Nihang Sikh injured while stopping eve-teasing

AMRITSAR: Unidentified persons opened fire and pelted stones at a Nihang Sikh Gurmeet Singh on Friday night at Tungbala area of Amritsar after he stopped them from harassing women.

Talking to TOI on Saturday, Gurmeet said that he saw some men teasing a few women when he was on his way to visit his relatives.

"I stopped them from molesting the women but instead they attacked me," he allegd.

One of them opened fire, while others pelted stones," he added. In the incident, Gurmeet's leg got fractured.

Amritsar Sadar station house officer (SHO) Sukhbir Singh informed that the police had identified the culprits and have registered a case against them. He informed that none of them has been arrested so far.

with thanks : TOI : LINK

Sarnas get control of Takht Patna Sahib Managing Committee

JALANDHAR: Former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Harvinder Singh Sarna of Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) was elected as president, Takht Patna Sahib Management Committee, without any opposition from arch rivals Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). The SAD (Badal), apparently pre-empting its defeat, had decided not to field any candidate.

As the outgoing president Avtar Singh Makkar chose to stay away from the election meeting, Harvinder Singh Sarna took over the seat. Shalinder Singh Tata Nagar was elected senior vice president and Kamaljit Kaur was chosen as the junior vice president. Charanjit Singh and Mohinder Singh Chhabra were elected general secretary and joint secretary respectively. The office bearers are elected for a term of two-and-a-half years.

Meanwhile, Makkar remains the member of the committee as the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) nominee. According to sources, rumblings against Makkar were on within the managing committee when the grand celebrations were held to mark 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. However, the members avoided creating any major controversy during the celebrations to avoid embarrassment, said sources.

SAD (Delhi) president Paramjit Singh Sarna alleged that though the SAD (Badal) had made attempts to derail and delay the election, the latter could not hold ground as majority of the members of the managing committee had turned against Makkar. Sarna said they would improve working of the committee and it would be a team work.

with thanks : TOI : LINK

Thank you India, says French family which took shelter at Mumbai gurudwara : Hindustan Times

The French tourist family stuck in Mumbai floods on Tuesday went to three hotels in Dadar looking for a safe place before being directed to the Gurudwara.

“One of our worst experiences in India turned (out) to (be) one of our best and we learnt a lot from you,” read the thank you postcard, written by Arie and Sophie Boleswaski and their three daughters to Dadar Gurudwara. 

The French tourist family stuck in Mumbai floods on Tuesday went to three hotels in Dadar looking for a safe place before being directed to the Gurudwara. “We were lost in the rain, and your Gurudwara appeared like a lighthouse in the dark. Not only you provided us with a shelter, but you welcomed us with extreme kindness,” said Boleswaskis in the thank you note. 

The family was offered dal khichadi for dinner and a small room by the Gurudwara officials as they were concerned about their safety. 

The note. (HT)

“They were one of 750 victims of Mumbai floods who came to the Gurudwara in need of shelter and food. Considering their concerns and the fact that they are our guests, we ensured they are not inconvenienced in any way,” said Kulwant Singh, vice-president of Dadar Singh Sabha. 

Singh said the family was extremely worried after the transportation system of the city collapsed and couldn’t find a safe place to spend the night. “They went about one hotel to another, but couldn’t find a suitable place. That’s when one of the hotel owners, directed them towards us,” said Manpreet Singh, one of the volunteers. 

While the family refused any other special arrangement and chose to sleep on floor after seeing the condition of their fellow victims of the deluge, in the morning they said it was the best night of their life, Kulwant said. 

As the family returned to their home town Paris, France, on Wednesday morning after the roads were cleared and transportation was resumed, but not without donating towards the cause of public welfare. 

“Please accept this small contribution to everything you do for the souls in need. If you happen to come to Paris, please let us know,” said Arie and Sophie Boleswaski in the postcard.

with thanks : HINDUSTAN TIMES : LINK

Thank you India, says French family which took shelter at Mumbai gurudwara

The French family that stayed at a Mumbai Gurudwara during Mumbai rains said THANK YOU INDIA FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIFE

Thank you India, says French family which took shelter at Mumbai gurudwara

Thank you India, says French family which took shelter at Mumbai gurudwara.

The French tourist family stuck in Mumbai floods on Tuesday went to three hotels in Dadar looking for a safe place before being directed to the Gurudwara.

By Sadaguru Pandit, Hindustan Times

The family was offered dal khichadi for dinner and a small room by the Gurudwara officials as they were concerned about their safety. (HT)

Updated: Aug 30, 2017 19:47 IST

“One of our worst experiences in India turned (out) to (be) one of our best and we learnt a lot from you,” read the thank you postcard, written by Arie and Sophie Boleswaski and their three daughters to Dadar Gurudwara.

