Why Ram Rahim rape case verdict has put Haryana, Punjab on tenterhooks

Ram Rahim rape case verdict: Haryana and Punjab have been put on high alert and prohibitory orders imposed ahead of the court verdict in an alleged rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Army has been put on standby for help to maintain law and order, while the Centre has assured all possible help to both states. The verdict will be announced by a special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25.

It may be surprising for many as to how a case against the head of a religious group has almost halted everything in two states. To understand this we need to look into the history of the case, Dera’s conflict with Sikhs and also about Ram Rahim, who has acted in films.

The case

The history of the case dates back to 2002 when a Dera Sacha Sauda sadhvi sent an anonymous letter to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of raping her and many other sadhvis. The sadhvi had also accused the Dera chief of threatening her not to talk about the incident to anyone.

On September 24, 2002, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo motu cognizance of the letter and referred the matter to CBI for probe. According to The Indian Express, CBI had questioned 18 sadhvis. Some of them reportedly told investigating officials that Ram Rahim and his followers were “very dangerous people”. Two sadhvis had accused Dera head of rape. One of them even alleged that she was raped by the Dera chief so that she might be “purified.”

The CBI filed its chargesheet in the case on July 30, 2017.

Apart from the rape case, Ram Rahim is also an accused in the murders of Dera follower Ranjit Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chattrapati. Ranjit’s family alleges he was killed on July 10, 2002 on the suspicion of being involved in the anonymous letter by the sadhvi. Chattrapati, who had written a lot on illegal activities within the Dera, was shot at on October 23, 2002. He died in hospital after a month.

Tension

Both Punjab and Haryana states have a large number of Dera followers. Dera followers, most of whom are Dalits, are spread in other states as well. According to the official website the sect, it has around 60 million “faithful followers” around the world. The sect calls itself as a “Social Welfare & Spiritual Organization that preaches and practices humanitarianism and selfless services to others.”

Authorities fear the supporters would resort to largescale violence if Ram Rahim is found guilty. The Dera chief has, however, appealed for peace. Thousands of Dera followers, who are also called as “premis”, have gathered in Panchkula, at the headquarters of the sect in Sirsa as well as its deras in both states to show their solidarity with Ram Rahim.

with thanks : Financial Express : LINK

JHARKHAND BECOMES THIRD STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO IMPLEMENT ANAND MARRIAGE ACT

ACT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN ALL STATES SOON: SIRSA

New Delhi, August 23:  Jharkhand has become third state of the country to implement Anand Marriage act in the country after Punjab and Haryana. This was disclosed by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa here today.

       In a statement released here today, Mr. Sirsa informed that Jharkhand Chief Minister Mr.  Raghubar Dass has communicated the decision to implement the act in their act in a letter written to him as he had earlier taken up the issue with him.

He said that now Jharkhand has become third state in the country to adopt and implement the act. Earlier Punjab and Haryana were the first two states to implement the act. He said that he had taken the task to get this act implemented in all the states and was hopeful that this task will be accomplished soon. He said that he was in touch with all the state Govt. and lg of the UPs to get this Act implemented in their state. He said that process to implement this act in Delhi was near completion. He said that he had already met Assam and Uttar Pradesh CM in this regard and was in touch with Uttrakhand Chief Minister on the issue.

       Thanking the Jharkhand Chief Minister Mr. Raghubar Dass, Mr. Sirsa said that this decision will enable the Sikhs residing in the state to get their marriages under the act and their problems in this regard will come to an end. He said that with its implementation a long standing demand has been met.

Happy Gurupurab- ਬੇਅੰਤ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜੀ !

ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਰਕਾਸਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਰਸਨ ਬਸਾਯਉ ॥  ਜੁਗੋ ਜੁਗ ਅਟਲ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਦਿਹਾੜੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜੀ ! With all the best wishes, B S Vohra

Raising the issues regularly : B S Vohra

Raising the issues regularly : B S Vohra

Threatened, assaulted in Bangalore, Sikh family turns to Akal Takht for help

AMRITSAR: A Bangalore-based retired Sikh Army officer, whose wife and two sons were allegedly assaulted and threatened, has approached the Akal Takht requesting it to use its influence on the Karnataka government to give him justice in the case.

