Sikh professor of Columbia University attacked

NEW YORK —  A Sikh professor who wrote a New York Times op-ed last year about hate crimes against American Sikhs was attacked by a group of teens over the weekend, media reported citing police.

Prabhjot Singh, an assistant professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, was attacked at around 8 p.m. Saturday while walking along 110th Street near Lennox Avenue in upper Manhattan, NBC 4 New York reported.

Singh, who wears a turban and a beard, said he was confronted by more than a dozen teens on bicycles who shouted slurs before attacking him.

"I heard 'Get Osama' and then 'terrorists', and then the next thing I felt was someone moving past me, ripping at my beard and then hitting me in the chin," Singh told the channel.

Singh said he started running and was punched in the face and on his sides. His attackers continued to kick and punch him after he fell to the ground, he said.

Singh was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital Saturday and had surgery on his jaw, which was fractured, according to NBC 4 New York.

Singh, the channel said, believed he could have died if passers-by hadn't helped get the teens off him.

"There's no doubt in my mind it was a bias-related event," he was quoted as saying.

The attack, he said, made him worry that his one-year-old son, "who will certainly resemble a Sikh man", will face similar hatred as he gets older.

"My fear is that they'll disappear into the neighbourhood," he said of the assailants, adding that he hoped the community mobilises to prevent similar attacks.

Condemning the attack, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) urged the US government to begin tracking and counting anti-Sikh hate crimes, just as it must continue to vigorously combat bias and discrimination against all Americans, including Muslims.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) also called on state political and religious leaders to speak out against bias-motivated crimes after the attack on Prabhjot Singh.

with thanks : AM : LINK

Punjab & Drugs : Shocking Story : Must view :

Ki Karengi Aashiqui : Money V

Akal Takht bans Guru Granth Sahib in homes with liquor, tobacco

Akal Takht, the primary seat of Sikh religious authority, has banned the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in houses having liquor bars or where substances like tobacco, other intoxicants and halal meat are consumed.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar on Tuesday.

Giving details about the decision, Akal Takht Jathedar (high priest) Giani Gurbachan Singh said keeping the Guru Granth Sahib in houses of Sikhs who had made liquor bars in their drawing rooms was tantamount to showing utter disrespect to the holy book, which is considered a living embodiment of Sikh gurus.

Besides liquor bars, the Sikh families using substances that are against the basic tenets of the religion have also been cautioned against keeping the holy book in their homes.

“Sikh families who consume ‘halal’ meat, smoke hookah, charas (hashish) and tobacco also can’t have the holy book in their homes. We also advise Sikhs to abstain from such practices. Else, religious action would be taken against them on receiving any such complaint or violation,” said Gurbachan.

The Takht has also banned placing Guru Granth Sahib or holding its prayers at samadhs or places which worship the dead. The Takht also banned printing of Guru Granth Sahib by anyone else but the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). In another decision, Sikh high priests on Wednesday declared SGPC member from Doda, Navtej Singh Kauni, as ‘Tankhayia’ (religious atonement).

with thanks : New Indian Express : LINK : for detailed news.

SAD preparing to contest Delhi assembly elections under own banner, symbol

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has begun making preparations for contesting the Delhi assembly elections under its own banner and poll symbol on nearly half-a-dozen seats.

After tasting victory in the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections, when it ousted Akali Dal (Delhi) headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna, the party leadership is confident that it can put up a good show in the assembly elections as well.

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the president of SAD, has conveyed to the BJP leadership that the party is looking at several constituencies which have a sizeable Punjabi population, including Tilaknagar, Rajouri Gardens and Harinagar. This fits in with Sukhbir’s grandiose plan to expand the base of SAD beyond the confines of Punjab. SAD already has an MLA in neighboring Haryana. It has also drawn up plans to contest the polls in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.

It may be mentioned here that SAD had fought the last Delhi assembly elections under the BJP banner and poll symbol, but could not win any seat.

Source : Punjab Newsline Network : LINK

Hemkunt Sahib Yatra opens !

Pics : Panthic Convention : Sd Paramjit Singh Sarna

Sri Guru Nanak sewak Jatha

Hemkunt Sahib yatra to resume on September 21

PATIALA, SEP 13:  

The yatra to Hemkunt Sahib, a Sikh shrine in Uttarakhand, will resume on September 21 after the state government gave its nod to it, an official said on Friday.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today approved the yatra, state Minorities Commission Narinderjit Singh Bindra told PTI here.

The 19-km-trek-route has been repaired from Govind Ghat to Shri Hemkunt Sahib and three temporary bridges have been built for this year’s yatra, he said.

Meanwhile, Madan Singh, chairman of Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust said, after consultations with other trustees, the first ‘Ardas’ (prayer) will be held on September 22 at Shri Hemkunt Sahib and the yatra will continue till October 10.

with thanks : TheHindu : LINK

Another Victory for the Turban: Judge Apologizes to Sikh New Religious Attire and Headwear Policy Goes Into Effect in Michigan Courtrooms

Kalamazoo County, Michigan- UNITED SIKHS is humbled to announce another civil rights policy advocacy victory resulting in the modification of court procedures in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, to recognize the Sikh religious practices.

This has resulted from an incident involving Mr. Hardeep Singh (pictured), a resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, who was accompanying his friend to the latter’s court hearing in the Kalamazoo County Probate Court on October 16, 2012. Suddenly, while seated in the courtroom the judge requested Mr Singh to remove his “hat”. All attempts to explain that it wasn’t a hat but a Sikh turban, an inseparable part of his Sikh identity were halted by the judge. Another couple’s effort to defend Mr Singh failed too.The judge asked Mr.Singh to either remove his “hat” or leave the courtroom. As any devout Sikh would have done, Mr. Singh chose to leave the courtroom.

UNITED SIKHS legal team filed a Civil Rights Complaint with the Department of Justice. After persistent advocacy, positive results have been achieved.

UNITED SIKHS would like to thank the DOJ Civil Rights Division, especially Attorney Michael Mule’ and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Michigan for handling this matter.

Mr.Hardeep Singh stated graciously, “I would like to thank UNITED SIKHS from the bottom of my heart. They stood up for my dignity and for the dignity of all Sikhs. My blessings and good wishes will always be with them.”

UNITED SIKHS Staff Attorney Manmeet Singh said, “The Sikh community has been living in and is an integral part of Kalamazoo County for a long time. They believed that by now, their fellow citizens were already educated about who Sikhs were and the importance of their dastaar (Sikh turban). This incident came as a rude shock and Sikhs were appalled at the treatment meted out to one of their own by a giver of justice. The apology letter, the new nondiscrimination policy related to religious attire and headwear, the new complaint form and training for court staff are all steps in the right direction. The new policy and complaint form will benefit not only Sikhs, but also Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths who wear some sort of head covering or religious attire.”

Issued By:
Manmeet Singh
Staff Attorney, International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA)
law-usa@unitedsikhs.org 

Panthic convention at Delhi