26 years on, Akal Takht declares 1984 anti-Sikh riots as ‘genocide’

After an extraordinary, marathon meeting of Jathedars at the Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs —the community’s five high priests on Wednesday declared the anti-Sikh riots 26 years ago as ‘genocide’ and demanded justice for the victims.

The decision seems to have been motivated by the recent resolution introduced by Indian-origin Sikh MP Sukh Dhaliwal in the Canadian Parliament, where he sought to get the bloodshed declared as a ‘genocide’. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, who headed the meeting of the Sikh priests, admitted the move by Dhaliwal had “awakened” them to correct history. He said: “The decision regarding this should have been taken long ago. But we feel justice has not been meted out to victims.” Apart from in Delhi, over 3,000 Sikhs were killed in various parts of the country after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguard on October 31, 1984.

With thanks : source : Indian Express : with link in headline above for detailed news.

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School spent at least £170,000 on failed bid to ban Sikh bangle

A SCHOOL that fought a legal battle to force a Sikh pupil to remove a religious bracelet spent at least £170,000 on the lost case, it emerged last night.

Sarika Watkins-Singh, then 14, was suspended from Aberdare Girls’ School in 2007 after insisting she should be allowed to wear a silver Kara bangle, one of the five symbols of Sikh identity.

The school argued she could not wear the bracelet because it contravened a ban on jewellery, but the High Court ruled in the pupil’s favour.

Yesterday Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd detailed her two-year battle to force the school to reveal the true costs, and the reason behind the decision to fight the case in the courts.

Speaking in Westminster Hall, she said she feared the total costs were much higher than the £170,000 revealed so far, and accused the school of using technicalities to avoid releasing more information.

“My patience has now run out. The school has run rings around the law to avoid explaining how much money has been wasted on this stupid ill-considered action in defending the indefensible.”

with thanks : source : WalesOnline : link in headline above for detailed story.

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Sikh Association gets 10000-dollar grant from Victoria govt in Oz

A Victoria-based Sikh association on Tuesday received a grant of 10,000 dollars from the Australian state's Labour government as part of a programme to strengthen multi-cultural communities through inter-faith dialogue and collaboration.

James Merlino, Minister assisting Premier John Brumby on Multicultural Affairs, and Member for Burwood, Bob Stensholt, presented the Victorian Sikh Association with the grant.

"Victoria is the most multi-cultural, harmonious state in Australia and rivals any of the multicultural centres of the world," Merlino said.

"Our Government is working with dedicated community organisations like the Victorian Sikh Association to promote interfaith dialogue and collaboration and religious harmony," he said.

This funding will provide a multitude of benefits to the Victorian Sikh community and to the broader Victorian community as they strengthen multi-cultural communities, Merlino said.

with thanks : source : INDIAN EXPRESS : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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Sikh temple shooting trial starts in Austria

VIENNA – Six men went on trial Monday in connection with last year's bloody shooting at a temple in the Austrian capital.

A Sikh sect leader was killed and more than a dozen others were wounded — including a second Sikh cleric — during the incident May 24 in which worshippers used a frying pan and microphone stands to fend off assailants wielding knives and a handgun. The rampage triggered riots in several cities in northern India.

The main suspect is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. The other five are accused of accessory to murder and attempted intentional aggravated assault. None have been officially identified but the Vienna public prosecutor's office said five are Indian citizens and that the nationality of a sixth suspect is unknown.

With thanks : source : News Yahoo : Link in headline above for detailed story.

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Delhi HC gives compensation to anti-Sikh riot victim

PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi high court has awarded a compensation of Rs7 lakh to a 90 year-old man who lost his young son in 1984 anti-Sikh riots here.

Directing the government to pay the amount within 8 weeks, justice S Muralidhar said "if the payment is not made within time, the government has to pay further 6% rate of interest per annum".

"It appears to be a genuine case where a 90 year-old father has been fighting for justice for the death of his son in the unfortunate incident that took place in Delhi in the aftermath of the assassination of the former prime minister Indira Gandhi," the court said and allowed a petition filed by S Hardayal Singh seeking a direction to government to grant compensation.

With thanks : source : DNA : Link in headline above for detailed news

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Policemen were among anti-Sikh rioters in 1984: Witness

NEW DELHI: A woman, who lost five of her family members in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, today claimed before a Delhi court trying Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others that she did not go to the police station after the incident as policemen were among the rioters.

"I did not want to go the police station because the police officials were among the rioters," Jagdish Kaur told Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta.

Recording her statement before the court, she said "I had lost faith in everybody and therefore I did not approach the Chief Minister, Home Minister or any other Minister in Punjab or any other authority."

To a question posed by counsel S A Hashmi, appearing for accused Balwan Khokhar, nephew of Sajjan Kumar, the 69-year-old witness said she came to know about CBI only when they approached her for recording her statement.

with thanks : source : Times of India : Link in headline above for detailed story

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Witness Identifies Sajjan Kumar In 1984 Massacre Of Sikhs Case

NEW DELHI – Jagdish Kaur, a witness of November 1984 Sikh massacre, during her cross examination in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta identified Sajjan Kumar as a person instigating the mob during the massacre.

Along with Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Kaur identified Sajjan Kumar’s nephew Balwant Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal as accomplices. Further, she told the court that she had made the same statements before all authorities, be it Nanavati Commission, CBI or the magistrate in Punjab.

She further stated in the court that on November 2 and 3, she went to the police post in the area but the report was not lodged and the officer told her that ‘abhi aur log marne hain, ikkathe report likhenge’”.

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