Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to adopt 4 villages near Hemkunt Sahib

AMRITSAR: After cooperating with army and state government machinery in evacuation and distribution of relief material to the Uttarakhand natural calamity victims, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is all set to adopt 4 disaster hit villages near Hemkunt Sahib to rehabilitate the lives of their residents and provide them with basic living infrastructure that have been washed away in recent flash floods.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK told TOI on Thursday that DSGMC had in principal decided to adopt Pandukeshwar and Gobind Ghat villages besides two more villages on way to Hemkunt Sahib. He said local MLA from Badrinath Rajinder Singh Bhandari was taking keen interest in DSGMC adopting villages falling in his constituency.

"We are sending a high powered team that would assess the damage in these villages following which a detailed plan would be chalked out with the help of subject experts" said president of DSGMC that evacuated 75 local residents of Badrinath and airlifted them to Joshi Math on Wednesday when army had officially called off its evacuation mission.

He said he had received reports that residents of these villages had lost their homes, farms and livestock and have to begin their life from scratch.

"We can help them in building their homes, helping them to purchase livestock or set up small vacations as par their desires " he said.

He said he had also convened a meeting of executive body of DSGMC to discuss the issue before sending the high level team to assess the damage in these villages.

Manjit said they were not restricted in adopting just 4 villages but were open and the final decision on the number of villages would be taken after receiving the report of the team who would soon visit the spot. Hailing the efforts and interest shown by local Badrinath MLA , GK said the DSGMC would be able to reach up to every affected person with local support and logistics.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Sikh intellectuals back Sidhu on his religious utterings

AMRITSAR: Sikh intellectuals have appealed to Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh to examine the whole context in which BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu had used the religious song Naam Khumari Nanaka Charri Rahe Din Raat in a satirical form before taking any action against him. 

Sikh intellectual and a senior professor of Guru Nanak Dev University Professor Balwant Singh said that though the verse was not a part of Gurbani but Jathedar should examine the whole context in which it was used - may be in satirical form. Going through the reported verse uttered by Sidhu he said "It appears as if he has only praised the name of Nanak". Sidhu's uttering of Sikh religious song in humorous way had earned the wrath of Akal Takht jathedar. 

Gurbachan Singh said that Akal Takht secretariat had not received any complaint against Sidhu but the Sikh clergy would definitely contemplate so as to dispel the confusions among Panth with respect to mocking of Sikh religious songs. Another Sikh scholar Baljinder Singh said "One has to be cautious while using Sikh religious names but it should be examined by Sikh clergy before reaching at any decision". Despite several attempts Sidhu who is reportedly in Mumbai, couldn't be contacted for comments. 

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.

Sidhu hurts Sikh sentiments, evokes Akal Takht ire

AMRITSAR: Sitting BJP MP Navjot Sidhu is set to face ire of Akal Takht once again.

The former cricketer who is seen engaging in a funny banter with comedian Kapil Sharma on a TV show telecasted on Colors channel on Sunday allegedly used name of first master of Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev saying the lines were in gurbani (Sikh hymns).

Sidhu during the show said: Bura nasha sharab ka, uttar jaye prabhat. Naam khumari Nanaka, chadi rahe din raat.

Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh though there is no such line in gurbani but still Sidhu has no right to use name of Guru Nanak Dev in such lines mentioning ‘liquor’.

The Sikh community has been deeply hurt by this act of Sidhu.

The Jathedar said he himself is looking into the matter and appropriate action will be taken against Sidhu.

Seeing the anger amongst the Sikhs, the video showing Sidhu speaking the lines has been removed from various social networking sites.

Navjot Sidhu is no new to controversy.

Earlier in 2009, he was accused of hurting Sikh sentiments by taking part in ‘yagna’ and wear a thread across his body.

with thanks : Punjab Newsline : LINK

Sikh Couple Forced to Leave Theater for Wearing Articles of Faith

Image: Ikman and Manjot Singh, shown here with their children, were forced to leave an AMC theater in Emeryville, Calif., after security guards accused the couple of carrying weapons.

