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Officials of Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property
Board (ETPB) were embarrassed when Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special
assistant Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari found sewage in the holy
pond of Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassan Abadal, on Sunday 13th September.
Bhukhari took strong exception to the gross negligence on the part
of the ETPB. The board, also known as the parent body of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), claims to have done extensive development work on
Hindu and Sikh shrines left in Pakistan after partition in 1947.
In this case,
ETPB officials refused to comment on how the pond water was contaminated. ETPB
public relations officer Aamir Hashmi told TOI that Zulfi directed the local
administration to provide all possible support to overcome the problems.
“He was briefed
about the issues faced by tourists , including diversion of the from the
gurdwara, improving the link road and possible construction of a star category
hotel,” said Hashmi.
On September 9,
Zulfi held a meeting with ETPB officials in Islamabad, where the board proposed
to introduce religious tourism packages for Sikh and Hindu devotees from across
the world.
Sources said a group of Sikh businessmen from the US, UK, Canada and other
international destinations were likely to visit Pakistan to explore the
possibility of investing in Sikh religious tourism infrastructure in Pakistan.
Zulfi’s visit to
Gurdwara Panja Sahib is being seen as an attempt to monitor preparations made
by ETPB and to prevent any awkward situation during the Sikh entrepreneurs’
visit to Pakistan, sources said.
More than 25
members from the SIKH motorcycle community rode from the Greater Toronto Area
to Sudbury to show their appreciation for front line workers amid the
coronavirus pandemic.
Making stops at
the OPP station, Health Sciences North, and City Hall, SIKH presented a plaque
to the Ontario Provincial Police, staff at Health Sciences North, Greater
Sudbury Police, and the Greater Sudbury Fire Department.
“It’s actually
pretty incredible to see the support for first responders, during such a
critical time in our history, from this COVID beginning to now,” said Sargent
Daryl Adams.
“You can just
feel the positive energy here. What an incredible group of people from the SIKH
community, and we welcome them here in Sudbury.”
This is the
seventh ride the SIKH community has taken part in since the beginning of
pandemic, but their first time in Northern Ontario.
SIKH spokesperson
Jagdeep Singh said the group focuses on selfless services as one of their core
values.
“We really want
to enhance that, basically being a snow ball effect by doing this repeatedly in
the community.”
The SIKH
community plans on continuing their bike rallies and showing appreciation to
front line workers as well as making more stops in Northern Ontario when it is
safe to do so.
Sikh
organisations in Jammu have launched a Signature Campaign to press for the
inclusion of Punjabi in the list of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Cabinet on September 2 approved a bill under which Kashmiri, Dogri
and Hindi, apart from the existing Urdu and English, will be the official
languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides Sikhs, Gojri and
Pahari-speaking people have also expressed their resentment over the exclusion
of their languages and are also demanding official status to both the
languages.
Manpreet Singh along with his Father Kuldeep Singh and Sister Jaspreet Kaur
"I want to
join police force and my sister wants to be a doctor, our dream may come true
now”, this was the first reaction of 13-year-old Manpreet Singh, a class 7th
student.
The young hawker
Manpreet Singh's viral video attracted the attention of chief minister Captain
Amarinder Singh after he refused to accept the aid.
Manpreet Singh had been working as hawker selling phulwarian, pappar and chole
in streets ever since his father Kuldeep Singh Bhatia lost his job to
coronavirus induced lockdown and his efforts to begin a small time vegetable selling
profession failed to pick up during lockdown.
He informed that his two sisters Jaspreet Kaur and Amanpreet Kaur, class 10th
and 8th students respectively make phulwarian and pappar at home along with his
father and he sells them in the streets of Amritsar in two shifts from 8am to
12pm and then 4pm to 8pm. I earn around Rs 200 a day that helps to meet the
expenses of the family", he said.
He said he wanted to become a police officer to clean the city of criminals
while Jaspreet wanted to help ailing mankind by going into the medical field.
Notably impressed by the self esteem of Manpreet Singh and his refusal to
receive money from a stranger, chief minister Amarinder Singh announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for Manpreet .
However, Manpreet Singh said he had not heard anything from the chief minister
or deputy commissioner's office about Rs 5 lakh announcement but from media
persons.
His father Kuldeep Singh said that after the death of his wife he had raised
the three children and was trying to meet both ends. He said his vegetable
business didn’t pick up since he didn’t have enough money to put into his small
venture.
"I am happy that my son refused to expect the money offered to him and
today my head is high with pride” he said . He said a few donors had even
offered to repair his dilapidated house .
Stating that she wanted to be a doctor, Jaspreet Kaur said, "My brother
has brought pride to all of us in such a young age”.
