Punjabi Becomes Third Language in Canada's House of Commons

TORONTO:  Punjabi has now become the third most common language, after English and French, in the House of Commons of Canada after 20 Punjabi-speaking candidates were elected to the Parliament in October.

In total, 23 lawmakers of Indian-origin were elected after October 19 general elections. Three of the 23 lawmakers do not speak Punjabi, Hill Times online reported today.

Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau, who won from Papineau, Quebec constituency, will unveil his Cabinet later this week. Some of Punjabi-speaking lawmakers are expected to be included in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Navdeep Bains of Liberal Party said that the elected 20 Punjabi-speaking lawmakers represent all constituents regardless of their party affiliation or ethnic origin.

"It speaks to our commitment to diversity and allowing individual to play an important role in our political institutions," Mr Bains said.

"The main issue to understand is that we have a very clear mandate to execute our platform and we also have a responsibility to represent our constituents, which are very diverse," he added.

"The voice of the Indo-Canadian community will now be very well represented in the parliament. In the overall aspect of it, the South Asian community won," Deepak Obhrai of Conservative Party was quoted as saying.

According to Statistics Canada's 2011 National Household Survey, 430,705 Canadians identified Punjabi as their mother tongue, making it the third most common language after English and French, the report in the daily said.

The 430,705 native Punjabi speakers make up about 1.3 per cent of Canada's population and the 20 Punjabi-speaking lawmakers represent almost six per cent of the House of Commons, the report added.

with thanks : NDTV : LINK

Arrested Barkingside Sikh’s anger after turban grabbed at central London protest

A 48-year-old Sikh man has called for a public enquiry after being arrested and having his turban “grabbed” and thrown to the floor during a protest in central London.

Ropinder Singh, of Glenthorn Gardens, Barkingside, was arrested on suspicion of public disorder offences outside the Indian High Commission, Aldwych Road, on October 22, when hundreds gathered to protest about the destruction of Sikh scriptures in India.

Videos filmed during the sit-in protest show about 10 police officers immobilising Mr Singh on the ground and his turban being thrown on the floor.

Images also show him being arrested without his turban.

Ilford North MP Wes Streeting, who described the police handling of the protest, which involved officers from the mounted police, as “heavy handed and inappropriate”, told the Recorder he expected questions to be answered.

with thanks : ilfordrecorder : LINK : for detailed news.

Punjabi community in Canada thrilled as 3 sikhs get cabinet berths

Ottawa: The Punjabi community in Canada made history on Wednesday when two turbaned Sikhs were sworn in as cabinet ministers, as 42-year-old Justin Trudeau took oath as the country's 23rd prime minister at a grand public ceremony here.

While 42-year-old Indian Canadian Harjit Sajjan was appointed defence minister, 38-year-old Navdeep Bains got the portfolio of innovation, science and economic development.

Another Sikh, Amarjeet Sohi, who is not turbaned, has been sworn in as minister for infrastructure. A former bus driver, Sohi was jailed in India for two years in the 1980s.

Navdeep Bains, who played a key role in Trudeau's election as the Liberal Party leader in 2013, has been awarded with a cabinet berth.

Bains, who became MP for the third time last month by winning from Mississauga-Brampton, previously served as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister in 2005 when he was MP from 2004 till 2011 when he lost.

with thanks : thehansaindia : LINK : for detailed news.

Four Sikhs Sworn In As Cabinet Ministers In Canada

NAVDEEP Singh Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and MP for Mississauga-Malton (Ontario), played a key role in Trudeau’s leadership bid in 2013.

He was a distinguished visiting professor at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management and holds an MBA with a specialization in finance. As a Certified Management Accountant, he has worked several years in accounting and financial analysis for the Ford Motor Company of Canada.

HARJIT Singh Sajjan, Minister of Defence and MP for Vancouver South, is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sajjan has received numerous recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province. He is also a recipient of the Order of Military Merit, one of the military’s highest recognitions. Sajjan also served as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Sajjan was a police officer with the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years. He completed his last assignment as a Detective-Constable with the Gang Crime Unit specializing in organized crime. He proudly tackled gang violence and drug crimes in Vancouver. Sajjan is also a human security specialist, and has lectured to a wide audience in both Canada and the United States.

