Human rights panel orders probe against 2 DRI officials for ‘torturing’ Sikh trader

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered a departmental inquiry against two senior Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers for allegedly cutting off a Sikh businessman’s beard on his refusal to pay a bribe. Taking a serious note of the incident, the commission has observed that it was an act of “breach of human dignity” and was done to insult his religion.

The incident had allegedly taken place during a raid on Mahendrapal Gujral, a Juhu-based businessman, who dealt in foreign cars. He was arrested last June, following the raid on his residence by senior intelligence officer D S Mehta.

Mehta was allegedly acting on the orders of his senior C Jagiasi, an assistant director in the DRI. The DRI has registered a case against Gujral for dealing illegally in high-end foreign cars and the case is still pending.

with thanks : indianexpress : link in headline above for detailed news. Must read.

India anger as Jay Leno Golden Temple jibe riles Sikhs

India has condemned a comment by US comedian Jay Leno on the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

A Leno skit showed the temple as the summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Mr Romney has faced taxation questions over his huge wealth and many Sikhs are angry the temple has been depicted as a place for the rich.

The Sikh community has launched an online petition and an Indian minister called the comments "objectionable".

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told reporters: "It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the Golden Temple."

with thanks : BBC News : link in headline above for detailed news report.

Dutch Sikh makes significant progress regarding Sikh identity

A passionate Sikh author has made significant progress with the Dutch authorities in a number of previous anomalies in the Dutch authorities to recognise the needs of the Sikh community, especially their articles of faith. 

This Sikh gentleman is Sardar Bhupinder Singh, he said “I am mailing you an important news for the Sikhs from the Netherlands with pleasure, honor and pride. This will further help to resolve our Turban issue and Identity problem, especially in Europe”

Due to Bhupinder Singh persistence he has recently received a letter from Mr Leers the Minister for Immigration, Integration and Asylum which highlights that  Sikhs can join the police force, military and the judiciary. In general, officials are not prohibited from wearing a turban or other symbols of their religion.

The controversy around Sikh names has been clarified and Sikhs children can be registered in accordance with Sikh traditions, but more importantly Sikh names that have been registered incorrectly can be changed.

with thanks : emgonline : link in headline above for detailed news.

Largest gurdwara in Gulf region opens

LUDHIANA: The largest gurdwara of Gulf region has been opened for public in Dubai. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar has been constructed at a cost of $20 million. Though Dubai has 50,000 Sikhs staying there, it had no gurdwara so far.

Vice-president and prime minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, had granted 25,400 sq feet land for the gurdwara in Jebel Ali area.

with thanks : Times of India : link above.

Sikh bridegroom breaks tradition, flies in for wedding

Amritsar, Jan 19 (PTI) Breaking the usual tradition of riding on a horseback to the bride's home, a Sikh bridegroom here flew in a helicopter to solemnise his marriage. Amidst great fanfare, the couple's relatives received Aman Sandhu as he landed at the Maharaja marriage palace on the outskirts of the city yesterday to marry Kismat Kaur. His childhood dream of approaching his bride in a chopper, and also taking her home for the first time by air, came true thanks to his father, Sandhu said. Owner of the marriage palace, Meharban Singh said a day before the wedding, a temporary helipad was made following the pilot's guidelines.

with thanks : IBNLive : link above.

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Sikh temple project for disused Cosworth building in Northampton

By Wayne Bontoft 

Published on Thursday 19 January 2012 07:20

PART of a disused factory building, owned by Formula 1 engineering firm Cosworth in Northampton, could be converted into a Sikh temple.

The development would involved two-storey building in St James Mill Road, St James, which is currently owned by Cosworth, being bought by the town’s Sikh community and converted into a temple.

Plans which were submitted to Northampton Borough Council this week, explained the temple would replace the current Sikh Gurdwara and community centre in St George’s Street, Semilong.

They said: “It is proposed to re-use the existing Cosworth building as a Gurdwara and community centre.

“The proposed use will involve a small extension to the building and the creation of an internal second floor.”

with thanks : northamptonchron : link in headline above for detailed news.

As campaign hots up in Punjab, parties make beeline to deras

Come elections, and the religious ‘deras’ in Punjab become ‘must-visit’ centres for political parties to woo the followers. There are more than three dozen prominent ‘deras’ in the state with lakhs of followers.

While most of them do not openly support any party, the dera gurus indeed convey their preferences to their followers. During election days, it almost becomes mandatory for political leaders of the state to visit prominent deras and seek ‘blessings’ from the “babas”.

On Monday, more than 100 candidates belonging to the Akali Dal, the Congress, and other parties visited the Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa to seek blessings of its controversial chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, whose sect has more than three million followers in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh faces charges of murder and rape of a ‘sadhvi’ and has been involved in a major controversy with the Sikh community since April 2007 for allegedly dressing like 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

with thanks : DNAINDIA : link in headline above for detailed news.

Oxford death: Indian professor gets bail

with thanks : IBNlLive

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'Deceased professor's widow gives clean chit to Indian- origin Sikh colleague over tragedy'

London, Jan 16(ANI): The widow of the Oxford professor who died at his Indian-origin Sikh colleague's home has told him she does not blame him for the tragedy.

 

Dr Devinder Sivia's family has said that deceased professor Steve Rowlings' wife Linda had called him on the night of the death because she was worried about her husband's 'emotional state'

 

Sivia, subsequently, had dinner with Professor Rawlings at a pub before taking his friend to his home.

 

Sivia said that Professor Rawlings was 'very emotional' and added that the latter attacked him, and collapsed with a suspected heart attack, while he was restraining him at his bungalow in Southmoor, near Abingdon.

 

"My brother defended himself and it looks like while restraining him he had a heart attack. Linda has called my brother and says she doesn't blame him, as she was the one who asked him to go to the pub and talk to Steven. She gave him instructions to talk to Steven at the pub because he was in an emotional state," The Daily Mail quoted Sivia's brother Gurdip, as saying.

with thanks : newstrackindia : link in the headline above for detailed news.

A helping hand for homeless Indians in Southall

AMRITSAR: Every year, several Sikhs travel from India to the UK both on travel as well as working visas. But there are several homeless Sikhs who have been languishing in Southall in West London. 

United Sikh, Sikh NGO, has revealed the untold misery of Southall's homeless Indians who are unable to find jobs in the UK. Due to their immigration status, there are several Sikhs who want to come back to India. 

Speaking to TOI, the director of United Sikh, Mejinderpal Kaur said: "Satbir Kaur (name changed) had gone to the UK from Amritsar on a visitor's visa and ended up overstaying, so that she could earn some money for her husband and son back home." 

with thanks : times of India : link in headline above for detailed news.