Punjab AAP Leaders Meet Sikh Farmers Facing Eviction in UP

AAP Leaders met Farmers in Bijnor

 To express solidarity with Punjabi farmers who were facing eviction in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, a delegation of Aam Aadmi Party

(AAP) interacted with affected families and promised to highlight the issue.

Harpal Singh Cheema 

Punjab assembly leader of opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema told TOI that the farmers in Terai region were apprehensive that despite assurances, their land records had been changed, depriving them of their right to sell or lease out land.

“We met farmers in Nagina in Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and Bazpur in Uttarakhand. BJP is trying to favour corporates by usurping the land of farmers. The land is Bajpur even has industrial units and the smaller ones belong to people originally from Punjab,” he said.

“The general sentiment among farmers is that injustice is being done to them. Farmers shifted there when others were reluctant to take up farming. They showed us marks of snake bites to prove how they struggled to contribute to the development of the areas back then. But now the state governments want to take over their land,” added Cheema.

AAP leaders claimed that statements being made by politicians rang hollow as farmers were up in arms against the move. “We will also support any agitation launched by the landowners. I will prepare a report on the ground situation and send it to the Prime Minister and chief ministers,” said Cheema.

AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan

 AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan who is also a part of the delegation, added the matter would be raised in Parliament through the party’s MP, Bhagwant Mann.

The chunks of land in question were allotted to the farmers by the kings of the times, adding that during the land consolidation in 1952, the farmers were registered as owners of the lands. However, in 1963, the farmers were declared as tillers as per the law. These farmers had been tilling these lands ever since.

Taking cognisance of reports of attempts by the Uttar Pradesh government to displace more than 30,000 Sikh farmers by taking over their arable land, Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh last week said he will take up the issue with his UP counterpart, Yogi Adityanath, and Union home minister Amit Shah.

Link:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-aap-leaders-meet-sikh-farmers-facing-eviction-in-up/articleshow/76621116.cms

UNITED SIKHS Team Bangalore is functioning to serve nutritious and hygienic meals to the Frontline Warriors fighting COVID 19

UNITED SIKHS Team Bangalore is functioning to serve nutritious and hygienic meals to the Frontline Warriors fighting COVID 19.

Their volunteers are preparing and distributing more than 220 lunch and dinner meals to the doctors and nurses in Sir C V Raman General Hospital and in Victoria Hospital (Bangalore Medical College).

 We are grateful  UNITED SIKHS Team, their volunteers / supporters for their contribution.

Volunteer with UNITED SIKHS.

https://unitedsikhs.org/join-united-sikhs/

Mr.Lal Singh : TADA Sikh Detainee Set to be Released After 28 Years in Jail

                                     Mr. Lal Singh

The Centre has ordered the release a 61-year-old Sikh prisoner incarcerated in jail for 28 years following his conviction under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (Tada). The release of Tada convict Lal Singh has been sought by Sikh groups many times over the years.

A communic ation received by superintendent of Maximum Security Jail Nabha from M K Chahar, undersecretary (law) in legal cell of Ministry of Home Affairs says that the Director General and Inspector General of Prisons, Gujarat, has passed an order on March 3, 2020, for release of Tada convict Lal Singh, who is undergoing life imprisonment in Nabha jail.

The communication has also asked the jail superintendent to intimate whether the Tada convict has been released from jail in view of the March 3 order of DG and IG Prisons, Gujarat.

Lal Singh, who belongs to Akalgarh village near Phagwara, was awarded life imprisonment in 1997 in an arms recovery case at Dadar railway station in 1992. He is currently out on parole. The issue of Sikh detainees’ release had been taken up by activist Gurbax Singh Khalsa who had gone on a fast in November 2013 and later by Surat Singh Khalsa. The release also figured among Bargari Morcha’s demands.

Lal Singh was among those granted remission by the Centre in November 2019 in view of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, but he was not released as he faced charges in two other cases. His release has been ordered now after an all-clear from Gujarat, where most cases were lodged.

Link:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/tada-sikh-detainee-set-to-be-released-after-28-years-in-jail/articleshow/76636161.cms

Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar,Dubai Charters First Repatriation flight from UAE to Punjab : Arranges Safe Return of 209 NRIs

The chartered flight took off on Thursday from Dubai with a total of 209 passengers.

The Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai successfully arranged the first ever chartered flight for the people stranded in the country to Amristar. The Indigo flight took off on Thursday from Dubai with a total of 209 passengers.

Passengers of the first repatriation flight to Punjab

“We are thankful to the Indian Consulate and Indian Embassy, UAE for all their support to make this happen. There is has been a huge support from the Khalsa Motorcycle Club UAE who have been tirelessly helping us with this initiative. Special thanks to Punjab Government for their timely approvals,” said Surender Kandhari, Chairman Guru Nanak Darbar Dubai.

