NEW DELHI: The Centre has assured Parliament that it has no intention of amending a notification curtailing the rights of sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in theSikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) elections, nipping a potentially emotive political agitation.
The Centre acted after all panthic groups and theShiromani Akali Dal criticized the submission by its counsel to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the ban on shaven Sikhs voting in the SGPC elections was being reviewed.
The move set off shockwaves in Punjab where Akalis swiftly accused Congress of interfering in Sikh affairs and SGPC election due later this month, making the debate sharper. It is understood that the submission was prompted by senior Punjab Congress leaders, who felt the gambit could be politically beneficial.
The developments led to urgent fire-fighting at the Centre, with the government telling BJP that the counsel did not hold the brief and appeared to have misled the court. It was conveyed that the Centre has no intention of tampering with SGPC election rules.
with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.
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Saturday, September 3, 2011
Pak bans more than one visit by Sikh pilgrims
AMRITSAR: Pakistan government's decision not to allow more than one visit in a year to Sikh devotees wanting to visit shrines in that country and denial of visas to Indian pilgrims whose passports mention the place of birth as `undivided India`, has dismayed the devout.
At present, Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha, Bhai Mardana Yadgar Kirtan Darbar Society and Haryana Gurdham Yatra Committee regularly send jathas there on religious occasions.
Confirming this, visa attachA©, Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Mohammad Kamal, told TOI on Friday, "These are policy matters and the decision has been taken at higher level."
"This is very unfortunate, it has hurt the Sikhs` religious sentiments," said president of Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha Swaran Singh Gill. He said there were many Sikhs wanting to visit Pakistan on religious occasions, but now they would have to wait for a year.
According to protocol, four jathas are sent to Pakistan- on Baisakhi, martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev and Ranjit Singh, and birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.
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At present, Sikh organizations, including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha, Bhai Mardana Yadgar Kirtan Darbar Society and Haryana Gurdham Yatra Committee regularly send jathas there on religious occasions.
Confirming this, visa attachA©, Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Mohammad Kamal, told TOI on Friday, "These are policy matters and the decision has been taken at higher level."
"This is very unfortunate, it has hurt the Sikhs` religious sentiments," said president of Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha Swaran Singh Gill. He said there were many Sikhs wanting to visit Pakistan on religious occasions, but now they would have to wait for a year.
According to protocol, four jathas are sent to Pakistan- on Baisakhi, martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev and Ranjit Singh, and birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.
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Friday, September 2, 2011
No changes in election norms for SGPC, government clarifies
The central government on Friday clarified that no changes had been made in the norms of elections to the Sikh religious body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and that the exercise would be held according to schedule on September 18.
The clarification came a day after a central government counsel told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a 2003 notification preventing Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections had been withdrawn. The court was hearing pleas seeking voting rights to Sehajdhari or non-baptised Sikhs in the SGPC elections.
The issue was taken up in the Rajya Sabha by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as soon as the house met at 11 am.
Reading a statement on behalf of Home Minister P Chidambaram, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government had not withdrawn the notification.
Bansal said no one had briefed the advocate, Harbhagwan Singh. “In particular, he had no authority to make the statement that the notification would be withdrawn.”
“Government also wishes to make it clear that there is no proposal to resend or withdraw the notification dated October 8, 2003. Elections to the SGPC will be held as per schedule. Government will also bring the above facts to the notice of the high court today,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the counsel's statement had created tension inPunjab.
“In the last 24 hours, huge tension has been created. Impression is that government is interfering in a religious institution... is the government planning to proceed and take action,” Jaitley asked.
After Jaitley's statement, Chidambaram got up to say that he would ask the senior counsel why he made such statement.
“I will call the senior counsel and ask him under what circumstances he made the statement. At this stage, I submit we need not attribute any motive to any one. Let us find out what has happened,” Chidambaram said.
with thanks : DNAIndia : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
Ban Removed on Sehajdharis Voting in SGPC Polls
The Centre today informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it has withdrawn a 2003 notification preventing 'Sehajdhari' or non-baptised Sikhs from voting in the SGPC elections.
The Centre told the bench, comprising justices M M Kumar, Alok Singh and Gurdev Singh, that the October 8, 2003, notification was issued "without application of mind" and that its withdrawal now enables Sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in the September 18 polls.
The government's reply came on a seven-year old plea filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation challenging the notification.
With today's development, the voters' list for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee general house elections will be re-drafted, if Gurdwara Elections Commission allows the non-baptised Sikhs to participate in the polls. The process could delay the elections.
