Jersey City Sikhs protest at City Hall against recent bias violence

Members of the Sikh community held a vigil and protest against an attack they believe was a hate crime.

JERSEY CITY - Members of the Sikh community held a vigil and protest against attacks they believe were hate crimes.

Sikhs are from South Asia, wear turbans and have beards, but they want others to know they are not Muslim. They are often prime targets for bias crimes.

     

The demonstration comes after two severe attacks in the past two months in Jersey City, where bias was an element.

In January, Sikhs were attacked near Liberty Avenue and Spruce Street. "It wasn't the attack on me that shook me," says Prabhujeet Singh, one of the victims. "It's the thinking that some elderly gentleman might be attacked."

Then, in February, a man named Inderjit Singh was allegedly beaten with a shovel in a dispute over snow that he says escalated into bias when he was called "Osama" and told to "go home." Parts of his beard were ripped from his face during the attack, he says.

Sikhs say they've lived in peace in Jersey City, and have seen their population grow, but they say residents still don't know enough about them. Thursday's rally was also an outreach.

"Whether it's against Sikhs or other religions, bias attacks or bullying are unacceptable," Inderjit Singh says.

Despite their efforts, Sikhs say they feel more hate crimes could come their way.

with thanks : newjerseynews : LINK for news story & Video

Sikh youth case: Police arrest 8 persons

Amritsar, Mar 16 (PTI) Police have arrested eight accused in connection with an incident in which a Sikh youth was allegedly beaten up by people of a community protesting over a religious issue near Hall Bazaar here, police said today.

Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh told reporters here that a case under various sections of IPC, including an attempt to murder, was registered against the accused.

with thanks : PTI : LINK

Uniform Rule May Keep Religious Americans From Military Service

Monday, 105 lawmakers from both parties sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, urging him to change a relatively obscure uniform requirement for the U.S. armed forces that some argue infringes on religious beliefs.

People who observe religions that require specific hair or dress traditions have to seek an accommodation from a superior to break the Defense Department's uniform requirements.

Dr. Kamal Kalsi was the first observant Sikh to apply for the accommodation since the rule took effect in the 1980s. As a devout Sikh, Kalsi doesn't cut his hair. He wraps his hair up in a turban and doesn't shave his beard. Keeping his hair long is an obligatory article of his Sikh faith.

with thanks : KERANEWS : LINK : for detailed news.

HAPPY HOLI !!

No foul play suspected in fire that ripped through Sikh temple off Sutherland Avenue

KNOXVILLE — Authorities said there is nothing suspicious about a Friday morning fire that burst through the roof of East Tennessee’s only public Sikh gurdwara.

“This is the only public gurdwara (temple) in East Tennessee and it was the first public gurdwara in East Tennessee,” said Brandon Singh, music coordinator for the Sikh Sangat of East Tennessee.

Singh said the temple served several hundred Sikhs in East Tennessee, from Bristol to Chattanooga. He said 40-45 people regularly attended Sunday services.

Knoxville firefighters learned of the blaze shortly after midnight, according to Knoxville Fire Department spokesman Capt. D.J. Corcoran. A neighbor reported flames at the temple at 704 Washburn Road off Sutherland Avenue.

with thanks : KNOXNEWS : LINK : for detailed news.

Sikh killed in Khyber Pakhtunwa by unidentified assailants

A Sikh herbal merchant was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan.

The victim, Paramjit Singh, 35, was murdered in broad day light on Thursday when he was sitting at his shop. Another person, who came to his aid and tried to nab one of the assailants, was also killed.

The incident has sent shock waves amongst the minority Sikh community in the area.

This is the second murder of a member of the minority community in less than two months, and many victims has fallen prey to the bullets in the recent pasts.

Earlier, two Sikhs were abducted at gun point from Dera Ismail Khan and there is no news about their whereabouts.

Sikhs traders are living in fear because they are being asked to pay jaziya (a tax paid by minority religious group), and those who refuse, are killed.

The area is infested with the gun-toting fundamentalists, including Taliban who roam around in the area freely. There are more than 25000 Sikhs living in the area, and recently had been facing violence, abduction and ransom from the terrorists groups.

Swaran Singh, a member of the provincial assembly and former President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, informed that he himself went to the place and brought the body back at Peshawar.

He said North West Frontier Province chief Minister Parvez Khattak has taken a personal interest in the killing of the Sikh gentleman and has assured security to the minority community and safety of their properties.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK

Punjab: SAD caught in poll code breach row

The Congress in Punjab has lodged a complaint to the state Election Commission about its decision to allow the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal organise a "political conference" in Anandpur Sahib on March 16.

PCC president Pratap Singh Bajwa, in his complaint to Chief Electoral Officer V. K. Singh on March 10, had asked the CEO to ban the conference as it violates the model code of conduct. Bajwa said the conference venue is close to the famous gurdwara where lakhs of Sikh devotees pay a visit during Hola Mohalla.

A week-long fair, Hola Mohalla usually takes place mid-March beginning on the first day of Sikh New Year. Bajwa contended that the venue, where the Akali Dal is organising the conference on March 16, is the property of the Akali-dominated Shiromani gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

Acting on the Congress' complaint, Singh had asked the Deputy Commissioner, Roopnagar, to submit a report on the issue. Sources said the Deputy Commissioner, in his report, has informed Singh that the rally venue is not part of the gurdwara complex, but a part of the SGPC. The report also said that political rallies were also held previously during Hola Mohalla and elections.

"The rally ground is not part of gurdwara complex, but is owned by the SGPC. Rallies were organised at the same venue during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Hence, the permission to organise a rally can be given," the Deputy Commissioner said in its report.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Amarinder Singh accused the CEO of favouring the ruling Akali Dal and not taking any action on the complaints filed by the Congress and other parties. "He should quit his job if he has no moral courage to respond to the ever-increasing pile of complaints," Amarinder has said.

with thanks : India Today : LINK

Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji : SikhsIndia

Gurdwara Baba Buda ji : SikhsIndia

"Fateh Diwas in Delhi" : Fateh Diwas March Past

National Service Scheme students of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,University of Delhi,Dev Nagar participated in "Delhi Fateh Diwas march past" from Tees Hazari to Red Fort on 9th March 2014  organised by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee ( DSGMC) .

Happy Women's Day !