“We are in the process of arranging for more chartered flights to Amritsar in the coming days.  The second flight is scheduled for 27th June, two are in the pipeline, and we are working on six more flights in the coming weeks making sure they reach home safely and at the earliest,” he added.

Sikhs have been at the forefront of philanthropic work throughout the world and have been like a pillar of support for victims, providing them with medical aid, food, water, and everyday essentials to fight against the deadly coronavirus disease as the spirit of community service is an integral part of the Sikh faith.

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara Dubai has been distributing meals to around 1500 people everyday since March with the help of Indian consulate and few volunteers to the blue collared workers and the needy in the UAE during these difficult times of Covid-19. This is our commitment towards the society, as it also reminds us of our shared responsibility to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves and the basic principles that bind people of different faiths together.

Mr.Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of the Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Dubai

“We are happy to see that our brethren are being repatriated to their homes during this difficult situation in Dubai and hope that are all well settled and reunite with their families after their quarantine at the earliest,” said  Surender Singh Kandhari. More than 200 chartered flights have been operated, besides the special flights operated by Air India under the Vande Bharat Mission launched on May 7 to repatriate Indians stranded in the UAE due to Covid-19 situation. More than 60,000 UAE-based NRIs have returned to Indian safely.

“This is our commitment towards the society, as it also reminds us of our shared responsibility to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves and the basic principles that bind people of different faiths together.”

Link:https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2020/06/25/gurudwara-arranges-safe-return-of-209-nris#:~:text=The%20chartered%20flight%20took%20off,a%20total%20of%20209%20passengers.&text=The%20Guru%20Nanak%20Darbar%20Gurudwara,in%20the%20country%20to%20Amristar.

Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa :Book Sonia Gandhi and Rahul for deceit with nation and Treason for getting monetary benefits from China

Mr.Manjinder Singh Sirsa :DSGMC President and National Spokesman of the Shiromani  Akali Dal

The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management  Committee (DSGMC) President and National Spokesman of the Shiromani  Akali Dal Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded that a case of deceit with nation and treason should be registered against AICC working President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and ex President Mr. Rahul Gandhi.

 In a statement released here today, Mr. Sirsa said that in a shocking and sensational revelation it has emerged that both these leader took money from China in the name of the their Rajiv Gandhi foundation. He said that this is the main reason why Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Rahul Gandhi were consistently attacking our soldiers, our nation and were issuing statements favoring China, which has martyred our 20 soldiers.

  Mr. Sirsa said that earlier Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has sold the nation by taking bribe for purchase of Bofors guns and now it has come to light that both these members of the Gandhi family have took money from China in the name of their foundation. He said that this is clear case of deceit with nation and treachery. He said that both leaders should be booked on these charged.

The SAD leader also said that they have sold interest of the country with China which is regularly trying to usurp our land in Ladakh and other regions.  He said that this issue is related with the security of our country and our brave soldiers who are braving very harsh weather condition to safeguard our motherland from the enemy. He said that it is shameful to note that they have sold interest of nation to the enemy country. He said that it should also be probed on what deal they have done with China to support it against our own country. He said that nation cannot forgive such actions of the Congress leaders particularly Gandhi family which is hell bent on causing damage to the nation.

With Thanks,

Sudeep Singh

Honorary Media Advisor

DSGMC

Northampton's Sikh Community Feeding 300 Vulnerable People Each Week in Lockdown

The Sikh community in Northampton in action.

The Sikh community in Northampton has been supporting the homeless and vulnerable for more than 40 years, but since lockdown, they have seen a huge rise in demand for their services.

They are now feeding around 300 people every week - triple the amount they were doing before.

Amarjit Singh Atwal is the Trustee for the Sikh Community Centre and Youth Club and the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Northampton.

Both charities have been working in partnership with Northampton Hope Centre to keep up with demand.

The Sikh community are now feeding 300 people each week.

Amarjit Singh Atwal said: "Before this we were providing maybe 80-90 meals a week, but we're probably up to maybe 300 and more some weeks so that's the hot food side of it. We've now started to do a small foodbank providing food for people with a specific cultural needs, so that's quite busy as well.

"We've helped people where they've needed furniture, so they might have been moved to somewhere where it's a safer place for them to live. And some of the volunteers who have been in isolation have been making PPE for the general hospital."

Sikhs in Northampton have been doing this for more than four decades - it is part of their faith to go out and help as many people as possible.

It is called seva, which means selfless service.

Their hard work has not gone unnoticed. They recently won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a voluntary organisation can receive.

"We were really delighted that we'd won such a big award," Mr Singh Atwal said.

"The Sikh community in Northampton has been volunteering and working with other organisations for probably over 40 years now. It was great for us as a community to get that recognition."

Mr Singh Atwal and his team of volunteers will continue to help out as long as they're needed, which a. be for many more months to come.