The French tourist family stuck in Mumbai floods on Tuesday went to three hotels in Dadar looking for a safe place before being directed to the Gurudwara. “We were lost in the rain, and your Gurudwara appeared like a lighthouse in the dark. Not only you provided us with a shelter, but you welcomed us with extreme kindness,” said Boleswaskis in the thank you note.

The family was offered dal khichadi for dinner and a small room by the Gurudwara officials as they were concerned about their safety.

The note. (HT)

“They were one of 750 victims of Mumbai floods who came to the Gurudwara in need of shelter and food. Considering their concerns and the fact that they are our guests, we ensured they are not inconvenienced in any way,” said Kulwant Singh, vice-president of Dadar Singh Sabha.

Singh said the family was extremely worried after the transportation system of the city collapsed and couldn’t find a safe place to spend the night. “They went about one hotel to another, but couldn’t find a suitable place. That’s when one of the hotel owners, directed them towards us,” said Manpreet Singh, one of the volunteers.

While the family refused any other special arrangement and chose to sleep on floor after seeing the condition of their fellow victims of the deluge, in the morning they said it was the best night of their life, Kulwant said. 

As the family returned to their home town Paris, France, on Wednesday morning after the roads were cleared and transportation was resumed, but not without donating towards the cause of public welfare.

“Please accept this small contribution to everything you do for the souls in need. If you happen to come to Paris, please let us know,” said Arie and Sophie Boleswaski in the postcard.

Doors open for dera followers to return to Sikh fold: Akal Takht

He added, “I want to make an appeal to all those dera followers with Sikh background to admit their mistake and take corrective steps and return to the faith of Guru Nanak. We will welcome such followers with open arms.”

A day after the family of Dera Sacha Sauda follower Hari Singh, who was killed during the Panchkula violence, returned to Sikhism, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said that doors were open for all dera followers who wanted to come back to Sikhism.

Akal Takht had issued an edict for Sikhs to boycott Dera followers in 2007 after dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim allegedly copied the dress of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

The edict was followed by series of clashes between Sikhs and dera followers over the years, and many lives were lost on both sides. Talking to media at his office in Amritsar on Tuesday, Akal Takht Jathedar said, “We will welcome any dera follower wants to come back to Sikhism. I would like Sikh organisations to motivate such dera followers to make a return to faith.”

He added, “I want to make an appeal to all those dera followers with Sikh background to admit their mistake and take corrective steps and return to the faith of Guru Nanak. We will welcome such followers with open arms.”

Hari Singh, who hailed from village Bangi Nihal Singh Wala in Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, was a dera follower and died of a bullet injury during the violence after security forces opened fire to control the unruly mob in Panchkula last Friday.

Later, family of Hari Singh approached Takht Damdma Sahib, Talwandi Sabo Jathedar Harpreet Singh, and requested that the family be allowed to cremate Hari Singh’s body according to Sikh customs. The family was then also taken back into the Sikh fold by Jathedar Harpreet Singh.

“Verdict on Dera head opened our eyes. Now we feel that my father got killed for nothing. So we decided to come back into Sikhism,” said Rajpal Singh, son of Hari Singh.

Akal Takht Jathedar, meanwhile, said that that one reason behind rise of Dera Sacha Sauda was lack of preaching of Sikhism.

with thanks : Indian Express : LINK : for more details.

‘Assam CM agrees for micro minority status to Sikhs’

Guwahati, Aug 29 (IANS) In response to the demand of Assamese Sikhs, the state government on Tuesday reportedly agreed to accord “micro minority status” to the community.

A delegation of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and representatives of the Assamese Sikhs led by Committee General secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa met Assam Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday in this regard.

“The Chief Minister today (Tuesday) acceded to accord micro minority status to the Assamese Sikh community in the state and provide various facilities for socio, economic and political upliftment of the community,” Sirsa said while addressing a press conference in Guwahati.

He said the Assam government had responded towards their various demands and that the government had also appointed an IAS officer of the state as the nodal officer to coordinate implementation of these demands.

“The Assam Chief Minister has also agreed to implement Anand Marriage Act in the state at the earliest, start service to enable the Sikh community members have darshan of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar and other gurudwaras in the state and also sanctioned an amount of Rs 5 crore for building Community Centre and Eduation Complex in Nagaon,” he added.

Sonowal also agreed to install a statue of General Chetanya Singh, the first sikh General who was sent to Assam with a platoon of 500 Sikh soldiers from Punjab by Maharaja Ranjit Singh during the Burmese attack on the state.

As the history goes, then Ahom King Chandrakanta Singha had sought the help of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1820 when the Burmese attacked the kingdom. The war continued for two years and the Sikh soldiers who survived the war settled in Assam and came to be known as Assamese Sikhs.