While the Pakistan Government has appointed VC of
Government College University, Lahore, Professor Asghar Zaidi as the Vice
Chancellor (VC) of Baba Guru Nanak University (BGNU), it is a temporary posting
for six months only and the Pak government has begun the search for a Sikh face
to head the university.
Professor Asghar Zaidi
Pakistan Punjab Governor Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar said
that they had appointed all the vice chancellors in the universities of Punjab
on merit and had given additional charge of VC to Professor Asghar Zaidi to
take the best of his services for the ground development as required .“We will
develop BGNU at par with international standards” he said.
Professor Asghar Zaidi had been given the additional
charge for six months to expedite the setting up of the BGNU using his academic
expertise while the Pakistan government searches for a suitable Sikh candidate
to run BGNU.
"They actually need an intellectual Sikh face to
head a university which will be known exclusively for Sikh studies, Punjabi,
Sikh religious affairs etc. to gain help and sympathy of Sikh diasporas (and)
to send their children to study in Nankana Sahib and also invest in developing
religious infrastructure," said a source.
Professor Asghar Zaidi in his message said, "I
pledge to work towards the goal of making BGNU an international centre of
excellence for the study of Sikhism and for the promotion of Punjabi language,
culture and music”.
नई दिल्ली, 12 सितंबरःदिल्ली सिख गुरूद्वारा प्रबंधक कमेटी के महासचिव और शिरोमणि अकाली दल
की दिल्ली इकाई के अध्यक्ष हरमीत सिंह कालका ने कहा कि दिल्ली गुरूद्वारा कमेटी ने
गुरु नानक देव जी द्वारा दर्शाए मार्ग पर चलते हुए मानवता की सेवा के लिए लंगर
छकाने का प्रयास किया है।
आज सिखों के पहले गुरु, श्री गुरु नानक
देव जी के ज्योति-ज्योत दिवस के मौके पर हुए प्रोग्राम में संगत को संबोधित करते
हुए स. कालका ने कहा कि गुरु साहिब ने दुनिया में सब से पहले भूखे साधुओं को लंगर
छकाने के साथ लंगर प्रथा की शुरुआत की थी। उन्होंने कहा कि पूरे मानव जगत को गुरु
नानक देव जी ने यह संदेश दिया था कि सभी एक ही परमात्मा की सृजना हैं।
स. कालका ने कहा कि गुरु साहिब के दर्शाए मार्ग पर चलते हुए ही
हमने बाला प्रीतम दवाखाने की शुरुआत की है जहां रोज़ाना हज़ार की संख्या में पीड़ित
सस्ती दवाईयां लेकर स्वंय का व अपने परिवार का ईलाज कर रहे हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि
इस दवा खाने की तर्ज पर हम दिल्ली के अन्य भागों में भी ऐसे दवाखाने खोलने की
योजना कर रहे हैं।
स. कालका ने कहा कि गुरु तेग बहादुर साहिब जी का 400वां प्रकाश पर्व मनाने का विशेष प्रयास भी हम कर रहे हैं और यह पवित्र
गुरुपर्व बड़े स्तर पर मनाया जायेगा। हम संगत को भी अपील करते हैं कि हमें अपने
मूल्यवान सुझाव दें तांकि हम अपने कामकाज में और सुधार कर सकें।
उन्होंने कहा कि गुरु नानक देव जी के ज्योति-ज्योत दिवस पर गुरु
घर में नतमस्तक होकर संगत ने गुरु साहिब का आर्शीवाद प्राप्त किया है और वह संगत
के आगे नतमस्तक होते हैं।
इस मौके पर सुबह से दीवान सजाये गये जिसमें पंथ के प्रसिद्ध रागी
जत्थों द्वारा इलाही बाणी का कीर्तन गायन किया गया। स्टेज की सेवा दिल्ली कमेटी
सदस्य सरवजीत सिंह विरक और गुरदेव सिंह भोला द्वारा निभाई गई। कमेटी के संयुक्त
सचिव और गुरुद्वारा नानक प्याऊ के चेयरमैन हरविंदर सिंह के.पी, सदस्य अमरजीत सिंह पिंकी, विक्रम सिंह रोहिणी,
हरजीत सिंह पप्पा, रविंदर सिंह खुराना व
सुखविंदर सिंह बब्बर भी मौजूद रहे।
News Courtesy, Mr.Sudeep Singh Honorary Media Advisor DSGMC
RAWALPINDI:130-years-old historical building of Haveli Sujan Singh
in Bhabra Bazaar will be preserved along with renovation of seven Gurdwaras and Temples around it at a cost of Rs240 million under a government plan aimed at
promoting tourism in the garrison city. The haveli and the Gurdwaras were
established during the Sikh and British periods.
