DSGMC :Sikh students start online petition in support of ‘Ban Sikh Jokes’

the online petition has so far received over 13,000 signatures in the ten days since the launch of the Change.org website. (Shutterstock)

 Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has reportedly started an online petition for school children studying in around 18 Guru Harikrishan Public schools in New Delhi to generate support for banning Sikh jokes, and also involving them in constructive community service.

The campaign for banning Sikh jokes started some days back, and the online petition has so far received over 13,000 signatures in the ten days since the launch of the Change.org website.

“The petition is gathering momentum, and what we’re seeing from the nearly 13000 comments, is that people from various sections of society, including non-Sikhs, have welcomed the chance to protest against these jokes which hurt the feeling of Sikhs and shows them in poor light.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said, “It was decided to start the online petition by the student community and to actively involve around 25000 students studying in Sikh minority education institutions in the ‘Ban Sikh Jokes’ movement under the aegis of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee after a Sikh women advocate Harvinder Choudhary had filed a petition in the supreme Court seeking a ban on Sikh jokes for hurting religious sentiments of the community.”

Manjit Singh GK further said that both teachers and students have been asked to meet the target of one lakh online signatures within the timeline of four weeks. He said that the DSGMC will provide all technical and logistic support to the schools for facilitating the signature drive.

He added that the committee has also given options to school teachers to get signatures on separate sheets of paper for students who do not have e-mail ids and do not use online accounts for one reason or the other.

He said that students will also be encouraged to get the signatures of their parents and also the signatures of non-sikh students so to as to generate mass support among all sections of society.

He said the DSGMC will also provide publicity material like posters,visiting cards that will be displayed in each classroom to generate awareness among students about the movement so as to emotionally integrate and involve them with the cause.

Manjit Singh GK exhorted both parents and teachers to be positive and get involved in constructive community service for the country.

“It is generally seen that ignorants are bullying Sikh children with ‘12 baj gaye’ and other taunts. Our children should use positive dialogue like Guru Nanak used five centuries ago, and remind them of the historic significance of ‘12 baj gaye’ when Sikhs at this time freed thousands of Indian girls and women from the clutches of Ahmed Shah Abdali,” he said.

“We all have to be proud Indian citizens with a global outlook. We should seek and mobilise support on all social media platforms for this campaign. The need of the hour is to let Indian society know that we love humour but not racism. We are proud Indians and the country has benefited from our contributions in almost every field. It is time that Sikh children should not face bullying or insults in the name of casual fun,” he said.

Enthused children took a pledge to generate support for the petition from all quarters and bring an end to the bullying and taunts that they are subjected to.

 Link :http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Iraq-Syria Border: This Sikh Community Has Restored Our Faith On Humanity

In desolate times, when religion is being misinterpreted and misused to disrupt peace and inflict misery upon others, a group of steadfast generous Sikhs instills our faith in humanity.

The Sikh Langar is traditionally a meal, open to all regardless of socio-economic background, provided free of cost. An extension of the humanitarian UK based Khalsa Group, called the Langar Aid, has decided to take the langar to Syria, one of the most violent, unstable zones in the world today, in order to relieve helpless refugees of hunger.

 Although they initially started with proper kitchen cooked meals, due to the inadequacy of supplies, they have now limited themselves to baked food like bread. Located 10 km from the Syrian border, accessible to the refugees, the Langar Aid has been at work for over a year now, feeding anyone in need.

Over the past year, the group has provided fresh bread to about 14,000 to 16,000 refugees per day.

The organisation is supported in the form of machinery by the Khalsa Group, and in terms of free power supply by the local government of Duhok. Help has also been received from Greece and Serbia.

 Link :http://thelogicalindian.com/story

DSGMC :‎Pilgrimage to shrines in Pakistan on the eve of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji Birthday !

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Why Britain owes a lot to the Sikh community' ?

                                 A letter from a gentlemen who served with Sikhs in World War 2. 

The Mercury received the following letter from a reader about what Britain owes to the Sikh community.

During the World Wars, members of the Commonwealth came together, with troops from India, Pakistan, Africa, the Caribbean and beyond.

On television, on November 4, the BBC showed how the Sikh community helped during the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 wars.

