Sikhs India - Online Sikh News Channel

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

SGPC won’t pay court fee, gives up Bluestar case

Abhinav Garg | TNN

New Delhi: Putting an end to anearly three-decade-old legal battle for Rs 1,000 crore compensation from the Union government for the 1984 Operation Bluestar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday informed the Delhi high court it is withdrawing its suit.

In a three-page affidavit filed before Justice M L Mehta, the SGPC informed that by a resolution passed on March 8, 2013, the SGPC executive committee decided to withdraw the suit that claimed compensation of Rs 1,000 crore for the damages caused to the Golden Temple in the operation carried out by the Army in 1984.

The SGPC in its affidavit says it took stock of the case and of the objections raised by the Central government and observed that the maintainability of the suit is yet to be decided. The SGPC said if the court fee of about Rs 10 crore is paid on the amount claimed, it will be “sheer wastage of money spent on court fee, which is the hard-earned money donated by devotees” if the case is decided against it.

The money will “go in vain” the SGPC argued in its affidavit seeking liberty to withdraw its suit. On Monday, Justice Mehta was informed by the counsel for SGPC that its office-holder Mangat Singh was unable to be present in court and if granted time he will appear to give an undertaking to withdraw the suit. Justice Mehta then adjourned the case and posted it for hearing for April 22. The affidavit marks an end to a suit that was instituted in an Amritsar court in 1985 and was later transferred to the Delhi HC.

In January, 2013, the HC began hearing the case but following the revised court fee system, directed the SGPC to first deposit Rs 10 crore as fee if it wanted to pursue the case.

When the committee expressed its helplessness in paying such a huge amount claiming it is “indigent” organization, the HC brushed aside these arguments and gave it eight weeks to deposit the fee.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Sikh bodies want serial name 'Gurbani' changed

Once again, the Sikh religious bodies are up in arms against the entertainment industry. This time, the offending source is the TV serial 'Gurbani' that went on air from Monday night. Even before the serial was aired, various Sikh organizations protested against the serial's title, objecting to the fact that the word 'Gurbani' refers to sacred sayings inscribed in the Holy Sikh book, Guru Granth Sahib.

In Jallandhar a case has been registered with the police by Jagjit Singh Gaba, president of Gurudwara Nauvin Patshahi, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, on Saturday, for 'hurting religious sentiments'. Even Amritsar erupted in protests on Monday with activists of Youth Akali Dal (YAD) and International Sikh Organization (ISO) burning effigies and demanding a ban against the serial aired on TV channel Colors. The Sikh bodies are apparently miffed even with the government, alleging that the Centre government did not take cognizance of protest filed by SGPC with them.

National Organizational Secretary, YAD, Gurpreet Singh Prince said, "The character in the serial would be addressed by different persons in different expressions, which could hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Naming the serial Gurbani is highly condemnable, and we will continue our protests unless it is stopped from airing or its name is changed."

While a media statement issued from General Entertainment Channel (Channel) says they have taken note of the reports and concerns of Sikh bodies, when contacted, Colors spokesperson said, "Our channel has tremendous respect for all communities including Sikhs. We would never do anything to hurt their sentiments. In fact, the producer of the show is a Sikh herself and even has a niece named Gurbani. The name, Gurbani has been given to the lead protagonist in the serial and it symbolizes everything that is pure, cultural and spiritual about Punjab." The spokesperson added, "However, to respect the sentiments of the people, we have decided to change the name of the show. Our team will get in touch with the concerned people, or organization to seek some time to change the name and will try and implement it as soon as possible."

The serial addresses a long standing issue of Punjab, that of deserted NRI brides and highlights the great dream of this region, that of going abroad.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Monday, March 18, 2013

Sikh killed for marrying a second time

LAHORE - A Sikh man was murdered on Saturday over his decision to marry a second time, police officials said Saturday.

According to reports, unidentified men entered 28-year-old Amarjeet Singh’s store at Shalimar Town and assaulted him.

They then bundled Singh into a car and sped away. Later, Singh’s body was found near Sheikhupura district.

The body bore marks of torture, police said. Singh dealt in natural medicines. When police contacted Singh’s family in Peshawar, they learnt that he had recently decided to marry for a second time despite opposition from the woman’s fiancé.

“The deceased’s family told us that Amerjeet Singh had contracted a second marriage with the fiancé of Arjun Singh. It suspected that Arjun and the brothers of the second wife of Amerjeet might be involved in this murder,” an official of Shalimar police station said.

A murder case has been registered against Arjun Singh, Saroop Singh and Mastan Singh, the officials said. Singh’s body was sent to the city mortuary for an autopsy.

with thanks : PToday : LINK

Bangla Sahib Gurdwara: Sikh shrine that was once a haveli

Delhi’s list of tourist attractions is incomplete without the mention of Bangla Sahib Gurdwara. Located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, near Connaught Place, this prominent Sikh shrine is alive with visitors and tourists all the year round. The name — Bangla Sahib — hardly matters to the devout, but a general visitor is curious about its origin. This was originally Jaisinghpura Palace, a haveli of the Jaipur kings. It was in 1664 that Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Amber (Jaipur) hosted Guru Hari Krishan — the boy prophet who became the eighth Sikh Guru in 1661.

“It was a typical haveli and a bangla (an enclosure especially made for special guests) was erected for the guru. The place of guruji sangat (where he addressed the devotees) is now the takht sahib (decorated platform on which Guru Granth Sahib is kept),” says Gyani Kuldeep Singh of the gurdwara.

The guru stayed for about 8-10 months at a time of cholera and chicken pox epidemics. “He sat with his feet dipped in a small pond of water, which people — both Hindus and Muslims — partook and was saved. It is still there next to the shrine,” Singh said.

After Independence, the place saw rapid changes. An artificial pond was added. Beautiful golden filigree work adorning the sanctum sanctorum were also put in place.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINk

Gurdwaras in Pakistan observe Sikh Environment Day

Washington, March 16 (IANS) For the first time, 35 gurdwaras in Pakistan mainly in Sindh and Balochistan, and in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, joined Sikh institutions in India and abroad in observing Sikh Environment Day, according to information received here.

Tens of thousands of Sikhs across the world celebrated the Day Thursday, according to Washington based Sikh organization, EcoSikh which had appealed to all Sikh groups to observe the day with environmental action programmes.

The day when Guru Har Rai, known for his deep love and sensitivity towards nature and its preservation, became the seventh Sikh Guru in 1644, is observed by the community as Sikh Environment Day to garner support from various faith communities and officials.

EcoSikh president Rajwant Singh, said: "It is amazing to see so much enthusiasm among the Sikh communities all around the world, and we believe that this is the largest direct action by the Sikhs for the environment in the history of Sikhism."

Ravneet Singh, Programme Manager of Ecosikh in India, said some 1,550 Sikh gurdwaras, organizations and institutions from India and abroad had held special Gurbani recitals on the theme of nature and organized herbal plants and flower shows.

"For the first time, Sikhs in the British Army are also organizing their special observances on environment." he added.

Gurdwaras across Punjab and other parts of the world also pledged to reduce the use of Styrofoam and disposables at gurdwaras and religious ceremonies.

"Many gurdwaras have begun projects on implementing solar panels, composting systems, and steel utensils during langar (free community meal in the Sikh tradition) for more comprehensive environmental sustainability," said Paramjeet Kaur, EcoSikh programme administrator in North America.

with thanks : Yahoo News : LINK