The GEC secretary, Avtar Singh Narula, said the commission will react to the development after it receives a a copy of the reply.
Appearing for Union of India, advocate Harbhagwan Singh told the notification was issued "without any application of mind only on the basis of the resolution passed by the SGPC on March 3, 2002."
Taking note of the assertions, the court said: "In view of the statement by senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh, the reference made to the full Bench is rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such."
The petition was filed by the president of Sehajdhari Sikh Federation, Paramjeet Singh Ranu, who welcomed the notification's withdrawal and appealed to the SGPC to treat them at par with other Sikhs and allow them to participate in the polls.
However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told reporters at Ludhiana that he condemns the withdrawal of the notification issued by the NDA government as the Sehajdhari Sikhs did not conform to the definition of true Sikhs.
Makkar said the UPA government's action was a "direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs by the Congress, which could not be tolerated."
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who heads SAD, also lashed out at the Centre and said his party is "heading for a clean sweep on all 170 odd (SGPC) seats in the forthcoming poll, and the Centre's move comes in the wake of its utter frustration over its inability to take illegal and illegitimate control over Sikh religious affairs."
Describing the Centre's move as "dangerous", he said, "I am shocked at the insensitivity of the central leaders and of the Congress High Command toward the Sikh sentiments."
with thanks : outlookindia : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
The Centre told the bench, comprising justices M M Kumar, Alok Singh and Gurdev Singh, that the October 8, 2003, notification was issued "without application of mind" and that its withdrawal now enables Sehajdhari Sikhs to vote in the September 18 polls.
The government's reply came on a seven-year old plea filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation challenging the notification.
With today's development, the voters' list for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee general house elections will be re-drafted, if Gurdwara Elections Commission allows the non-baptised Sikhs to participate in the polls. The process could delay the elections.
The GEC secretary, Avtar Singh Narula, said the commission will react to the development after it receives a a copy of the reply.
Appearing for Union of India, advocate Harbhagwan Singh told the notification was issued "without any application of mind only on the basis of the resolution passed by the SGPC on March 3, 2002."
Taking note of the assertions, the court said: "In view of the statement by senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh, the reference made to the full Bench is rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such."
The petition was filed by the president of Sehajdhari Sikh Federation, Paramjeet Singh Ranu, who welcomed the notification's withdrawal and appealed to the SGPC to treat them at par with other Sikhs and allow them to participate in the polls.
However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told reporters at Ludhiana that he condemns the withdrawal of the notification issued by the NDA government as the Sehajdhari Sikhs did not conform to the definition of true Sikhs.
Makkar said the UPA government's action was a "direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs by the Congress, which could not be tolerated."
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who heads SAD, also lashed out at the Centre and said his party is "heading for a clean sweep on all 170 odd (SGPC) seats in the forthcoming poll, and the Centre's move comes in the wake of its utter frustration over its inability to take illegal and illegitimate control over Sikh religious affairs."
Describing the Centre's move as "dangerous", he said, "I am shocked at the insensitivity of the central leaders and of the Congress High Command toward the Sikh sentiments."
with thanks : outlookindia : link above for detailed news.
SikhsIndia
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Few Sikhs qualify for gurdwara poll
New Delhi:The city is home to an estimated 10 lakh Sikh voters,but only 1.9 lakh have enrolled with the states directorate of gurdwaras to elect members to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.The panels four-year tenure has ended and polls are scheduled later this year.Lukewarm response from the community has triggered concern among Sikh leaders in the city.
To be a voter,a person has to fit into the definition of a Sikh as laid out in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1971.Besides,one needs to fill up Form 2,which seeks a declaration from the applicant that he does not trim or shave his hair,does not smoke or consume liquor and is a Sikh as per definition of the word given in section 2 (n) of the Act.Not many can pass this eligibility test,but Sikh leaders attribute the low enrolment to growing disenchantment among citys Sikhs to gurdwara politics.But the directorate is still hopeful of registering at least 3.5 to 4 lakh voters in its final voter list before the polls.
The form ends with a footnote saying any person who makes a statement or declaration which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false can be punished under the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act,1971,under Rule 36 of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (Registration of Electors) Rule,1973.Such a person can be summoned by gurdwara authorities to give an explanation and may be asked to pledge that he would not violate principles of Sikhism again
.The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC),an autonomous organization with 51 elected members,has a four-year tenure and manages the gurdwaras in Delhi.The last election was held in January,2007 and Paramjit Singh Sarna from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) was elected president.A counterpart of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee of Amritsar,this committee operates independently.