In a broad-ranging move affecting all Sikh Americans who wear their articles of faith, AMC Theaters has stated it will vigorously enforce its “no weapons” policy after a Sikh couple wearing kirpans (a ceremonial dagger carried by Sikhs) were asked to leave a theater in Emeryville, California.

On June 22, Manjot and Ikman Singh were preparing to watch the new Superman movie, “Man of Steel,” at AMC’s Bay 16 theater in Emeryville. After finding seats, Manjot Singh went to the concession stand, where he was confronted by security guards who said he was carrying a weapon. Singh and his wife Ikman both wear kirpans under their clothing; both were asked to leave the theater.

AMC communications director Andy DiOrio told India-West the company has banned weapons of any sort in its 347 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. “We vigorously enforce our no weapons policy for all patrons,” he asserted.

DiOrio referred to the kirpan – a blunt, ceremonial blade carried by Sikh men and women – as a knife, and added that knives were prohibited at AMC theaters. Asked if this effectively barred all observant Sikhs from attending AMC theaters, DiOrio repeated his earlier comment and characterized the kirpan involved in the incident as a “5 ½ inch unsheathed knife.”

AMC has issued a corporate statement, saying: “Our no weapons policy prohibits guests from carrying weapons of any kind into our theaters. This national policy is for the safety and security of our guests and staff.” 

“The person in question was approached when our security team noticed the guest was wearing an approximately 5-1/2 inch unsheathed knife, in clear violation of our rules. We stand by our policy, as this matter is about the weapon alone and not at all about religious freedoms. The safety and security of all our guests and associates is our duty and responsibility, and we take it very seriously.”

In an interview with India-West, Manjot and Ikman Singh both stated they were humiliated by the incident. Manjot Singh said he could see at least three security guards eyeing him as he approached the concession stand. As he prepared to head back into the theater, allegedly tailed by the guards, Manjot Singh said one of the guards approached him and asked him to step aside.

The guard allegedly told Singh he believed he was carrying a weapon. Singh replied he was not carrying a weapon, but was wearing his kirpan under his shirt. The security guard allegedly said, “I know all about Sikhs and we have a zero tolerance policy towards weapons,” according to Singh, who replied that he did not have a weapon.

The security guard reportedly asked Singh to remove his kirpan, saying he would keep it for him until after the movie was over. Singh explained it was an article of faith that could not be removed. The security guard then allegedly asked Singh to leave. Singh mentioned that his wife – who was inside the theater – also was wearing a kirpan. A security guard went inside the theater to find Ikman and brought her out.

“I saw my husband standing there and I asked what happened and he said, ‘they’re kicking us out.’ I was just in shock as to how someone could even do that,” Ikman Singh told India-West. She added that a kirpan is a religious requirement for Sikh women, who are considered equal to men according to the tenets of their faith.

Manjot Singh said he was interrogated by theater security for about 20 minutes, in full view of other patrons. “A few people were staring and looking at us like we were crazy. Looking the way we do, you can’t help but feel people must think we did something wrong for this to happen,” he said. Singh said he and his wife were looking for an apology from AMC as well as a “kirpan policy” at the theaters.

“It is not acceptable to racially profile and pick someone out of a line because you think they look scary. (AMC) needs to educate their employees on Sikhs and on how to deal with different people in general. This level of bias, insensitivity and discrimination is illegal and unacceptable in 21st century California,” stated Manjot Singh.

United Sikhs has taken up the Singhs’ complaint and has launched a campaign to get AMC to define its policy regarding kirpans at its theaters. Manmeet Singh, a staff attorney with the organization, told India-West he had contacted AMC on the couple’s behalf, but has not yet received a response.

“The kirpan Manjot was carrying has the bluntness of a butter knife,” said Manmeet Singh, adding that it was inaccurate for the AMC to characterize it as a knife or a weapon. Manmeet Singh noted that Manjot and Ikman daily wear their kirpans to their workplaces and other venues, including courthouses, without incident.

with thanks : newamericamedia : LINK : for detailed news.

