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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Headstart for SAD but real war ahead
Politics is all about timing and momentum. That's why the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has a reason to gloat over its resounding victory in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections. Barely five months short of the high-stake Punjab Assembly elections due in February, the party, in an alliance with the Sant Samaj, romped home on 157 of the 170 seats up for grabs, re-asserting its time-old hold on the apex Sikh religious body.
In Sikh politico-religious affairs, the SGPC, with an annual budget of Rs 600 crore, represents a veritable powerhouse with enormous sway on the Sikh masses. Clearly, Sunday's triumph has buoyed SAD's morale, galvanised its grassroots workers and geared up the party machinery for the bigger battle ahead for the Vidhan Sabha. That's all that will count for the SGPC election outcome's impact on Punjab's political landscape in the next few months.
But, to interpret the SGPC win as a referendum on the SAD-BJP government's performance, as upbeat Akali leaders are tempted to do, will be a measure of their capacity for self-delusion. Nor does the buoyant forecast of Badals' spin doctors on the "historic verdict" as "a semifinal" to the assembly poll slugfest hold much water.
After all, the SGPC electorate - about 55 lakh and spread over Punjab and parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh - is limited to the Sikh constituency of only 'keshdharis' (those with unshorn hair). In other words, only one-tenth of Punjab voters eligible for the Assembly elections exercised their franchise for the SGPC polls. More importantly, the SAD was the only mainstream political party to contest the polls while Punjab's other key political players namely the Congress, BJP and Manpreet Singh Badal's People's Party of Punjab were out of the fray -albeit directly.
Also, the SAD's feat has lost some its sheen because of brazen intimidation and misuse of power by its workers. As if political acrimony and mudslinging that marred the high-decibel campaign was not sacrilegious enough, large-scale, in-your-face violations of the Gurdwara Act, coupled with violence, struck a jarring note to the elections so ineptly conducted by chief gurdwara commissioner Justice HS Brar (retd), who chose to look the other way despite a flurry of brazen violations exposed by the media. That perhaps was Brar's way of returning the favour to the Badal Government for appointing his daughter as a top law officer in Punjab advocate general office.
The reason why the SAD pitched its stakes so high is obvious. In factionalised Sikh politics, the Akali Dal that lords over the SGPC is reckoned as the real Akali Dal, while others merely "Khaali Dal (empty party)".
An astute campaign organiser, SAD president and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal pulled out all stops not only to re-assert his party's long-held supremacy on religious turf, his carefully-crafted strategy had three near-term objectives, too: to buff up his own image as an election-winner, to fire up the Akali rank and file, and to make a headstart in the Assembly elections. And, his strategy has seemingly clicked.
with thanks : HT : link above for detailed news
SikhsIndia
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Surrey man appears on 'Regis and Kelly' with world's longest beard
Surrey Sikh priest Sarwan Singh appeared on the Regis and Kelly show in New York on Tuesday to show millions of television viewers his beard. At eight feet two and a half inches long, his is believed to be the longest beard in the world.
Singh serves as high priest of Guru Nanak temple in Newton. He also teaches music at Surrey's Akal Academy.
I am very proud to have been given the opportunity to represent the Sikh and Surrey communities," Singh said of his guest appearance on the show.
He was speaking through his translator and friend Dr. Pargat Bhurji, a Surrey pediatrician who accompanied him to New York.
Bhurji is also the principal and president of Akal Academy.
"This is history in the making," Bhurji said. "Out of the 6.5 billion people in the world, he is the only one standing there."
Sikhs must not cut their hair as an article of their faith and Singh, 45, has been growing his beard since he was 15 years old. He has held the Guinness World Book record for longest beard since 2008.
with thanks : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
CPI demands cancellation of SGPC elections
Amritsar, Sep 19 (PTI) Alleging that all norms of Gurdwara Election Commission were enormously violated during the SGPC polls, CPI National Council member Joginder Dayal today demanded its cancellation. "There were clear cut instructions by the Chief Gurdwara Election Commission that no Sehajdhari Sikh would exercise voting right, following the court directions, but not even Sehajdhari people many clean shaven were also shown casting their votes at various tv channels," Dayal said. When the matter related to Sehajdhari Sikhs was still pending in the Punjab and Harayna High Court, why non-Sikhs and clean shaven people were given chance to cast their votes for SGPC elections on September 18, he asked. "Now thousands of Sehajdhari Sikhs who didn't come out from their houses with the impression in their mind that they wouldn't be allowed to cast vote, fell discriminated...In such precarious circumstances, SGPC elections should be cancelled," Dayal said.
with thanks : link above.
SikhsIndia
Monday, September 19, 2011
Polling peaceful, turnout lowest in sitting SGPC president's constituency
Ludhiana Polling for the SGPC elections passed off peacefully with the district recording 56.43 per cent voter turnout. Votes for 18 seats falling in 13 constituencies involving 73 candidates were cast on Sunday. With a 39.25 per cent polling percentage, Ludhiana West recorded the lowest voter turn-out. Sitting SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar is the SAD(B) candidate from this constituency while the highest polling percentage was recorded in Raikot (71 per cent) where Jagjit Singh Talwandi, son of senior SAD(B) leader Jagdev Singh Talwandi, is the front runner.
Counting of votes has begun with initial trends indicating a SAD(B) lead with the lowest lead of about 400 votes being recorded at Ludhiana South, at the time of writing this report. SAD(B)’s candidate Simerjeet Singh Bains is contesting this seat against independent Surinder Singh Ryat.
Meanwhile stray incidents of heated arguments were reported from areas like Doraha, Humbran, Praian and Moti Nagar. Sitting SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar too was accused of creating ruckus in some polling booths which fall in his area. Makkar, however, denied the charges.
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari maintained that the polling went off peacefully. Khanna recorded a poll percentage of 68 per cent. Polls for four seats were held here in which candidates like Amrik Singh of SAD (1920), Sandeep Singh (independent), Jaswinder Singh of SAD( Amritsar) and Davinder Singh of SAD (B) are in the fray.
Payal meanwhile recorded 66 per cent voter turnout. Surjit Singh of SAD(Amritsar), Devinder Singh of Panch Pardhani, Mangat Rai Singh of SAD(1920) and Raghubir Singh of SAD(B) are contesting for this seat. Sidhwan Bet which recorded a poll percentage of 58.25 per cent has Harnek Singh of SAD(A), Gurbaksh Singh (independent, Jaswant Singh SAD(B), and Jagir Singh (independent) in the fray.
with thanks : express india : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
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