An officer of the Indian Army, Manta Singh saw his commanding officer, Captain Henderson, shot in battle, so, under heavy fire, Manta obtained a wheelbarrow, put the officer in it and pushed him to a safe area.
Just before getting there, Manta was shot in the legs, but as they were almost safe, men came forward and saved them both.

Both were treated at a makeshift hospital at the Royal House, in Brighton, Both families became close friends.

I was on a hospital ship during the Second World War and saw a lot of terrible injuries of men from the Indian Sikh community, injured in the fierce fighting in Burma. I never heard any of these men complain of their injuries.

Britain owes a lot to these men, coming to our aid during both World Wars. Thankfully, their families can now live in peace in England – a small price to pay for their help when it was needed.

Mr M Patrick, Ibstock.
Sikhs Protecting The UK
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/owe-Sikhs/story-28185077-detail/story.html#ixzz3rreIX7jf

UK police apologises to SIKHS

SAD EX Legislators of Delhi Vidhan Sabha Lashed on AAP For Double Standards Supporting Radicals & For Threatening Peace and Harmony in the Border State of Punjab

New Delhi / 16, November 2015 

 Former legislators of Delhi vidhan sabha belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal today lashed on Aam admi party’s Chief Minister in Delhi - Arvind Kejriwal for exploiting situation of unrest in Punjab for his petty political gains and playing divisive politics which is further vitiating the scenario - a direct threaten on peace and harmony in the border state of Punjab which has faced the worst days of turmoil in 1980s to 1990s.

Former MLAs Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Harmeet Singh Kalka, ex councilor Capt. Inderpreet Singh and DSGMC Member Kulwant Singh Bath while jointly addressing the media today said that Aam admi party’s support to Sarbat Khalsa organised by radical forces in Punjab on November 10, had unveiled the double standards of Aam admi party which is trying to project itself as a nationalist party in Delhi but supporting the anti-nationalist agenda in Punjab.

“In Sarbat Khalsa among different agendas passed it also had the indirect reference to separate state – Khalistan and presence of AAP party leaders shows the double standards of their party. More so Sarbat Khalsa made Beant Singh’s assassinator Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht Jathedar”, said Manjinder Singh Sirsa raising aspersions on the functioning AAP said that one of their MLAs Jarnail Singh is camping in USA and meeting the radical forces who have anti India agenda. “AAP has not cleared its stand on Hawara which proves their divisive agenda”, said Sirsa. According to Sirsa, Jarnail Singh is seen supporting referendum 2020 for a separate state Khalistan by radical forces in USA, which clearly shows the intentions of Aam admi party.

“Our party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) stands for peace in country and never supported radical agenda and now when AAP is favouring the radicals it is like playing with fire and incase the situation deteriorated in Punjab because of AAP dabbling with radical agenda, they  AAP leaders would be held responsible, dared Sirsa.  Sirsa further said that AAP is mixed up with Congress and like they had joined hands with AAP to form government in Delhi in 2013, though it led to a fiasco – the two parties are working on a similar mechanism dreaming of forming government in Punjab. According to Sirsa the dream which has misadventure and vicious intentions would never be fulfilled as the people of Punjab would reject divisive agenda.

 Speaking on Akali Dal Amritsar leader Simranjeet Singh Mann one of the organisers of Sarbat Khalsa - Sirsa said that Mann’s radical credentials are proved from the fact that in the dossier handed over to Britain government by PM Narendra Modi on radical activities on recent visit, had the names of office bearers of Akali Dal Amritsar led by Mann.

Lashing on AAP’s poster boy MP Bhagwant raising the cause of drugs in Punjab, Sirsa said Mann himself a drug addict these days is admitted in drug de-addiction centre proves that there is huge different between what AAP preaches and practices. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Appeal by S. Manjit Singh G.K. (President, DSGMC) - #BANSikhJokes

Appeal by Actor Manmeet Singh - #BANSikhJokes

Ban websites that defame and insult the Sikh community! : Appeal by RPS Kohli to Sign Petition to Ban Sikh Jokes

"I was subjected to racist ridicule as a young boy, even though I was a school topper. My two sons went through the same. It was the same joke, “12 baj gaye.”