Although these Assamese Sikhs are devout Sikhs and sport turban, they have got assimilated in the Assamese culture and most of them do not even know the Punjabi language.

This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

Taken with thanks from india.com : LINK

SC agrees to hear plea against renovation at Sikkim's Gurdwara

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a petition seeking to restrain the Sikkim government from allegedly demolishing a gurdwara in the state in the garb of renovating it.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the petitioner to serve a copy of his plea to Sikkim's standing counsel.

The petitioner has moved the apex court alleging that the state authorities have illegally removed the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, from the site and would demolish the gurdwara in the name of renovation.

The bench, which also comprised Justices P C Pant and D Y Chandrachud, sought to know from the petitioner as to why he had not approached the high court in the matter.

Responding to the query, petitioner Amritpal Singh Khalsa said the petition was filed in extreme urgency due to the threat of demolition or renovation of Gurdwara Gurudongmar and it would take time to travel to Sikkim.

The bench asked him to serve the copy of the plea to the standing counsel of the state during the course of the day and fixed the matter for hearing tomorrow.

with thanks : TimesofIndia : LINK : for detailed news

SC to consider a plea against 'desecration' of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' at Sikkim

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea contending “desecration” and “destruction” of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' at Sikkim under the garb of renovation.



A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked petitioners by Amritpal Singh Khalsa, a law student, and Ajmer Singh Randhawa to provide a copy of his petition to Sikkim government's counsel and put the matter for consideration on Wednesday. 

The petitioners claimed “imminent threat of demolition” under the garb of the renovation of 'Gurdwara Gurudongma'. They claimed 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' and other religious items have been shifted out of site without a notice, an order, or due process of law. They contended that the authorities must be restrained from carrying out their actions as those were against fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

They further claimed that they have sufficient historic books and documents as evidence which indicated that Guru Nanak Ji, the first Guru of Sikhs, went to 'Gurdwara Gurudongma' in its current place.

“If the respondents (Sikkim government authorities) wish to carry out any renovation work a prior notice of one month should be given to Sikh priest/Sikh people staying in Sikkim/ SGPC, Amritsar so that appropriate action for shifting of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as per Sikh Rehat Maryada/ Code of Conduct can be taken,” they said.

with thanks : deccanherald : LINK

ASSAM GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO START AWARD IN THE NAME OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR SAHIB JI

RENOVATION WORK OF ASSAM GURUDWARA MATA JI WILL BEGIN BY MID NOVEMBER. ASSAM SIKH DEVELOPMENT TRUST WILL BE ESTABLISHED  SOON : MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA

          New Delhi, August 30 : Assam Government has decided to start an annual award in the name of ninth sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji and it will be given for exemplary work in the social field. This was decided in a meeting between Assam Chief Minister Mr. Sarbnanda Sonowal and visiting sikh delegation led by Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa General Secretary Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The delegation had urged the CM to institute the award in the name of the Guru Sahib.

          Disclosing this in a statement issued here Mr. Sirsa informed that DSGMC has welcomed the decision and personally thanked Chief Minister for the decision which will go long way in resurrecting the Sikhs in the state.

          It is worth mentioning here that a high level sikh delegation led by Mr. Sirsa is visiting Assam and Mr. Kuldeep Singh Bhogal senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Indu Singh social worker are also part of the delegation.

          He also informed that as the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has already decided to take up sewa (service) of renovation  of Gurudwara Mata ji in Assam, its plan is being prepared and work on the project will begin by mid November this year. He also said that the DSGMC will also take help of technical experts for preservation of hand written Guru Granth Sahib and other historical articles present in the Gurudwara Sahib in Assam.

          Mr. Sirsa further informed that  as the social, economic and political condition of the Sikhs in the state is not good enough, it has been decided to set up Assam Sikh Welfare Trust which will included Sikhs from worldwide who will contribute to ameliorate the condition of the Sikhs in the state of Assam. He said that the said trust will formulate plan to achieve the said purpose and implement it as soon as possible.

          The DSGMC General Secretary also said that as per the decision of the Chief Minister Assam, he today met Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sharmsher Singh who is from fifth generation of General Chetnya Singh, first sikh general who was sent by Maharaj Ranjit Singh to Assam during the Burmese invasion, to discuss allotment of 10 bighas land to construct to set up Social Welfare Project and establish Community Centre and Education Complex in the district for which the CM has already sanctioned an amount of Rs.  5 Crores.

          Mr. Sirsa further informed that the Deputy Commissioner today assured the delegation that within a period of one month he will move a concrete proposal to the government for approval to allot the said land.

          The sikh delegation today visited Gurudwaras in the area and also visited some schools of the region.

