Mohali golf range threatens to wipe out Sikh history

Ramaninder K Bhatia, TNN 17 September 2009, 02:40am IST

CHHAPAR CHIRI (Mohali): The most significant slice of Sikh history, the battleground where the Khalsa avenged the killing of the two younger sons of the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, may soon be lost to a swank golf range if the recently approved master plan of Mohali is executed.

Barely 20 km away from Chandigarh, off Kharar-Landran road, lies Chhappar-Chiri village — once known for its plentiful ponds and mangroves on the banks of Patiala Ki Rao — where in 1710, the brave Banda Singh, anointed general of the Khalsa army by Guru Gobind Singh and sent to stop the tyranny of Mughals, defeated the army of Wazir Khan, the subedar of Sirhind who had ordered the killing of Sahibzada Zoravar Singh and Fateh Singh by bricking them alive. Khan was put to death and his body dragged to Sirhind, about 25 km from the village, before the Khalsa army proceeded to decimate the town.

Sikh historians are unanimous in their observation that this was the most important victory against the Mughals as it paved the way for a number of similar triumphs across several towns in Punjab. Yet, except for a simple board, bearing a history of the place, outside the local gurdwara, there are no memorials even though the place, spread across 14-15 acre of dense forests, has been visited by many VIPs, including CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and his predecessor GS Tohra.

The gurdwara displays five handmade iron weapons and turban rings (chakkar) which were dug out by a farmer while installing a tubewell. ‘‘We’ve heard from our ancestors how the Khalsa forces, despite being outnumbered and ill-equipped, used the forest and guerrilla warfare tactics to defeat a far superior army,” says Zora Singh, a former sarpanch, whose ancestors’ participation in the war has been documented in books on the battle.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/chandigarh/Mohali-golf-range-threatens-to-wipe-out-Sikh-history/articleshow/5020583.cms

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Religious bias against Sikhs rising, claims group

Khushwant Singh, TNN 17 September 2009, 02:16am IST

CHANDIGARH: The US-based leading Sikh advocacy group, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), has claimed that community's rights
were being constantly curbed in that country and that the US could be fast going the France's way as far as framing laws for minorities was concerned.

Over the last one year alone, SALDEF says it has confronted many attempts by US state governments to perpetuate or enact laws that impair or would have impaired the right of Sikh Americans to practise their religion. "Many of these laws bore a disturbing resemblance to French laws,'' which have seriously impinged on the lives of Sikhs and other religious minorities in that country, said SALDEF in an e-mail statement to TOI.

Citing various such regulations, SALDEF claimed that there were more than five instances in 2009 that hindered Sikhs from wearing their mandated head covering. "The Oklahoma legislature's attempt to ban head covering in ID photos, followed by a similar attempt by Minnesota state, the Maryland attorney general's views on veils and head coverings, the Oregon legislature's ratification of a law banning religious clothing for teachers and the Michigan supreme court allowing judges to order head covering removals were all new challenges for the Sikh community,'' claimed SALDEF.

Eight years after 9/11 terror attacks and the subsequent surge in hate crimes and discrimination against Sikh Americans, "our new challenge is in ensuring that our government works for us, not against us, in the cause of defending religious freedom,'' the Sikh group said.

"One significant test of their commitment will be the manner in which the federal government and the states handle the PASS ID Act of 2009,'' said Manjit Singh, acting chairperson, SALDEF.

The proposed law is designed to standardize photographic identification documents in the US. "The law does not contain explicit protection for religious head coverings, and the high-level bureaucrats at the Department of Homeland Security believe that head coverings should not be worn in identification photographs,'' SALDEF claimed. It said it did not want a situation in which state governments depart from well-settled State Department standards and force Sikh Americans to remove their turbans as a condition to receiving critical identification documents.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Religious-bias-against-Sikhs-rising-claims-group/articleshow/5019796.cms

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Sikhnet youth online 2009 Film Festival

Sikhnet youth online 2009 Film Festival is on now and can be viewed at :
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/?utm_source=SikhNet&utm_campaign=eef4a1f840-Film_Festival_Announcement9_15_2009&utm_medium=email

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Gurmat samagam by Shabad chowki jatha

Plz view the details of the programme at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, F Block, Krishna nagar, Delhi - 110051 by Shabad Chowki Jatha.