Link:https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-06-25/northampton-s-sikh-community-feeding-300-vulnerable-people-each-week-in-lockdown/

Entering into Wedlock Amid Lockdown : Sikh Couple Take Marriage Vows in Corona Times

Groom Gurpreet Singh and Bride Ramandeep Kaur's wedding.


Groom Harkarandeep Vaid and  Bride Bhavdeep Kaur 

The couple is also seen posing with a hand sanitizer, making sure to follow all the necessary precautions.

Bride Bhavdeep Kaur donned a gorgeous yellow lehenga with a matching mask in the same shade 

A Sikh groom (left) and a bride along with family members walk along a street as they go back home after their wedding, on the outskirts of Amritsar on April 29.

A Sikh couple wearing face masks in view of COVID-19 outbreak walks to a gurudwara for their marriage ceremony during ongoing nationwide lockdown, in Amritsar


The family and friends of Groom Preet Singh and  Bride Neet Kaur joined the wedding celebrations on Zoom.




50 friends and family members of  Groom Preet Singh and Bride Neet Kaur joined the low-key wedding festivities on Zoom


Couple in Mohali gets married with only 10 people present



Mohali  Lockdown Wedding 



Two couples after getting married at the Phase 4 gurdwara in Mohali. Instead of a huge wedding party, the brides and grooms were accompanied by just their parents

Groom Sukhwinder singh and Bride  Khushbir kaur, Phagwara

 Groom Garvit Narang  and Bride Aditi,Kanpur,Uttar Pradesh

Garvit Narang  and bride Aditi,Kanpur,Uttar Pradesh

Groom Ramandeep Singh and Bride Neha Mahajan, Jalandhar

Groom Kussh and Bride Bhumika Ahluwalia,Mumbai

Groom Kussh and Bride Bhumika Ahluwalia,Mumbai

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nnank Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

आखिर हर बार सिक्ख ही क्यों निशाने पर ? Why Always Sikhs are being systematically targeted ?

सिक्खों ने देश की आजादी के लिए अपना सब कुछ न्यौछावर कर दिया। यहाँ तक कि बंटवारे का दुख भी सिक्ख समुदाय के लोगों को ही सहना पड़ा। आजादी के लिए सबसे ज्यादा कुर्बानियाँ करने में सिक्ख समुदाय के लोग आगे आये थे। 1947 में देश को आजादी मिली। आज देश को आजाद हुए लगभग 73 वर्ष हो चुके हैं, लेकिन सिक्खों को देश में वह मान-सम्मान नहीं मिला जिसके वह असली हकदार थे। 73 वर्षों में केन्द्र में भले ही किसी भी पार्टी की सरकार आई सभी ने सिक्खों के साथ सौतेला व्यवहार किया। जिस कारण सिक्ख समुदाय के लोगों में केन्द्र के प्रति रोष भी पनपता रहा जिसको सरकार द्वारा दमनकारी ढंग से दबा भी दिया जाता रहा। इसके बावजूद सिक्खों ने देश के विकास में अपना भरपूर योगदान दिया। यहाँ तक कि जो सिक्ख विदेशों में पलायन कर गये थे किसी ना किसी रूप में देश के विकास में अपना सीधे या परोक्ष रूप से योगदान देते रहे। भारत देश के कई प्रदेशों में सिक्खों ने जंगली भूमि को अपना खून-पसीना एक करके आबाद किया। जिस कारण वह जमीन अब सोना उगलने लगी। सिक्ख समुदाय के लोग मेहनत करने से कभी भी पीछे नहीं हटते। चाहे वह मेहनत कृषि के क्षेत्र में हो या फिर किसी अन्य क्षेत्र में। इन लोगों ने अपनी मेहनत के कारण सिर्फ देश में ही नहीं बल्कि विदेशों में भी धाक जमा रखी है। शायद इसी कारण वह हमेशा से बहुसंख्यक वर्ग के लोगों पर निशाने पर भी बने रहे।

मध्य प्रदेश, सिक्किम, तेलंगाना, राजस्थान के साथ-साथ अब उत्तर प्रदेश में तराई क्षेत्र के अंदर सिक्खों को निशाना बनाया जा रहा है। इस बार सिक्ख आम लोगों का निशाना नहीं बल्कि स्वयं सरकार द्वारा अपनी दमनकारी नीतियों के कारण सिक्खों को उनकी जमीनों से बेदखल करने की चाल आरंभ की गई। सिक्ख किसानों को उन जमीनों से बेदखल किया जा रहा है जिनको उन्होंने अपने खून-पसीने से आबाद किया था। उत्तर-प्रदेश की योगी सरकार के तुगलकी फरमान से इन सिक्खों की फसलों को ट्रैक्टर, काबाईन के साथ खत्म कर दिया गया। इन हालातों को देखते हुए एक बार सिक्खों को फिर से बंटवारे की याद आ गई। उनको लगने लगा कि अब फिर से उन्हें बंटवारे का दुख सहना पड़ेगा। देश-विदेश में रहने वाले सभी सिक्ख योगी सरकार के इस फरमान से हैरान रह गये। वह सरकार जिसके साथ अकाली दल का केन्द्र में आपसी गठजोड़ है। उसके बावजूद किसी प्रदेश में सिक्खों के साथ अन्याय हो रहा हो तो वह अपने आप में सवालिया निशान खड़ा करता हुआ नजर आता है।