  Mr. Sirsa decribed the visit of the delegation as highly successful and said that this visit will  contribute a lot in establishment of sikh in the state of Assam on economic, social and political front.

ASSAM CHIEF MINISTER SARBNANDA SONOWAL AGREES TO MANY DEMANDS OF SIKH COMMUNITY IN STATE

ASSAM CHIEF MINISTER SARBNANDA SONOWAL AGREES TO MANY DEMANDS OF SIKH COMMUNITY IN STATE

• SIKH DELEGATION LED BY MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA MEETS ASSAM CM
• SIKHS TO BE ACCORDED MICRO MINORITY STATUS
• ANAND MARRIAGE ACT TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN STATE
• SPECIAL TOUR OF DARBAR SAHIB AND OTHER GURUDWARS FOR ASSAMESE SIKHS
• APPOINTS NODAL OFFICER FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MAJOR DEMANDS
• SANCTIONS RS. 5 CRORE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY CENTRE AND EDUCATION COMPLEX
• APPROVES ALLOTEMENT OF 10 BIGHA LAND FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECT
• THREE SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED SOON

Guwahati, August 29 : Assam Chief Minister Mr. Sarbnanda Sonolwal today acceded to accord micro minority status to the sikh community in the state and provide various facilities for socio, economic and political upliftment of the  sikh community in the state of Assam.

            Decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting between a Sikh delegation led by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa and the Chief Minister today. The Delegation  met Assam Chief Minister Mr. Sarabnanda Sonowal and presented him a memorandum demanding special status and facilities for the microscopic minority sikh community in the states. Assam Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia and Commissioner and Secertary to CM Mr. Sanjay Lohia were also present in the meeting.

            Apart from Mr. Sirsa the sikh delegation comprised Mr. Kuldeep Singh Bhogal senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Partap Singh President local Gurudwara Committee and Indu Singh a social activist.

            Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa informed that Chief Minister was very kind to accept major demands of the sikh community and he also appointed a nodal officer Mr. Rajesh Prasad IAS to coordinate implementation of these demands.  He said that apart from other demands the Chief Minister has agreed to implement Anand Marriage Act in the state at the earliest, start service to enable the sikh community members to have darshan of Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar and other Gurudwaras in the state and also sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5 crore for building Community Centre and Eduation Complex in Nagaon.  He said that Mr. Sonowal has also agreed to install a statue of General Chetanya Singh, the first sikh General who was sent by Maharaja Ranjit Singh during the Burmese attack on the state. He said that Chief Minister also approved allotment of 10 Bighas land for setting up social welfare project in Guwahati and also approved setting of three skill development centres as early as possible. He also accepted demand for renovation and restoration of historical gurudwaras in the state and asked the delegation to provide a list of the same.

            This delegation briefed the Chief Minister about the invent of Sikhs and their settlement in Assam.  The Chief Minister was informed how a community who are staunch Sikh by religion are on the verge of losing their identity due to challenges they have been facing both socially and economically. The Assamese Sikh Community of Assam is a community, which is there in the northeastern state for more than two centuries yet their existence has almost been ignored by the successive Governments. The delegation sought help of Chief Minister so that this microscopic minority and neglected community could come out of imminent danger of getting extinct and so that members of this historic community can stand on its feet to serve the country like any other citizen of India.

The delegation impressed upon the Chief Minister Mr. Sonowal to grant a special Status for the Microscopic Minority Sikh community for upliftment of their status socially, politically and economically. The deleglation demanded that a world class educational complex from primary to University level in Borkola, Nagaon be established for the community, special provision of reservation be made for the community in educational institutions and for employment in Govt job, reservation of seats in State Assembly, Rural and Urban local bodies, establishment of skill development centre in Sikh inhabited areas and a plot of suitable land measuring at least 10 Bighas be allotted in Guwahati and Nagaon for setting up social welfare project by Assamese Sikhs.

On the occasion the delegation also demanded that renovation work at Gurdwara Mataji be started immediately and a statue of General Chetan Singh should be installed. It also demanded maintenance of the historical Gurdwaras of Assam, which could be important tourist destination for the Sikhs Living outside Assam.

            Mr. Sirsa informed that Assam Chief Minister Mr. Sarbnanda Sonowal gave a patient hearing to the delegation and on the spot announced that special status will be accorded to the micro minority sikh community besides accepting the other demands raised by the delegation.

 He also assured that all the problems being faced by the minority community in the state will be looked into and their resolution will be ensured at the earliest. Mr. Sonowal lauded the efforts of the delegation who had brought to his notice the problems being faced by the community and assured all help to it.

            Mr. Sonowal also said that their government was committed to ensure justice to all and provide equal opportunity to each and every section of the society. He said that government was committed for upliftment of minorities and safeguarding their rights.