Gurmat samagam : please mail us details of your programme

SikhsIndia
15th September, 2009,

Sat sri akal,

If you are celebrating a Gurupurab or having a Keertan samagam in your area, please mail us details of your programme for wider coverage, for uploading on our Sikh web portal with around a LAKH HITS per month from all over the world. You can also mail the pics of the programme for uploading here.

It will be uploaded at : http://www.sohnijodi.com/gurmatsamagam.htm
as well on our Sikh blog : http://www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com/.

If you could add a line in your posters that "Details of the programme can also be viewed on Sikh Web Portal www.sohnijodi.com" , we will be thankful to you.

Best regards

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Italian ambassador admires Sikhs wearing turban in Italy

September 13, 2009

Punjab: Italy does not mind more immigrants from India, provided they come legally, says Italy’s ambassador to India, a man who estimates that the number of illegal Indian settlers in Italy is over the half the number of legal immigrants.

“Apart from the movement of goods and investments, we consider movement of people of utmost importance for the overall growth of Italy. Immigrants from India have proved a boon for Italy as they are doing extremely well there,” Ambassador Roberto Toscano told IANS in an interview here.

“There are around 77,000 Indians who are legally residing in Italy and a large majority of them are from Punjab. But at the same time there is a huge population of illegal immigrants from India, that is around 40,000,” he said.

Toscano said Italians no longer “feel astonished when we see a Punjabi Sikh, with a turban on his head, moving on a bicycle on Italy’s roads. They have very well become a part of our society and we have also accepted their traditions and customs.
“There are many good, success stories of Indian immigrants, especially from Punjab, and we would like to stress on these.”

The ambassador was in Chandigarh to meet top functionaries in the Punjab government.
State Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal discussed with Toscano the issue of Punjabi youth stranded in Italy after reaching there through illegal means.
“We are also concerned about the tendency of illegal immigration by Punjabi youth,” the ambassador told IANS. “Our government is already looking into this matter and we have assured the Punjab government that all possible help will be provided to such people in Italy.”

Italy, which attracts over 42.3 million tourists annually, wants to tap the tourism market from India.

“We are not geographically close to Punjab but our ambitions are same and we share many similarities with this country. In fact, we have a long history of association with Punjab and centuries-old ancient roman artefacts found here have proved our old links,” the ambassador said.

Italy is the seventh largest economy and sixth largest exporter of manufactured goods in the world.

With thanks : Source: Alkesh Sharma, IANS

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Sikh leaders take over shrine in Haryana, evoke SGPC ire

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Kurukshetra/Chandigarh: Sikh leaders demanding separate SGPC for Haryana on Sunday took charge of a prestigious gurudwara here evoking sharp reaction from the apex body managing Sikh shrines which alleged that the move had the support of Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.

President of the self-appointed Haryana SGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda said he had taken over the control of Chhavin Patshahi Gurudwara in Kurukshetra without facing any resistance from the shrine's present functionaries including its manager.

There were only two persons in the gurudwara complex who left soon after the take-over by the 'HSGPC', he said, adding that the step has been taken as the state government has "failed" to do justice to those demanding a separate SGPC for Haryana.

Strongly opposing the move, SGPC, the apex elected body managing affairs of Sikh shrines, accused Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in Haryana of "supporting" few Sikhs in taking "forcible control" of the historical gurudwara and asserted that it will take back the shrine under its control at any cost.

"The Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government is supporting few Sikhs who carrying arms and ammunition took forcible control of a historic Gurudwara in Kurukshetra," SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar said while leaving for Kurukshetra. "The SGPC will take back control of this Gurudwara at any cost," he said while lashing out at Hooda Government and the Kurukshetra district administration for their alleged inaction.

with thanks : source : http://www.zeenews.com/news563237.html

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UHRO demands release of Sikhs languishing in jails

Monday , Sep 14, 2009 at 0337 hrs

The Universal Human Rights Organisation (UHRO) has demanded the release and rehabilitation of Sikh men who are languishing in various jails. The NGO has sent a written representation to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi on this.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, UHRO president Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, chief spokesperson Surat Singh Khalsa and chairman VP Singh said during militancy the Punjab Police had picked up several innocent Sikh youths, suspecting them to be terrorists. They said while some of them were killed in encounters, a number of them were still languishing in various jails of Punjab and other parts of the country.