AMARJEET Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and MP for Edmonton Mill Woods in Alberta, was elected three times as an Edmonton City Councillor.

Dedicated to improving Edmonton’s infrastructure and livability, Sohi represented the city on the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and has been a strong advocate for light rail transit. Sohi also advocated municipal interests to other levels of government through his delegation to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. He has been a prominent leader on municipal and provincial issues, volunteering with Public Interest Alberta, the Centre for International Alternatives, and the Canadian Labour Congress.

BARDISH Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism and MP for Waterloo (Ontario), is a natural leader and organizer and is devoted to inclusion and community building. From assisting with recreational sports for kids to volunteering with seniors, Chagger is committed to strengthening the bonds of the Waterloo community.

In her role with the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Chagger has worked to foster diversity within the community providing opportunities for social and economic engagement. As the former executive assistant to former Member of Parliament Andrew Telegdi, Chagger has a deep understanding of the issues that are important to residents of Waterloo, including manufacturing, technology and innovation.

Justin Trudeau, the 42-year-old son of charismatic former prime minister Pierre Trudeau who is credited with opening Canada to new immigrants in the 1970s, led the Liberal Party to win 184 seats in the 338-member House of Commons.

With thanks : theindianpanaroma : LINK : for detailed news report.

The First Sikh To Ever Become The Defence Minister Of Canada Was Born In India

Harjit Sajjan, an Indo-Canadian Sikh, was named Canada’s new defence minister on Wednesday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took oath as the country’s 23rd prime minister at a grand public ceremony in Ottawa. Yes, a Sikh for the first time in the history of Canada has been chosen as the Defence minister. Needless to say, this will take Sikhism in the Canada to a whole another level.

Harjit Singh, a former police officer and veteran of three military deployments to Afghanistan, was born in Punjab, India. Singh’s family migrated to Canada when he was five and never looked back. After completing his studies, Mr Sajjan initially worked as an officer for the Vancouver Police Department. In 1989, he joined Canadian reserved forces and eventually moved on into the Army on a full-time basis. Singh has served in Afghanistan and Bosnia and been twice a special adviser on Afghanistan.

With thanks : allindiaroundup : LINK : for detailed news.

Hardliners divided over holding 'Sarbat Khalsa'

In a bid to project united front, a section of hardliners today urged the organisers of the 'Sarbat Khalsa' (congregation of Sikhs) to convene it at Akal Takht on November 30 and build a consensus on its agenda so as to make it a grand success. 

Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema (SAD Panch Pardani), Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib (Dal Khalsa), R P Singh of Akand Kirtani Jatha, Paramjit Singh of Sikh Youth of Punjab, and Gurpreet Singh of Gurdwara Kendri Singh Sabha today met the organizers of the event-- Simranjit Singh Mann, Mohkam Singh and Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda. 

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news report.

Harjit Sajjan: Canada's new Minister of National Defence

The 44-year-old was born in Punjab, India and immigrated to Canada with his family in the mid-70s, where they settled in Vancouver. The city has always been home to Sajjan, at least when he wasn’t defending Canada oversees in Bosnia or Afghanistan with the Canadian Army.

During his time in service, Sajjan deployed four times, three to Afghanistan, where he ultimately became the first Sikh person to command a Canadian regiment. That wasn’t his only honour while serving; Sajjan is a decorated soldier with 13 medals including the Order of Military Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Locally, he worked as an officer in the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years in South Vancouver and served as Detective in the Gang Crime Unit. After being elected on October 19,Sajan told Vancity Buzz his main concern in Ottawa was going to be youth.

with thanks : vancitybuzz : LINK : for detailed report.

Another sacrilege in Punjab

Torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib found at a village in Moga district

Incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib continue unabated in Punjab with torn pages of the holy book being found on Wednesday at three different places in a village in this district, triggering tension in the area.

The pages were found in Malke village and the authorities assured the agitated locals that the guilty would be arrested soon.

Protesters demanded that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should visit the spot and assess the situation himself.

Senior administration and police officials rushed to the spot as tensions rose, with villagers gathering in large numbers.