In a letter written to the Akal Takht jathedar, a copy of which was sent to TOI on Saturday, Col R S Uppal (retd) wrote, "My son Harmeet Uppal was brutally assaulted and he suffered multiple facial fractures and a broken jaw. He had to undergo a 5-our surgery and has six plates in his mouth. He was also hit on the chest, head, back and limbs. My younger son, Harpreet Uppal, suffered multiple blunt injuries on head, chest, face, back and limbs."

Harmeet spoke to TOI from Bangalore, saying his family had been getting threats from people, who told them to sell their property and leave the city. "We have met everybody in the Bangalore police establishment to get justice, but to no avail. Now, we have approached the Akal Takht to ensure that the culprits are booked immediately and we can live safely in Bangalore," he said.

Harmeet, an IT professional having worked in US, alleged, "They threatened to break the legs of my mother Surinder Kaur and outrage her modesty. Police did nothing to safeguard us."

In the letter, Uppal has also mentioned that they were called 'Pakistani'. He stated that despite the seriousness of the assault on the family, they were not even being provided its CCTV footage. "There are three cameras on the main road which captured the assault," he mentioned.

Harmeet said he was hopeful that the Akal Takht jathedar would give directions to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to constitute a committee and probe into the incident which had scared them enough to leave in India's 'Silicon valley'. "We hope the Akal Takht will write to the Karnataka government," he said.

When contacted on Tuesday, Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan Singh's personal assistant Jaswinderpal Singh said they had received the letter and asked for CCTV footage, FIR, medical report and other relevant documents of the assault from the Uppal family.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed report & video

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib : Inside view

pic with thanks : Jasmen Singh Noni

Langer at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib : Waheguru

with thanks to : Amandeep Singh - Timesgroup

B S Vohra with RJ Rounac - Red FM 93.5 - Bajate Raho

Community shaken after 2 US Sikhs killed in 10 days

AMRITSAR: Three incidents of attacks on Sikhs in California in a span of 10 days, which left two Sikhs dead, has left the Sikh American community worried and shaken. In the first incident on July 18, a Sikh American woman Simranjit Grewal was driving to work when suddenly an unknown assailant threw a stone at her car, which shattered the wind-shield on the passenger side. The assaulter reportedly shouted "Go back to your country".

On July 23, Subag Singh (68) was seen leaving his home in Fresno, California. When he didn't return in the evening, his family released a missing person notice. He was later found dead in a canal with injuries. In the third incident on the night of July 25, Simranjit Singh (20) was shot dead while working at a gas station near Sacramento in California. Before the attack was carried out on Simranjit, his colleague faced verbal and physical attack by a group of men.

"These attacks are inexcusable and we offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of Subag and Simranjit," said Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) executive director Baldev Singh while talking to TOI on Saturday. He said that they had called upon local and federal law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate these crimes and classify them as hate incidents if that was the motive.

with thanks : TOI : LINK : for detailed news

Stem cell swab event held at Surrey Sikh Temple, encourages members of South Asian community to become donors

A stem cell drive is being held in Surrey today to encourage members of the South Asian community to consider being a donor.

“Only 6 percent of Canada’s adult stem cell registry includes registrants of South Asian descent”

Sarah Jasmins, Territory Manager for Canadian Blood Services says only 6 percent of Canada’s adult stem cell registry include those of South Asian descent.

That’s even though there are currently 37 South Asian patients in Canada searching for a stem cell match.

“Currently there are 37 South Asian patients in Canada searching for stem cell matches, but only 6 percent of Canada’s adult stem cell registry includes registrants of South Asian descent.”

“Patients are more likely to find a donor from their own ancestral group”

with thanks : LINK : for detailed news report