On the direction of the Punjab
government, Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood has prepared a list of
buildings some of which were constructed during the Sikh and British periods.
The commissioner said Bhabra Bazaar will be made a pedestrian
street from Murree Road to Haveli Sujan Singh. “A café will be established on
the rooftop of the haveli where people will have lunch and dinner. From the
rooftop of the Haveli, seven Gurdwaras and temples in the area are visible
which will be refurbished from the outside.”
He said the narrow streets and
main road of Sarafa and Bhabra bazaars will also be improved and all
electricity and telephone lines would be shifted underground to beautify the
area. Museum would be set up in Sujan Singh Haveli where the culture of the Sikh and
British periods of Potohar region would be showcased.
On Friday 11th September, the commissioner visited Sujan Singh Haveli.
The 130- year-old haveli is located in the narrow streets and was constructed by
Sikh political figure Sardar Sujan Singh.The building has a majestic woodwork over its doors and windows. It has English tiles and Kashmiri wood carving in all its 45 massive rooms. The commissioner said the haveli would be used for tourist attraction.
“Rawalpindi will be made a model city for tourists
and in this regard the government is working on a plan to remove traffic
congestion on the roads.” He said there was a need to improve historical sites
in the city so people would come and see the old and glorious past of the area.
“We are working to present the culture of the Potohar region and in this regard
the Parks and Horticulture Authority and other civic bodies will ensure the
reflection of the local culture in its beautification drives, ” he said.
जम्मू कश्मीर इलाके में महाराजा रणजीत सिंह की अगुवाई में 50
वर्ष खालसा राज कायम रहा। लाखों पंजाबियों ने इस क्षेत्र की
खुशहाली, तरक्की और विदेशी हमलावरों से सुरक्षा के लिए
अपना अहम योगदान दिया इसीलिए जम्मू कश्मीर की रियासत में पंजाबी भाषा को विशेष
सम्मान दिया गया यहां तक कि केवल सिख ही नहीं बल्कि बड़ी गिनती में मुस्लिम समुदाय
के लोग भी पंजाबी पढ़ने और बोलने लगे पर केन्द्र में बैठी मोदी सरकार ने वहां के
पंजाबियों से बेइन्साफी करते हुए राज भाषा बिल 2020 में
संशोधन करते समय पंजाबी को बाहर निकाल दिया जबकि पंजाबी की उप-बोली डोगरी को शामिल
कर लिया जो कि मूल भाषा से बहुत ही बेइन्साफी, खुले तौर
पर भेदभाव और अल्पसंख्यकों के भाषाई हक को कुचलने के समान है जिसने जम्मू कश्मीर
क्षेत्र सहित देश-विदेश में बसने वाले पंजाबियों के दिलों को आघात पहुंचाया है।
सिख ब्रदर्सहुड इंटरनैशनल के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष बख्शी परमजीत
सिंह का मानना है कि केन्द्र में सरकार भले ही किसी भी पार्टी की आ जाये पर ना
जाने कयों सभी पंजाबियों और खासकर सिखों के साथ सौतेला व्यवहार ही करते हैं उनके
बनते हक देना तो दूर उल्टा जो मान सम्मान उन्हें मिल रहा होता है उसे भी छीनने के
प्रयास ही किये जाते हैं। इसका ताजा उदाहरण जम्मू कश्मीर में देखने को मिला है वहां
पिछले कई वर्षों से पंजाबी भाषा को लोग पढ़ते आ रहे थे पर एकाएक सरकार ने उसे बाहर
करने का ऐलान कर दिया। उनका कहना है कि सरकार को यह सोचना चाहिए कि आज अगर पड़ोसी
मुल्क को खौफ है तो जम्मू कश्मीर में डटे हुए पंजाबियों से है क्योंकि अन्य गैर
मुस्लिम समुदाय के ज्यादातर लोग तो बहुत पहले वहां से पलायन कर गये पर पंजाबियों
ने समय-समय पर आतंकवाद का डटकर मुकाबला किया और मुंहतोड़ जवाब भी देते आए हैं।
सिखों के नौंवे गुरु तेग बहादुर साहिब जी ने कश्मीरी पंडितों द्वारा लगाई गई गुहार
के बाद अपनी शहादत दी और आज उसी के कारण हिन्दू धर्म जीवित है पर यह समझ से परे है
कि उन्ही गुरू के सिखों के साथ अन्याय क्यों हो रहा है। उनका कहना है कि सरकारों
को इस विषय पर ध्यान केन्द्रित करना होगा। आज अफगानिस्तान से सिख पूरी तरह से
पलायन कर भारत या अन्य देशों में जाकर बस रहे हैं कहीं ऐसा ना हो कि जम्मू कश्मीर
से सिख और पंजाबी इसी तरह पलायन करने लगे और अगर ऐसा हुआ तो पड़ोसी मुल्क को जम्मू
कश्मीर पर कब्जा करने में ज्यादा देर नहीं लगेगी।