Waheguru, sab te mehar karna jiyo !

Sikh Jailor in Australia

Sikh Army persons in Sewa at Uttrakhand

Vandals attack Sikh temple in Cambridge

Written byGARETH MCPHERSON

24/06/13 CITY temple attacked24/06/13 Cambridge Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) vandalised overnight Sat / Sun. Window smashed . Picture by David Johnson .

A temple was attacked by vandals in Cambridge.

A window was smashed when stones were thrown at the Cambridge Gurdwara, a temple and community centre for the county’s 700-strong Sikh community.

Police are treating the attack, which happened in Arbury Court, Arbury Road, overnight on Saturday, as criminal damage and do not believe it was a hate crime.

But officers are “open-minded” about how the damage was caused and who did it.

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: “We received reports that a window had been damaged at the Gurdwara in Arbury Road, Cambridge, between 8pm on Saturday (June 22) and 6.15am yesterday.

“The matter is being treated as criminal damage.”

Dr Jagjit Singh Srai, a trustee of the temple, said he did not think it was a hate crime.

He added: “We do not know many details. We think it was some kids messing around. We know there were some children around there at the time. It’s one small window pane and we’ve contacted police.”

The Sikh temple is the first to be built in Cambridgeshire when it opened on the site of former pub The Grove at the beginning of the year.

Members at the centre, who discovered the broken window on Sunday morning, said it was the first time it had been attacked.

Nigel Gawthrope, who represents King’s Hedges on the city council and was at the opening in January, was upset when told of the attack.

He said: “It does seem like an act of wanton vandalism. If it was anything to with people like the EDL you would expect some sort of graffiti there too.”

Anyone who knows anything about the incident can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

gareth.mcpherson@cambridge-news.co.uk

with thanks : CAMBRIDGE NEWS : LINK

Sikh couple kicked out of theater due to religious item

EMERYVILLE, CA - A Sacramento man said he and his wife were asked to leave a movie theater because company policy considers his religious item a weapon.

Manjot Singh took his wife to see Man of Steel at an Emeryville AMC theater Saturday night. When he went to buy snacks, he said security guards watched him closely for several minutes.

Then, a manager approached him.

"He's like 'I understand you're carrying a weapon.' And you know I say, 'I have an article of faith, a religious symbol, it's not a weapon.' And he says, 'Yeah, I know all about Sikhs, but we have a zero-tolerance policy so I'm going to have to ask you to leave or relinquish your weapon,'" Singh described.

Singh said he was wearing his kirpan underneath his shirt, out of sight. A kirpan is a short cermonial dagger worn by baptized Sikhs and is one of five articles of faith worn by Sikhs.

An AMC spokesperson confirms the company asked Singh to leave because of the policy, but he said a security guard and the manager saw the kirpan unsheathed.

AMC released the following statement regarding the incident:

"Our 'no weapons' policy prohibits guests from carrying weapons of any kind into our theatres. This national policy is for the safety and security of our guests and staff.  The person in question was approached when our security team noticed the guest was wearing an approximately 5-1/2 inch unsheathed knife, in clear violation of our rules. We stand by our policy, as this matter is about the weapon alone and not at all about religious freedoms. The safety and security of all our guests and associates is our duty and responsibility, and we take it very seriously."

AMC said the manager asked Singh to follow the policy, or leave. Singh maintained he was carrying a religious item, not a weapon.

"I was surprised, not only did our night get ruined, but it felt kind of really racist, the way we were treated and kind of kicked out," Singh said.

AMC gave Singh a refund, but he hopes the company will apologize and change the policy to allow religious items like a kirpan into their theaters.

with thanks : News10/KXTV : LINK : for VID & Pics too.

Uttranchal pics from various sources

Langer at Gobind Ghat in Uttranchal after the devastating floods :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64GD3ajpjc