SGPC to meet Pokhriyal for restoration of Sikh shrine

Patiala, Sep 21 (PTI) SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar will lead a delegations of Sikhs to meet Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal in the first week of October for restoration of Gyan Godri Gurdwara at its original place at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar.

Makkar told a press conference here today that various Sikh organisations have passed a resolution that they will not raise the gurdwara at any other place in Haridwar than at its original place at Har-ki-Pauri.

The Gurdwara, set up at Har-ki-Pauri in memory of Guru Nanak Dev who visited the spot in 1504-05, was demolished during the anti Sikhs riots in 1984.

Meanwhile, Sikhs have planned to take out march from Gurdwara Rakabganj in Delhi to the site in Haridwar tomorrow to press for their demand.

with thanks : MSN NEWS : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Govt can’t find reports of three anti-Sikh riot panels

Even as the trials in 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases pick up pace in courts, the reality is that the Delhi government cannot find at least three reports of committees set up to look into the rehabilitation of victims, role of the police and actions against those guilty.

The Delhi government gave this information to the Central Information Commission while responding to a RTI application by activist Suroor Mander seeking copies of reports submitted by as many as seven commissions to address different issues relating to the riots. The applicant also sought the Action Taken Reports on the recommendations of these committees. While the Home Department first sought more time to trace the records, subsequent submissions before the CIC revealed that the department never had several documents.

Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi observed that the Delhi government had initially sent the queries to the Home Ministry, which sent it back, as “presumably” they also did not have the reports. “After that the Public Information Officer at the Delhi Home Department said he could not locate the reports, which must have been produced at a considerable cost to the exchequer. In bits and pieces, they have managed to give some reports and yet the following reports are missing completely — Marwah Commission, Dhillon Committee and Narula Committee,” the CIC noted.

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

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Trial against Sajjan Kumar in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case to continue: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to quash the charges of murder and other offences against senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and said the trial will continue against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

A bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and A R Dave vacated the August 13 interim order staying the trial proceedings against him before a Delhi court.

with thanks : NDTV.com : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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Anti-Sikh riots: Supreme Court to give verdict on Sajjan’s appeal

The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict tomorrow on a petition filed by senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar challenging initiation of criminal proceedings against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.

A bench comprising Justices P. Sathasivam and A. R. Dave had reserved its judgement on September 13 on the appeal filed by Kumar against the Delhi High Court decision which had on July 19 refused to stay the trial against him.

The high court had then refused to quash various charges, including that of murder, against Kumar saying the delay in prosecution has apparently benefited him.

with thanks : The hindu : Link in headline above for detailed news.

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First Sikh Actor Cast in an American Sitcom

American-born Guru Singh is the first Sikh to be cast in a situational comedy on network television. He will play the part of an Indian call-center employee in the new NBC show, Outsourced.

“This is my big break,” he said excitedly. “Vadaa-ee-aa for the Panth.” He pulled away from filming the sixth of 13 episodes for this interview.

Guru Singh has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas, which his parents thought was a sensible career track. But his long-time passion for acting did not fizzle out. He went back to college for a bachelor’s degree in acting and directing, which he received from the University of Houston. This is his first acting job although he had previously done commercials and student films.

“By chance, I got in front of the casting directors,” he said. Guru Singh has had an agent in Los Angeles for nearly three years who alerted him to this part. There were many people trying out. But he only knows of one other Sikh, a friend, Bhajneet Singh Malik, who tried out for the part. The others may have been non-Sikhs with beards and turbans, he said.

with thanks : sikhnn : link in headline above.

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November Declared Sikh – American Month

SACREMENTO, CA – In a historic gesture for the 250,000-strong Sikh community in California, the state assembly has passed a resolution declaring November as ‘California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month.’

During the month, Sikh cultural and social events will be held to highlight their contribution to California since their arrival in the state more than a hundred years ago.

The resolution (ACR 181), which was moved by Assemblyman Dan Logue (Republican), was passed unanimously by the state assembly Sept 1.

Yuba City, considered the first Punjabi village in North America, and its surrounding Sutter County areas are home to one of the largest concentration of the descendants of the first Indian immigrants into North America in the 1870-80s.

with thanks : indiajournal : Link in headline above for detailed storey.

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Sufficient evidence to prove Sajjan Kumar role in 1984 riots: CBI

CBI today pleaded before the Delhi high court that it has got sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of senior Congress leader and former MP Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which six persons were killed.

"During investigation by CBI, sufficient material establishing his involvement has come on record. He had instigated the mob, armed with deadly weapons, by making highly provocative speeches," the agency said in its affidavit filed before the court.

It filled its reply in response to Kumar's plea that the criminal proceedings against him should be quashed.

Two cases were registered against the former outer Delhi MP for his alleged involvement in anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

The apex court had earlier stayed the proceedings against him in one of the cases in which five persons were killed in Delhi Cantonment area.

With Thanks : DNA india : link in headline above for detailed news.

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