हरसिमरत बादल आई हरकत में

शिरोमणी अकाली दल हमेशा से सिक्खों के हकों पर पहरा देने वाली पार्टी है। इस लिए देश-विदेश के सभी सिक्ख उस पार्टी की तरफ आस लगाये रहते हैं कि अगर उनके ऊपर कहीं भी कोई मुसीबत आती है तो उनकी अपनी पार्टी उनके हक में खड़ी होगी। ताजा मामले के अन्त्तर्गत उत्तर प्रदेश में सिक्ख किसानों को उनकी जमीन से बेदखल किये जाने की जैसे ही बात सामने आई तो शिरोमणी अकाली दल ने फौरन अपनी आपातकालीन बैठक बुलाई। बैठक में शिरोमणी अकाली दल के अध्यक्ष स. सुखबीर सिंह बादल स्वयं हाजिर हुए। इसके साथ ही इस बैठक में विशेष रूप केन्द्रीय मंत्री श्रीमति हरसिमरत कौर बादल भी शामिल हुई। बैठक में उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार के सिक्खों को उनकी भूमि से बेदखल किये जाने पर सख्त ऐतराज जताया गया। वहीं पर केन्द्रीय मंत्री बीबा हरसिमरत बादल ने मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ से टैलीफोन पर बातचीत करते हुए इस मसले को जल्द से जल्द सुलझाने की अपील की। शिरोमणी अकाली दल के अध्यक्ष सुखबीर सिंह बादल के आदेश पर तीन सदस्यीय प्रतिनिधिमंडल ने उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ के साथ मुलाकात की। श्री योगी ने प्रतिनिधिमंडल को भरोसा दिया कि किसी भी सिक्ख किसान को विस्थापित नहीं किया जायेगा। योगी ने प्रतिनिधिमंडल को यह भी बताया कि सशस्त्र बल केन्द्र के लिए एक वैकल्पिक जगह निर्धारित की जायेगी।  मुख्यमंत्री ने चार जगहों का सर्वेक्षण करने के लिए चार अलग-अलग टीमों का गठन किया, जहाँ सिक्खों को विस्थापन का डर है ताकि उन्हें जुताई करने वाली जगह के अधिकार और साधन मिल सकें। प्रतिनिधिमंडल ने मुख्यमंत्री के इस आश्वासन का स्वागत करते हुए कहा कि इस मीटिंग से 1950 के दशक से बिजाई करने वाले किसानों को भूमि अधिकार प्रदान करने का मार्ग प्रशस्त होगा। तीन सदस्यीय प्रतिनिधिमंडल में डॉ. दलजीत सिंह चीमा, सिकंदर सिंह मलूका व प्रो. प्रेम सिंह चंदूमाजरा शामिल थे।

नव गठित जागो पार्टी के मुखिया मनजीत सिंह जीके ने भी प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी को पत्र लिखकर मांग की इस मामले को गंभीरता से लेते हुए प्रधानमंत्री इसमें हस्तक्षेप करें क्योंकि जिन सिखों को जमीनों से बेदखल करने की साजिश योगी कर रही है उस जमीन के असली हकदार वह सिख हैं जिन्होंने बंटवारे के बाद से जंगलात को साफ करके अपनी मेहनत से इन जमीनों को उपजाउ बनाया इसलिए इन्हें इनका मालिकाना हक तो आज तक दिया नही ंगया उल्टा अब उन्हें उनसे बेदखल करने की बात किसी भी सूरत में बर्दाशत नहीं की जायेगी। अखिल भारतीय दंगा पीड़ित राहत कमेटी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष कुलदीप सिंह भोगल द्वारा भी इस मामले को योगी सरकार के समक्ष उठाया है। जत्थेदार भोगल इससे पहले कानपुर, लखनउ सहित उ0 प्र0 के अनेक शहरों में 1984 में सिखों के साथ हुए नरसंहार के पीड़ित परिवारों को इन्साफ और कातिलों को सजा दिलाने के लिए निरन्तर संघर्ष करते आ रहे हैं। उन्होंने इस मामले पर भी उ0 प्र0 के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ को पत्र लिखकर सिखों के मसलों को हल करने की अपील की है।

सुदीप सिंह (Sudeep Singh)
DSGMC Media Advisor