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Nudged by Home Minister P Chidambaram to expedite sanction of prosecution against the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna has set the ball rolling to begin judicial proceedings against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar.
Khanna is understood to have accorded sanction on Wednesday for prosecuting Kumar for spreading enmity between two communities.
The CBI had asked for prosecution sanction for four cases of rioting in Sultanpuri and Mongolpuri on November1, 1984.
The CBI had registered the case against Kumar after the G.T. Nanavati Commission report of February 2005, which called for fresh examination of complaints where he had been named but no chargesheet was filed.
Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said, “Law will take its own course. Congress does not interfere in legal matters.”
With thanks : source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/india/CBI-gets-nod-to-prosecute-Sajjan-Kumar-in-84-anti-Sikh-riots-cases/Article1-492487.aspx
New Delh: An “insane” cop, who turned Ram to Ravan within minutes and shot dead six members of the Sikh community at a police station during the 1984 riots, was given life by the Allahabad high court recently.
The court upheld a trial court judgment delivered two years ago on July 30, saying Tilak Ram acted out of rage, not insanity, as claimed.
A group of Sikhs running from a blood-thirsty mob near Meerut had sought refuge at a police station where Ram was posted 25 years ago, at about 3.50 am on November 5, 1984. His job was to protect the community under fire after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. But in the heat of the moment, Ram snatched a rifle from one of his colleagues, loaded it and fire at the group, killing six and injuring three.
After emptying the rifle, his defence was that he was overpowered by a deity. He said he was mentally unstable and had suffered a schizophrenic attack. Justices Rakesh Tiwari and AK Roopanwal said the unrepentant Ram indeed acted in an insane manner just as thousands of others across the country did during the anti-Sikh riots and scrapped his appeal against the trial court judgment delivered after almost a 22-year-long trial.
Ram acted out of anger, not insanity, the judges said, adding that it was cold-blooded execution of Sikhs who had taken shelter in police station.
It was an ugly expression of communal hatred against Sikhs who were being held responsible for the “treacherous” murder of the then PM of India, “undoubtedly, a tall and widely-popular political personality adorned by millions”.
Cop Ram’s act was not a “sequestered, isolated or unconnected incident having no nexus with the social and political atmosphere around”.
“Instead, it was a just another instance of Sikh killing, the like of which had happened and were happening at that time all over the country. It was not a schizophrenic act. It was, in fact, an act which had direct bearing with assassination of the late Mrs Indira Gandhi and its aftermath communal outrage [sic],” the court said.
Thousands of people who indulged in large-scale arson, loot and murder of Sikhs at that time did not suffer from schizophrenia or any other mental ailment, which may be termed legal insanity, HC said, adding that their insanity was only in the figurative sense of the term and denoted a highly-irrational behaviour.
with thanks : source : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_mad-cop-gets-life-for-killing-6-during-anti-sikh-riots_1329254
Apparently buying more time on the controversy, the Sikh clergy on Wednesday adopted changes in the Nanakshahi calendar but shied away from announcing these. The five high priests referred the draft containing the amendments to the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for a final decision.
The move is unprecedented as the Akal Takht is considered supreme in taking decisions relating to religious issues.
After a marathon meeting, the five Sikh high priests said they has adopted "certain changes". "We are not making any announcements on what are the changes introduced. The same are being sent to the SGPC executive body, which would consider and take a final decision. The announcement would then be made from the Takht," said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.
Panthic leaders said that the move was aimed at buying more time to allow the dust to settle on the issue. Giani Gurbachan Singh admitted that it was difficult for the clergy too to reach a consensus.
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PHAGWARA: Former Jathedar of Shri Akal Takhat Sahib Prof Darshan Singh reiterated his stand that neither he will appear before Singh Sahiban on January 7,nor will obey any “Tankhaa” religious punishment in the ongoing controversy on “Dasham Granth”.
Talking to newsmen after participating in a reigeous congregation organized by Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sports & Welfare Society at nearby village Palahai on Tuesday evening, he alleged that SAD was playing in the hands of RSS and went on dividing the panth due to their hatred politics.
Former Jathedar alleged that Jathedars of some Takhats including Shri Akal Takhat Sahib, and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee were playing in the hands of the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Badal Family, and Singh Sahibans were holding their meetings and decisions in closed doors rooms while according to sikh religious traditions, all religious issues brought before Shri Akal Takhat should be heard and decide in the presence of Sikh Sangats openly.
Replying a question, Prof Darshan Singh again alleged that some Anti-Panth elements were actively working to divide the Sikh Panth under the cover of reviving the controversy on Dasham Granth, which was untolerable.He said that “Dasham Granth” was not exclusively written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj,while several objectionable literature was added in the Granth.
Prof Darshan Singh said a panel of Intellectuals should be formed to analyse and examine the Dasham Granth. He dared to challenge Akal Takhat Sahib present Jathedar to openly participate a “Debate on the Issue” before electronic media to bring the truth as healthy debate could be useful to reach upto the real situation.
He alleged that politicalisation of Religeon was being done by Badal family which would be most harmful for the Sikh Quam. He strongly advocated present Nanak Shahi Calender and opposed the move of any amendment in it, but alleged that Badal& Co were becoming tool in the hands of RSS and other Hindu Fundamentalists which were unnecessarily intervening in the internal matters of Sikhs.
He alleged that Badal family promoted “Dera Culture” only to strengthen their vote banks without bothering the interests of Sikhs.
When asked about elections of SGPC, Prof Darshan Singh said every Sikh obeying complete Maryada of the Panth should be allowed to participate in SGPC elections.
He however also alleged that Badals had remained fail to bring Anand Karaj act to make the Sikhs able to solemnize their marriages according to Sikh traditions.Former Head Granthi of Takhat Shri Keshgarh Sahib Bhai Ranjodh Singh, Organiser Sat Parkash were also present on the occasion.
with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/22214/38/
