Badal wades into gurdwara management feud

NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government are set for a face-off over management of gurdwara affairs, seen as a route to control the Sikh vote bank in the capital. The Dikshit government's plans to amend the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act 1971 to allow direct election to the post of president is emerging as a bone of contention between the two states.

Meanwhile, a furious Badal on Friday called up and shot off missives to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna, seeking a "leash on Dikshit-led Delhi government" and action against those who had attacked the SAD(B) leaders and workers at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib on Thursday. He spoke to the PM and Khanna after he failed to get any response from his Delhi counterpart, his media advisors said in the evening

The Delhi government is now preparing to approach the Supreme Court early next week to seek approval for moving ahead with the amendment which was approved by the state cabinet in October. The Supreme Court in September directed the state to hold elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC, whose tenure ended in December 2011) before December 31. If the amendment is brought, it will have to be tabled in the Delhi assembly during the winter session for approval. Thus the elections would need to be scheduled for sometime early next year.

In a letter to Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Badal has blamed the Delhi government for interference in management of gurdwaras. The city government is also accused of delaying elections to DSGMC currently led by Akali Dal (Delhi), which enjoys the support of the ruling Congress in Delhi. He has sought the Centre's intervention to prevent the Delhi government from tabling before the assembly the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill which proposes to make way for direct election of the DSGMC president. TOI has a copy of the letter sent by the home ministry to the state government last week. The ministry has sought a reply from the state of Delhi on Badal's concerns.

In his letter, Badal points out to Shinde that this amendment Bill violates the letter and spirit of the agreement reached between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Master Tara Singh, known as the Nehru-Tara Singh Pact, "which specifically stated the commitment of the government of India not to take any steps with regard to the affairs of the Sikh community without consultation with and consent of the representatives of the Sikh community through the apex body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at Amritsar... Also, there is no provision for a direct election of a president in any of the elected constitutional bodies in the country right from the office of the president of India, prime minister and municipalities," the letter states.

"It appears to be a calculated conspiracy of the government to delay the overdue gurdwara elections in the guise of this amendment," the letter adds, and alleges that the amendment is aimed at giving undue benefits to the ruling office-bearers of the "committee" to cling to their offices and to enjoy their extended term.

Delhi's minister in charge of gurdwara management, Arvinder Singh Lovely, vehemently rejected the concerns raised by Badal, saying the government was right in bringing amendments as gurdwara management is a state subject and DSGMC is governed by the state Act and not the parliament Act, which governs SGPC.

"This is not the first time that an amendment is being proposed to the Gurdwara Act. Even BJP government in 1993-98 proposed amendments. The proposal for direct election will only bring in transparency in election process and end the mudslinging between various factions that keep alleging the big role of money power in election. We have no intention to delay the elections," the minister said. That the mudslinging is set to get worse came through in Lovely's remarks when, taking a dig at Badal, he told TOI, "He (Badal) must instead focus on more pressing issues like drug abuse among youth in Punjab."

with thanks : TIMES OF INDIA : LINK

Brawl at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib today :

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

Fight at Gurdwara rakab Ganj sahib over the DSGMC Elections

Special trains for Sikh Yatrees

LAHORE

MORE than 3000 Sikh Yatrees are expected to reach Pakistan through Wahga Border on November 25 to celebrate Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.

Pakistan Railways arranged Special trains for this. These trains will be guarded by the PR police. For this, a high level meeting was held on Tuesday in Home Department Punjab.

PSP to IGP Railways, SSP Railways Lahore participated in the meeting where security of Sikh Yatrees was discussed. IGP Railways issued strict instructions to make security arrangements for the special trains by deploying ATS Commandos and that bomb disposal staff should check every train.


with thanks : The News : LINK

US Sikhs welcome Obama message on Diwali

Washington: The Sikh community in America has welcomed President Barack Obama's message of Diwali greetings praising their resilience in the wake of the August shooting at Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin.

. "This inspirational message reflects President Obama's compassionate heart and his commitment to create a harmonious society in America where all are respected and each faith is honoured," said Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Washington based Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE).

 "Recognizing Diwali, which is sacred to almost all faiths originating from Indian subcontinent, sends a message that America provides an opportunity for each faith to flourish and all faiths can truly enjoy the religious freedom," he said. 

 "We are confident America will continue towards 'perfect union' as envisaged by the US constitution under the able leadership of President Obama for another four years," Rajwant Singh said.

The community leader said the Sikh community prayed for Obama "and his family as he leads a difficult road of bringing political leadership together to face the challenge of financial solvency of this country". 

with thanks : Zee News : LINK : for detailed news.

A show of culture

MODEL TOWN: The cultural mA©lange, presented by organizers of Sarb Hind Sikh Educational Conference at Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Dugri Road, mesmerized the audience. This was the first such initiative by Chief Khalsa Diwan, the body which organized the programme after a couple of years. The participants showcased their talent by depicting the folkloric traditions of Punjab enthusiastically.

Convener of the cultural program Dharamveer Singh said such events provide a platform to the students to connect to the cultural roots of the state.

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

Can Hindu law cover Sikhs, Jains, asks SC

NEW DELHI: If Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are separate and distinct religions, can followers of these faiths be bracketed as Hindus under the Constitution and be governed by Hindu personal law, the Supreme Court asked before issuing notice to the Centre and attorney general G E Vahanvati.

Sikh scholar Birendra Kaur in her petition questioned the constitutional and past legislative attempts to obliterate identities of separate faiths by recognizing them under the broad religious connotation of Hindus. She said this negated the constitutional guarantee to each individual to practise and propagate the religion of his/her choice.

'Kaur's petition an expression of frustration'

The Punjab and Haryana high court had dismissed with caustic observations a petition by Sikh scholar Birendra Kaur questioning the constitutional and past legislative attempts to obliterate identities of separate faiths by recognizing them under the broad religious connotation of Hindus, but an SC bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justices S S Nijjar and J Chelameswar not only entertained her appeal but also framed the question for adjudication.

"This petition is seeking to express and make clear the frustration and disappointment of a large part of the Sikh community which feels its identity as Sikh is undermined by certain clauses and titles of certain statutes which club Sikhs under the definition of Hindu," senior advocate Colin Gonsalves argued. 

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

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous Deepawali

DSGMC wishes you Happy Diwali & Bandi Chor Diwas

SikhsIndia wishes you Happy Diwali & Bandi Chor Diwas

Tech Savvy Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Schools

 




















We at Guru Harkrishan Public School, Hargobind Enclave, have created an environment wherein our teachers are keenly working towards keeping themselves abreast with the latest in technological advances. This knowledge is used by them in the classrooms which - in turn - inspires the students who see their teachers learning. Samples of the collages of pictures already uploaded are the work of our staff using the latest Microsoft software.

Mrs. Jasmeet Kaur

Principal

With regards,

Guru Harkrishan Public School,
Hargobind Enclave, Delhi-92
Phone:- 011-43714444

http://ghpshargobind.org