Sikhs appeal to Obama not to ‘cancel’ Golden Temple visit

Sikhs from various walks of life today made an emphatic appeal to US President Barack Obama, asking him not to cancel his planned visit to the Golden Temple on the issue of wearing a ‘headscarf or cap’ on the temple premises. They said though Obama would have to cover his head in accordance with Sikh traditions to visit the gurdwara, they had no objection if he wore a cap or even a hat.

The Indian Express carried a story in today’s edition (October 19, 2010), saying Obama might skip his proposed Golden Temple visit as US officials fear wearing a cap might create the impression among some Americans that he is a Muslim and alienate a section of US Christians. President Obama is a Christian whose late father was a Kenyan Muslim.

The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, had stated that the US President may wear a scarf or a cap that is worn by Muslims but cannot wear a baseball cap or anything that resembles one. Teams from the White House and the US Embassy have visited Amritsar several times over the past three weeks to assess the arrangements for the visit.

with thanks : IndianExpress : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

56.3 lakh voters enrolled for SGPC elections

Justice HS Brar, Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, has said voters could be punished under the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) if they submitted false declaration. He was addressing a press conference here after holding a meeting with deputy commissioners from seven districts of Jalandhar Division.

The returning officers and revising authorities of the constituencies were also present at the meeting held to review the preparation of electoral rolls and to get an update regarding the claims and objections received so far in respect of applications for making votes. The last date of filing objections is October 28.

with thanks : indianexpress : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Sikh riots case

A witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on Tuesday identified former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar as one of the leaders who provoked the killing of innocent Sikhs during the carnage after the assassination of the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Jagsher Singh told a city court he remembered Kumar asking the mob to kill Sikhs.

"Sajjan Kumar, MP, came in an Ambassador car and asked some people (around 30 to 40) if they had done the work that had been assigned to them. He then said they had not done their work properly. One person told him that they were helpless as the thekedars (contractors) were being saved by Hindus. Thereupon, Kumar said Hindus offering shelter to Sikhs should be killed and their houses burnt," Singh said.

Singh had lost three of his elder brothers in the riots. He is a witness in the case filed by his cousin Jagdish Kaur, whose husband and son were also killed by the mob. Singh said following Kumar's order, the mob looted his Raj Nagar home and set it on fire. "I knew him (Kumar) because our area was backward and there was some sewage problem. He had come to listen to our grievances," Singh added.

with thanks : indiatoday : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

A day after Sekhwan locked Gurdwara, Manpreet Badal gets due honour by Sikh priest

PATIALA: A day after Sewa Singh Sekhwan Punjab Public Relations minister locked the Gurdwara at Kahnuwan to prevent entru of former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the granthi (priest) at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here who Monday presented Siropao(robe of honour) to Manpreet Singh Badal has reportedly gone underground soon after the ceremony.

The Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib is controlled by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC). Manpreet Badal had came to pay obeisance at Gurdwara where he was presented Siropao by a Granthi.

In Kahnuwan, Manpreet Badal was shocked to see the Gurdwara locked by supporters of Sewa Singh Sekhwan when he went there to attend path of Sukhmani Sahib organised by one of his supporter. The woman who had organised was allegedly kidnapped by Sekhwan's supporters. Sekhwan later produced the woman in press conference. She said that she had gone to her parents house.

Any official of SGPC, who did not want to disclose the identity of Granthi said that there were no directions from SGPC to give or not to give siropa to Manpreet Badal. He however confirmed that they were told not to allow Manpreet to address any meeting in Gurdwara premises.

The Gurdwara manager also offered a cup of tea to Manpreet even though he was not allowed to address workers meeting in conference room situated in Gurdwara Premises by the manager.

He arrived here around 9.40 AM in the morning and after meeting with his supporters who turned in large number immediately went to Gurdwara Sahib.

with thanks : punjabnewsline : link in headline for detailed news.

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Woman, 74, in Canada illegally gets to stay

OTTAWA - A 74-year-old woman from India living in Canada illegally for the last six years has been granted another stay from deportation.

Gyan Kaur came to Canada in 2001 after her husband died. The move allowed Kaur to be closer to her four children, who all live in this country. Two of children are citizens and two are in Canada illegally after their own claims for refugee status were denied.

According to court documents, Kaur claimed refugee status in February 2002 “on the ground that she feared persecution because of her Sikh nationality.”

That application was denied in January 2004, and since then she has remained in the country through several appeals to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Those applications were all denied.

with thanks : torontosun : link in headline above.

SikhsIndia

Habhajan Mann renowned Sikh singer in hospital

Renowned Punjabi singer and actor Harbhjan Mann has been suffering from dengue and has been hospitalised at S P S Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana.

According to Dr Anupreet Kaur of Apollo Hospital, “Harbhajan Mann was admitted in the hospital on Tuesday as his platelet count was only 14,000.

After treatment in the hospital, he is on way to recovery. I think he will be discharged from hospital in a day or so.

with thanks : emgonline : link in headline above.

SikhsIndia

Sher-e-Punjab rises again

It was the right setting for the event. A painting of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by the Singh Twins was sold for 16,000 pounds sterling at an auction organized by Christies at Elveden Hall, Norfolk - former residence of Maharaja Duleep Singh - in September. It was one of the two artworks especially rendered by The Singh Twins for the bidding that formed part of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail activities, and was attended by eminent Sikhs from all over the world.

With thanks : times of India : link in headline above for detailed news.

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