove people from the highest risk situations," said Dr Aditya Insan, a senior DSS functionary.

'Delicately handled'

He estimates that 40%-50% of women working in red light districts in cities like Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi are HIV carriers.

Mr Singh (known as Guru-ji to his supporters) proclaimed at a congregation last month that "all women forced to live as prostitutes are my daughters".

His remarks brought forth a virtual flood of eager young volunteers from his flock.

Business graduate Ashish Sachdeva, 22, is in the garments trade in the town of Sirsa. He believes that marrying a sex worker could be his chance to repay his debt to humanity and society.

"I am very well settled and it will be the greatest honour for me to respond to Guru-ji's call."

Nearly 100 young sex workers have contacted the DSS - from Calcutta's Shonagachi red light district to brothels in Delhi and Mumbai.

"This will have to be a slow and delicately handled process," Dr Insan said.

"Many women are HIV-positive. Some have young children and are understandably concerned about their future. We need to ensure these women are protected legally once they are married."

with thanks : source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8416739.stm

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Govt To Consider Adding Vasakhi To Calendar Of Annual Festivals

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The government is to consider including the Sikh new year of Vasakhi celebrated on April 14 in its calendar of annual festivals, the Dewan Negara was told on Wednesday.

Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie said the ministry could help promote the festival to enhance awareness among the people.

She was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Daljit Singh Dalliwal who had asked for Vasakhi to be included in the calendar.

Heng said a festival had to be dominant to be included in the calendar of festivals, and it was also dependent on the ministry's budget.

"It is the desire of the ministry to give recognition to the festivals of all ethnic groups in the country, but the country has 47 ethnic groups and if every festival is celebrated at the national level, it will involve a huge financial allocation," she said.

The ministry now focused on six festivals at the national level, which were Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak, she added.

woth thanks : source : BERNAMA -- http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=462615

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