The situation is under control and police has taken the pages of holy book into its custody, DIG Amar Singh Chahal said. A team of forensic experts collected evidence from the spot.

The DIG assured the villagers that those behind the crime will be arrested soon and will be dealt sternly.

News with thanks from : TheHindu : LINK : for detailed news report.

"My Name is Parampal Singh ,Not 'OSAMA' " : Parampal Singh

           Sikh man addressed as Osama by a restaurant employee in US.

This has not happened for the first time, in fact it is one among the many incidents where the Sikh community faced harassment and discrimination

In a shocking incident, a Sikh man was called "Osama" when he visited a fast food restaurant called Nathan in Aberdeen Maryland in the United States of America. 

Parampal Singh Ghai stopped at the restaurant along with his father to grab some snacks after a family birthday celebration in Virginia, while waiting after ordering his food he realized that the cashier had not asked his name.

When he saw employees calling out the names of other customers as and when their orders were ready, he checked the receipt and was not only appalled but felt humiliated as well. 

The receipt mentioned his name as Osama, when he confronted the cashier all he got in reply was a smirk. Parampal decided to return his food when he saw the other employee and customers laughing at him. The Sikh man might take a legal action against the outlet and the matter is taken up by the Sikh Coalition too.

This has not happened for the first time, in fact it is one among the many incidents where the Sikh community faced harassment and discrimination.

In September 2015, few days before the 9/11 anniversary, the Sikh community received another shocking reminder that the prejudice against them still prevailed in the US. Seen as a hate crime, an elderly Sikh-American man was injured and addressed as a 'terrorist' and 'Bin Laden' in Chicago.

After the 9/11 attack, Sikhs were often identified as terrorists due to their beards and turban. They have often faced discrimination and been the victims of a prejudicial mindset post 9/11 as racial profiling was at an all time high. 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sikh-man-addressed-as-osama-by-a-restaurant-employee-in-us/1/514822.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral

Jokes Hurting Religious Sentiments of Sikhs should be banned : DSGMC

New Delhi / 2 November 2015 -Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today took a tough stand against the jokes hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs.DSGMC President Manjit Singh G.K. and General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa while addressing media alongwith Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India Harvinder Kaur Chaudhary, demanded to formulate strong laws to prohibit jokes which hurt Sikh sentiments.

G.K. alleged that it was in the decade of 1980s due to faulty policies of Congress party led government of those days Sikhs were seen as terrorists and they were targeted with jokes which hurt their religious sentiments.According to him, “Satwant Singh and Beant Singh who were charged with killing of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were named Santa and Banta respectively to hurt the Sikh sentiments”, adding that a number of websites who are doing business in the name of Sikh jokes are doing a business of crores of rupees every year”, said G.K.  

Referring to a meeting of Congress party president with the President of India on the issue of the atmosphere of uncertainty in the country, G.K. asked her to also take up the issue of immunity given to the perpetrators of 1984 Sikh genocide and making fun of Sikhs, by the Congress party. DSGMC president also raised questions on the BJP role in delay in justice to Sikhs.

Speaking on Jokes of clock striking 12 for the Sikhs, G.K. said that history speaks valor and courage of Sikhs when looters used to loot India and also take along girls, forcibly from here, Sikhs used to fight with the looters to rescue the girls and also safely send them back to their homes. “Some people are spreading hatred by making jokes, instead they should go back into the rich historic background of Sikhs,” suggested G.K.  

Sirsa demanded that the websites which are spreading Sikhs jokes should banned so that Sikhs who are in a small minority in country should not be targeted. Supporting Harvinder Kaur Chaudhary, Sirsa said that all political parties are exploiting minorities. “Writers these days are returning their awards but where were they when Sikhs were mercilessly killed in 1984 genocide,” questioned SIrsa.

Speaking on the occasion Chaudhary said that due to jokes on Sikhs, the entire community was being projected in poor light and it adversely impacts their perception also. She advocated that Sikh jokes are impairing the rights of religious freedom given to Sikhs in the Constitution of India, so tough laws be framed and have a provision for tough punishment and penalty for offenders. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

The UK's First National Sikh Memorial