To revise the voter list,we are using the latest data on Sikh voters available with Delhis chief electoral officer.The Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act lays down a definition of a Sikh and to participate in gurdwara elections,every applicant has to give a declaration to fulfil that definition, said the minister in charge of gurdwara elections,Arvinder Singh Lovely.
with thanks : times of india : link above.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Birmingham's Sikh Nishkam primary free school to open
The first Sikh-ethos "free" school in the country is preparing to open.
The Nishkam Primary in Birmingham will be in the first batch of 24 free schools across the country to begin teaching children this September.
It has been set up by the Nishkam Education Trust - a charity which already runs a private nursery in Handsworth.
The group had planned to open a grant-maintained primary school three years ago, but could not secure the funding.
Head of school, Narinder Brach, says the coalition government's free school policy gave the chance to do to revisit the plans.
with thanks : BBC News : link above for detailed news
SIKHSINDIA
Centre says no to separate Sikh Marriage Act, SAD to meet PM
Chandigarh In a major blow to the Sikh community, the Centre has ruled out any amendments to the Anand Karaj (Marriage) Act of 1909 and said providing a separate Act for the Sikhs would invite similar demands from other communities.
“There may not be any justification for secluding Sikhs from the rest of the categories (covered by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955) as such a step would invite similar demands from other religious denominations. It is against the directive principles in Article 44 of the Constitution which aims at bringing in a Uniform Civil Code,” Law Minister Salman Khurshid said in reply to a query by Shiromani Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa in Rajya Sabha.
The Centre’s move to enact a separate Act for Sikh marriages drew criticism from different quarters with various Sikh bodies terming it as “anti-Sikh”, while SAD said it will take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and raise it in Parliament.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal reacted strongly to the government’s decision and called it a “breach of trust” by the Centre, as the former law minister M Veerappa Moily had assured the draft bill for Sikh Marriage Act was ready and would be sent for Cabinet approval soon before being placed in Parliament.
The marriages performed under Sikh religious rights are registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act.
The proposal was that under the Special Marriage Act, which was to be amended, provision for the registration of marriages performed according to the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 shall also be incorporated.
with thanks : expressindia : link above for detailed news.
SIKHSINDIA
New York law to ensure freedom to Sikhs practicing religious beliefs
Sikhs in the US will be allowed to wear turbans and grow beards in federal agencies like the police department and transit authority after New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg Wednesday signed into law a bill that will ensure freedom for employees to practice religious beliefs at workplace.
The 'Workplace Religious Freedom' bill was initiated by civil rights group Sikh Coalition and sponsored by Queens Democrat Council member Mark Weprin.
In signing the law, Bloomberg said employers must make a "reasonable accommodation" for an employee's religious practices unless following such practises creates an "undue hardship."
The undue hardship is now defined as requiring "significant expense or difficulty."
"This bill sends the message that people should not have to choose between serving our city and adhering to their religious beliefs. All Americans should receive the full embrace of our country’s constitutional freedoms," Weprin said.
Sikh Coalition's programme director and co-founder Amardeep Singh said the law would ensure that religious minorities like Sikhs and Muslims in the US are not discriminated against by their employers for practising their religion.
with thanks : DNA india : link above for detailed news.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
FYI the SGPC is busy,no asssistance provide in Amritsar for we poor Indonesia Sikhs
Sardar ji,
FYI the SGPC is busy,no asssistance provide in Amritsar for we poor Indonesia Sikhs. What was written in our faith( Karma) we happily accepted and now wish to try in N.Delhi. Our Gurmat school project will be completed anyway with or without SGPC donation.
www:gurudwaragurunanak.org "Jithey niche semalien,Thithey Nader teri bakshish"(SGGS ang 14). I am at present in N.Delhi after giving up in my request for assistance from SGPC unheeded,and neglected.
Gurfateh
Balwant singh
FYI the SGPC is busy,no asssistance provide in Amritsar for we poor Indonesia Sikhs. What was written in our faith( Karma) we happily accepted and now wish to try in N.Delhi. Our Gurmat school project will be completed anyway with or without SGPC donation.
www:gurudwaragurunanak.org "Jithey niche semalien,Thithey Nader teri bakshish"(SGGS ang 14). I am at present in N.Delhi after giving up in my request for assistance from SGPC unheeded,and neglected.
Gurfateh
Balwant singh
Lokayukta orders probe against Badal
 The Punjab Lokayukta on Monday ordered a probe against Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and former MLA of the Akali Dal Bibi Jagir Kaur to ascertain charges of misuse of public land in the state. | |
Elections in the state are around the corner and this probe is likely to embarrass the ruling combine. |
with thanks : deccanherald : link above for detailed news.
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