इस विषय को दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा प्रबंधक कमेटी की वरिष्ठ
उपाध्यक्ष एवं स्त्री अकाली दल की दिल्ली इकाई की अध्यक्षा बीबी रणजीत कौर ने
उठाते हुए केन्द्रीय मानव संसाधन मंत्री और प्रधानमंत्री को पत्र लिखकर पंजाबी
भाषा को बाहर करने के फैसले पर पुनः विचार करने को कहा ।
दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा
प्रबंधक कमेटी के उपाध्यक्ष एवं भाजपा दिल्ली प्रदेश के उपाध्यक्ष कुलवंत सिंह बाठ
ने भी प्रधानमंत्री से मांग की है कि पंजाबी को सरकारी भाषा के तौर पर कायम रखा
जाये क्योंकि राज्य की आधी से ज्यादा आबादी पंजाबी बोलने वालों की है और अब तो
वहां के बच्चे पंजाबी भाषा में आइ.ए.एस, आइ.पी.एस जैसी
परीक्षाओं की तैयारी कर रहे हैं ऐसे में भाषा को बाहर करना उनके साथ अन्याय होगा।
पंजाबी प्रोमोशन काउंसिल जो कि निरंतर पंजाबियत की सेवा करती आ रही है और उनकी
बदौलत आज दिल्ली के तिहाड़ जेल में कैदियों को पंजाबी भाषा सिखाई जाती है।
जम्मू
कश्मीर के भी कुछ ऐसे इलाके हैं जहां लोग पंजाबी सीखने के इच्छुक हैं वहां काउंसिल
द्वारा अपने खर्च पर टीचर भेजकर, उन्हें किताबें मुहैया
करवाकर पंजाबी भाषा का ज्ञान दिया जाता है पर सरकार के इस फैसले से उन्हें काफी
दुख पहुंचा है और काउंसिल के अध्यक्ष जसवंत सिंह बोबी ने देश के महामहिम
राष्ट्रपति, प्रधानमंत्री सहित अन्य संबंधित महकमों को पत्र
लिखकर इस पर पुनःविचार करने को कहा है।
अतः देखना होगा कि देश-विदेश से पंजाबी भाषा को प्यार करने वालों
की मांग पर मोदी सरकार कितना गौर फरमाती है पर एक बात तय है कि जम्मू कश्मीर में
पंजाबियों की अनदेखी और पंजाबी भाषा से किया गया सौतेला व्यवहार मोदी सरकार को
भारी पड़ सकता है।
The apex Sikh
body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has asked the Union government of
India to reopen Kartarpur corridor at the earliest so that the Sikh devotees
can go for paying obeisance there. Notably, the Indian government had suspended
pilgrimage to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib on March 16 due to coronavirus
outbreak.
“The devotees
are keen to pay obeisance at the historic Sikh shrine related to Guru Nanak
Sahib so the corridor should be reopened at the earliest,” he added.
Longowal said
that the Pakistan government has already announced to reopen the corridor for
the Indian Sikh devotees so the Indian government should also take an immediate
decision in this concern.
Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi, the Vice Chancellor of Government
College University Lahore, has been given additional charge of the post of Vice
Chancellor, Baba Guru Nanak University, Nankana Sahab.
A notification in this regard was issued by the Punjab
Higher Education Department after the approval of Chancellor/Punjab Governor
Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.
On October 28, 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the
foundation stone of the University in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Baba
Guru Nanak.
According to the
notification, Prof. Asghar Zaidi will hold the additional charge of the post
till the appointment of regular Vice Chancellor at the University.
Prof. Zaidi is an eminent social policy analyst and a
recent recipient of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Talking to media, Vice Chancellor Prof.
Zaidi said that it was a matter of great pride for him that he would work as
the first/founder Vice Chancellor of Baba Guru Nanak University.
He pledged to
work towards the goal of making this new university an international center of
excellence for the study of Sikhism and for promotion of Punjabi language.
Earlier, the Punjab Governor also introduced Prof. Asghar Zaidi to the global
community of Sikhs in a video conference. The participants of video conference
praised the steps taken by the Governor in promoting harmony among Muslims and
Sikhs living in Pakistan. They promised their full support for development and
promotion of Baba Guru Nanak University.
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