Sikh leaders meet Sonia Gandhi

JALANDHAR: A delegation of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee and SAD (Delhi), led by president Paramjit Singh Sarna met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday to raise issues, including the Anand Marriage Act, granting of citizenship to Hindu and Sikh migrants from Afghanistan and the matter of blacklisted Sikhs.

The issue of the constitution of a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) was also taken up with her. "We told her that this was a poll promise of the Congress to the Sikhs of Haryana and if the party wanted to keep them with it, the promise would have to be fulfilled," Sarna told The Times of India. 

With thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

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Sikh shrine in Baghdad lives on in memories

A desolate courtyard surrounded by fields of mournful graves is all that remains of an ancient shrine to the Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak inside a sprawling Muslim cemetery in Baghdad.

War, insurgents or looters have wiped any trace of a historical footnote that had preserved the memory of the Indian holy man's 16th-century journey through Arabia and his stay in Baghdad, hailed by Sikhs as an early example of inter-faith dialogue.

"No one visits anymore," lamented Abu Yusef, the lean and bearded Muslim caretaker, standing in the nearly-bare patio where a disorderly stack of broken electric fans and a discarded refrigerator replace the prayer books and articles of Sikh worship that had furnished a shrine whose modesty mirrored the apparent humility of the man it honoured.

"Before the war a few Sikh pilgrims would occasionally arrive," Abu Yusef said, referring to the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled ex-dictator Saddam Hussein and unleashed an unending cycle of violence.

with thanks : SIFY : link above for detailed news.

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Flag hoisting ceremony on the eve of Republic Day at Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College

Dr.Man Mohan Kaur(Principal,Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,University of Delhi,Dev Nagar),hoisted National Flag on the eve of Republic Day celebrations in the College premises.Professor Harmohinder Singh Sarna(Executive Member of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee),Dr.Amardeep Singh Bindra (In- Charge of NCC Wing of the College) and other staff members with their presence boosted young National Cadet Corps (NCC) students of the college who marked the day with Grand March Past .

Plans to include Sikh trainers in NS camps

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24, 2011): The National Service Training Department is planning to include Sikh trainers in National Service (NS) camps in the future, said department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil today.

The NS service department has also urged volunteers or NGOs identified by the Malaysian Sikh Union to visit all nine NS camps nationwide to get feedback on problems or complaints by Sikh trainees.

Abdul Hadi said the measures in line with the government’s aim to instill unity and patriotism among trainees of various races and culture.

He also said the initiatives will help prevent a similar incident last week where 17-year-old Sikh trainee Basant Singh woke up at the Sungai Bakap camp in Penang to find his hair snipped off.

The cutting or shaving of hair is one of the four taboos in Sikhism.

Abdul Hadi was speaking in a press conference today after meeting the family of Basant and members of the Union of Perak Sikh Organisation (UPSO) in Wangsa Maju.

The family of Basant and UPSO made no comments on the hair-cutting incident as they are waiting for police to complete investigations.

Abdul Hadi said the parents have been informed that Basant is free to switch camps or defer his national service training although he cannot be exempted from NS.

with thanks : thesundaily : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

'No determination on diplomatic immunity for Nath'

The United States has made "no determination" on the question of diplomatic immunity for Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath against the backdrop of the summons issued against him by a US court on a lawsuit alleging his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The State Department here said that US is looking forward to working with Kamal Nath in his new capacity as the Urban Development Minister. 

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above for detailed news.

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Anti-Sikh riot nails Kamal Nath; NY court summons

New Delhi, Jan 23: Just after a few days that the Urban Development Ministry has been allotted to him, a major set back for Kamal Nath came on his way.

A New York court summoned Kamal Nath in regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and Washington also declined to provide diplomatic immunity to the minister.

A media report stated that a civil lawsuit was filed in a New York court in Apr 2010 alleging his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in New Delhi.

However, there is no legal case against Kamal Nath in India in connection with the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

with thanks : oneindia : link above for detailed news.

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Kamal Nath summoned by US court in 1984 Sikh riots case

Washington, Jan 23

 

Indian Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has been summoned by a New York court for a pre-trial conference Feb 9 for his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

 

The trial will proceed as the US State Department has declined to intervene in the case due to the seriousness of allegations of human rights violation against Kamal Nath, according to Gurpatwant S. Pannun, legal advisor for Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a US based human rights advocacy group.

After being summoned by the Southern district court of New York Dec 10, 2010, Kamal Nath had sought diplomatic immunity. His request for immunity has now been turned down by the State Department, Pannun said.

In April 2010, SFJ along with two individuals filed a law suit against Kamal Nath under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) & Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) asking the court to order compensatory and punitive damages against the minister.

According to Pannun: "Alien Tort Claims Act of United State, the law under which trial against Kamal Nath will be held is specifically created to provide remedy and forum to victims of genocide to vindicate their complaints."

with thanks : prokerala : link above for detailed news.

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INVITATION from AASRA Magazine

INVITATION

Celebrating 5 Years of Aasra Magazine

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2011

TIME: 2:30 PM

COVINGTON LIBRARY

27100 164th Avenue SE
Covington, WA 98042
 

The Sikh community is one of the fastest growing communities in King County. Sikhism's faith-based traditions and teachings are associated with the history, society and culture inspired by their holy book the Guru Granth Sahib. You must have seen Sikh men with turbans and beards; find out the meaning behind this tradition. Learn about the Sikh religion and culture. Their music. Participate in the Poetry Reading. Enjoy refreshments and ask any question you may have in a relaxed atmosphere. Brought to you by Aasra Magazine- Connecting Communities and KCLS. For information please Email aasra@q.com or call 206-550-3154

SLUMDOG SIKHS : Join our Facebook Group

Please join our SikhsIndia Facebook account group : SLUMDOG SIKHS. Come, let's do something for the downtrodden sikhs.

Best Regards

B S Vohra
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Four follower of Sacha Sauda appear at Akal Takht, returns to Sikh religion

AMRITSAR: Jatehdar Akal Takht (highest Sikh temporal seat) Gyani Gurbachan Singh here Wednesday stated that four followers of Dera Saucha Sauda sect  snapped their ties with the dera and returned into Sikh fold as they appeared at Akal Takht with request to pardon them.

The four who entered in Sikh fold were Jaswinder Singh, Harnek Singh, Baljit Singh and Jaswinder Singh. They told the Jathedar that they were misled by the sect of Dera Sacha Sauda and now realized their blunder, said Jatehdar.

Jatehdar said that all the four have made commitment that they would follow the Sikh rituals with letter and spirit and would never look back to Sacha Sauda sect.

Jatehdar said that it would give good message to the society, with this development more and more people would snap ties from Sacha Sauda sect.

 

with thanks : punjabnewsline

Sikhs' bravery in world wars

AMRITSAR: To remember the forgotten Sikh soldiers and make the world aware of their heroic deeds in 'Sikhi Saroop' (complete Sikh appearance), Birmingham-based film-maker Jay Singh Sohal officially released his documentary movie 'Sikhs at War' on the net on Thursday.

The film recalls the forgotten Indian Sikhs who had fought the world wars for the British Empire in the name of king and country they had never seen.

Earlier, the movie was screened in the British Parliament in December.

More than 1,00,000 Sikhs had participated in these wars. Sikhs comprised 20% of the British Indian army in action, despite being only 2% of the Indian population.

with thanks : times of india : link above for detailed news.

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