The UHRO office bearers said they had now sent a representation to Rahul Gandhi. They said now that the Gandhi family and even Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had apologised for the Army action on the Golden Temple, the Congress-led UPA Government should immediately release those Sikh men from jails.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uhro-demands-release-of-sikhs-languishing-in-jails/516741/

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Team constituted to investigate burning of holy books

* Sindh Minority Affairs Minister Dr Mohan to head fact-finding mission; Saleem Khurshed, Pitamber Sewani to assistBy Amar Guriro

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday constituted a high-level investigation team to probe into the incident of setting ablaze holy books of Hindus and Sikhs in Kandhkot.The government took this step after police authorities of district Kashmore failed to arrest the culprits involved in burning the books. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sindh, Dr Mohan Lal Kohistani will head this fact-finding mission, whereas minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar and Pitamber Sewani would assist him as members of the committee. It is pertinent to mention that on September 5, some unidentified miscreants set ablaze religious books of Sikhs and Hindus in a mutual temple, the Guru Nanak Darbar at Kandhkot, in the northern district of the province. The incident panicked the Hindus and Sikhs throughout the province and Pakistan Hindu Foundation issued a call for three-day mourning, after which Hindus observed a shutter down strike in different districts of the province. “The culprits would not be forgiven at any cost and the Sindh government would soon put these miscreants behind the bars,” announced Kohistani. Addressing an emergency press conference at his office in Sindh Secretariat building with minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar, Pitamber Sewani and others, Kohistani condemned the incident and said some miscreants just want to create panic among the religious minorities, but Sindh government assures the Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities that they would be protected at every level. “I have personally talked to the Sindh chief minister and he has assured that he would ensure justice with Sikhs for which the CM is in constant contact with IG, RPO and DPO concerned for the arrest of culprits and the CM has also directed home secretary and IG Sindh to conduct inquiry into the matter and submit the report within three-day time,” he said. Chairman Sikh Naujwan Sabha Sardar Ramjesh Sigh, Vice Chairman Sardar Jagjit Singh and others condemned the incident and demanded of the government of Pakistan to help the Hindus and Sikhs to arrest the culprits involved in the incident. Leading organisation of Pakistani Hindus, the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) is observing three-day mourning. “We believe that DPO Kashmore is behind these incidents, so we demand President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to lodge the FIR against DPO Kashmore,” said PHC president D M Maharaj. In a press statement, Provincial Home Minister Sindh Dr Zulfqar Mirza has directed police authorities to protect the religious minorities and their holy places. In another press statement MQM MPA Dr Haragun Das condemned the Kandhkot incident and has demanded immediate arrest of the culprits behind the incident.

with thanks : source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C13%5Cstory_13-9-2009_pg7_29

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Sikh scholar Harinder Singh Mehboob admitted in Jalandhar hospital

Punjab Newsline Network
Sunday, 13 September 2009

CHANDIGARH: Noted Sikh scholar Harinder Singh Mehboob has been admitted in a private hospital in Jalandhar for the treatment of prostrate gland.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced that the State Government would bear the entire expenditure on treatment of Harinder Singh Mehboob.

A spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office said that Badal had directed the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar to personally visit Mehboob to ensure proper medical treatment and care. Badal said that the state government was committed for the welfare of the literary personalities who had immensely contributed towards the promotion of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat. He said it was a humble gesture on the part of government to extend free medical aid to Mehboob, the celebrated Sahit Akademi awardee and winner of Shiromani Kavi Award.
It may be recalled that several prominent literary organizations had approached Education and languages minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur to provide free of cost treatment to the ailing writer. She had also deputed Director Languages Department to enquire well-being of Mehboob and extend all possible help to him in this hour of crisis.

with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/18701/38/

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Sikh youth shot dead in Toronto

Toronto, Sept 12 (PTI) A 33-year-old Sikh man was shot dead in the Indian dominated city of Brampton here.Devinder Singh Gill was found injured after being shot at on early Friday morning, police who responded to an emergency call said.He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, local daily the Toronto Star reported.The shooting reportedly occurred after an altercation at a gathering at the house."We do not have a suspect description, and we are not even sure how many people we are looking for," Constable Adam Minnion was quoted as saying.No one has been arrested so far in the case and the weapon used to commit the crime has also not been recovered.


with thanks : source : http://www.ptinews.com/news/278071_Sikh-youth--Devinder-Singh-shot-dead-in-Toronto

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