For years now, the Sikh community has been ridiculed, insulted, poked fun at, and portrayed as naive idiots, foolish and an object of amusement, all “in good nature.”
While we are a fun loving community, and love our culture, the Bhangra, the language, we DO NOT like when "12 Baje Jokes" or "Santa Banta Jokes" are cracked at our expense. It is not about Sikhs not being able to take a joke, it's about hurting our religious sentiments.
Bullying is not funny. Nor is making fun of my religion.
A PIL in the Supreme Court is asking for websites specialising in these jokes to be banned.  This is our time to take action.
Sign my petition urging the Supreme Court to ban the websites that defame and insult the Sikh community.
Progressive nations all over the world have become sensitive about racial or communal humour. Why is India still stuck in medieval times? Would jokes on Hindus, Muslims or Christians be considered funny or offensive? It's time to stop casually targeting the Sikh community.
Little boys and girls are bullied in school. It is not okay to “crack a Sardar joke.” It’s not a harmless joke, if an entire community is being bullied under it’s weight.
Sikhs are a proud and brave community. We have occupied top positions like the President, Prime Minister, Chief of Army, Air Marshall. But it’s the Santa Banta jokes, they know us for.
This needs to stop. Sikh jokes are sick jokes.
The Supreme Court will hear the case soon. If thousands of us sign this petition, we can show it to Honorable Supreme Court of India that racism is not funny. 
I along with the PIL petitioner, Harvinder Kaur deliver your signatures to the Supreme Court.
{PIL/WritPetition/CRL/160 of 2015 titled Ms. Harvinder Chowdhury vs Union Of India through Secretary, Ministry of Telecom and I&B}".

With Thanks : RPS Kohli
Kalgidhar Trust/Society

Link :https://www.change.org/p/supreme-court-of-india-ban-websites-that-defame-and-insult-the-sikh-community-bansikhjokes?

Please Sign Petition to Ban SickSikhJokes

https://www.change.org/p/supreme-court-of-india-ban-websites-that-defame-and-insult-the-sikh-community-bansikhjokes?

         Letter to Supreme Court of India

 "For years now, the Sikh community has been ridiculed, insulted, poked fun at, and portrayed as naive idiots, foolish and an object of amusement, all “in good nature.”

Racism is not funny. Nor is making fun of the Sikh religion.

This PIL {PIL/WrtitPetition/CRL/160 of 2015 titled Ms. Harvinder Kaur vs Union Of India through Secretary, Ministry of Telecom and I&B} in the Supreme Court is asking for websites specialising in these jokes to be banned.

I urge you, the Honorable Supreme Court of India to ban the websites that defame and insult the Sikh community.

Progressive nations all over the world have become sensitive about racial or communal humour. It's time to stop casually targeting the Sikh community.

Little boys and girls are bullied in school. It is not okay to “crack a Sardar joke.” It’s not a harmless joke, if an entire community is being bullied under it’s weight".

With Thanks :
RPS Kohli
Kalgidhar Trust/Society

‘Sacrilege, a conspiracy by former Sikh radicals’ : Sukhbir Singh Badal

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said that former terrorists have reunited and an attempt was being made to finish the moderate Sikh leadership in the State.

He asked the Sikh community to understand the conspiracy behind the sacrilege of the Sikh holy book – the Guru Granth Sahib.

“It is quite clear, there is a feeling that the SAD-BJP government is set to come back to power in 2017. The sacrilege incidents followed by the Sarbat Khalsa (Sikh congregation) were deliberately organised to attack all Sikh institutions, including the Sri Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, and cripple the SAD-BJP combine in the run-up to the Assembly elections,” Mr. Badal said in a statement.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the Punjab government and the SAD would not compromise on the law and order situation in the State and deal sternly with anti-social elements.

“The Punjab police know their responsibilities. There was a period recently, when tempers were running high because of desecration of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the police took a soft attitude. But now with the extremists having attacked Punjab, we will take strict action against them,” he said.

Mr. Badal alleged that the Congress played a major role in mobilising people for the Sikh congregation held in Amritsar and accused it of conspiring to disturb peace in the State.

  

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sacrilege-a-conspiracy-by-former-sikh-radicals/article7874520.ece?ref=sliderNews