Sikh Americans join Obama in urging lawmakers on gun control

WASHINGTON: The Sikh Americans today joined US President Barack Obama in urging the lawmakers to pass laws to curb gun violence in the United States.

Several eminent members of the Sikh and Hindu community were invited to the White House to attend an event wherein Obama reiterated his call to the Congress to urgently pass the gun control laws, so as to curb the recent spike in shooting incidents in the country.

 "It is important that we, people inspired by our faiths, must work towards making our society safe and sound for all people and especially for our children. The measures which keeps guns out of the hands of criminals and people with severe mental illness is something which should be supported by all and we urge the congress to take the lead," Rajwant Singh, chairman of Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), said after the White House event.

Singh attended the event along with a delegation of Sikh leaders, including Prabhjot Singh Kohli, chairman of Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA); Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, an official of Gurdwara Sant Sagar in Burtonsville, Maryland, and Guransh Singh, a Churchill High School student.

Siva Subramanian from the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Maryland also present.

"We, four members of the Sikh community, represented half a dozen members in a shootout at a Gurudwara in Wisconsin on 5th August 2012. This was a great tragedy for all the Sikhs in America and we feared that if this does not stop here, there is a possibility of more such tragedies in other gurudwaras and other places in America. So we are actively supporting the control of guns going in the wrong hands," said Prabhjot.

In his remarks, Obama expressed his frustration at the lack of action by lawmakers and made a forceful plea to remember the horror of the December massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. and to take steps aimed at preventing future gun violence.

"Less than 100 days ago that happened, and the entire country was shocked. The entire country pledged we would do something about it and that this time would be different. Shame on us if we've forgotten. I haven't forgotten those kids," Obama said.

"This is the country's best chance in more than a decade to take common-sense steps to pass laws that will save lives from gun violence," Obama said.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

HAPPY HOLI !

SGND Khalsa College,Dev Nagar,University of Delhi

A Conference / Workshop held on Human Rights. 

Gurmat Samagam by Nirbhao Sikh Society

A massive gathering of almost two thousand persons was present at the Hola Mohalla Gurmat Samagam at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Krishna nagar. 

A well organised programme by Nirbhao Sikh Society, was attended by Dr Harshvardhan (MLA), Smt Kalpana Jain (Councillor), Dr V K Monga, Sd. Jatinder singh Shunty, Sd Manmohan singh Mintoo, Sd Jatinder pal singh Goldy, Sd Ravinder singh Lovly, Sd Darshan singh, Sd Gurcharan Singh gatka master, Sd Balbir singh vivek vihar alongwith many more known personalities of the area including SHO Krishna nagar.

Ragi jathas included Bhai Amar singh ji, Bhai Pavandeep singh ji ( Kanpuri ), Bhai Amarjit singh ji ( Patiala wale ), Giani Gurdev singh ji ( Australia wale ) and Bhai Manpreet singh ji Kanpuri.

"Nirbhau Sikh Society is a recently launched Sikh society by the young blood of Krishna nagar & the efforts done by it in making the programme a success is really commendable", said Sd Darshan sigh ji President Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Krishna Nagar.

"The sangat really was in high spirits during the programme & i request to the young blood to keep on doing the sewa", said Sd Jatinder Singh ji Shunty.

Britain's first Asian Sikh Judge :Sir Mota Singh,QC-Legal Advisor

 

   

His Honour Judge Mota Singh, was named for a knighthood in the British Queen's New Year's Honours List.
 
Aged 79, now officially known as Sir Mota Singh, was knighted for "services to the administration of justice, community relations and to the voluntary sector". He hit the headlines in 1967 when he appeared in a British court as a turban-wearing barrister. In 1982, upon becoming Britain's first Asian judge, he again insisted on wearing his turban rather than the traditional judge's wig to court.

Mota Singh is a longstanding senior member of the Bebe Nanaki CharitableTrust Board and is a highly valued and respected member of the Board of Trustees. Mota Singh provides advice on all legal matters within the Trust and was appointed by Bibi Ji her self.

Link: bebenanaki.org/index.php?option=com


 

Gurmat Samagam in Amritsar

Sd Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev : 23rd March : Our Salute !

Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Bill Passed !

SGPC won’t pay court fee, gives up Bluestar case

Abhinav Garg | TNN 

New Delhi: Putting an end to anearly three-decade-old legal battle for Rs 1,000 crore compensation from the Union government for the 1984 Operation Bluestar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday informed the Delhi high court it is withdrawing its suit. 

    In a three-page affidavit filed before Justice M L Mehta, the SGPC informed that by a resolution passed on March 8, 2013, the SGPC executive committee decided to withdraw the suit that claimed compensation of Rs 1,000 crore for the damages caused to the Golden Temple in the operation carried out by the Army in 1984. 

    The SGPC in its affidavit says it took stock of the case and of the objections raised by the Central government and observed that the maintainability of the suit is yet to be decided. The SGPC said if the court fee of about Rs 10 crore is paid on the amount claimed, it will be “sheer wastage of money spent on court fee, which is the hard-earned money donated by devotees” if the case is decided against it. 

    The money will “go in vain” the SGPC argued in its affidavit seeking liberty to withdraw its suit. On Monday, Justice Mehta was informed by the counsel for SGPC that its office-holder Mangat Singh was unable to be present in court and if granted time he will appear to give an undertaking to withdraw the suit. Justice Mehta then adjourned the case and posted it for hearing for April 22. The affidavit marks an end to a suit that was instituted in an Amritsar court in 1985 and was later transferred to the Delhi HC. 

    In January, 2013, the HC began hearing the case but following the revised court fee system, directed the SGPC to first deposit Rs 10 crore as fee if it wanted to pursue the case. 

    When the committee expressed its helplessness in paying such a huge amount claiming it is “indigent” organization, the HC brushed aside these arguments and gave it eight weeks to deposit the fee.

 

 

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Sikh bodies want serial name 'Gurbani' changed

Once again, the Sikh religious bodies are up in arms against the entertainment industry. This time, the offending source is the TV serial 'Gurbani' that went on air from Monday night. Even before the serial was aired, various Sikh organizations protested against the serial's title, objecting to the fact that the word 'Gurbani' refers to sacred sayings inscribed in the Holy Sikh book, Guru Granth Sahib. 

In Jallandhar a case has been registered with the police by Jagjit Singh Gaba, president of Gurudwara Nauvin Patshahi, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, on Saturday, for 'hurting religious sentiments'. Even Amritsar erupted in protests on Monday with activists of Youth Akali Dal (YAD) and International Sikh Organization (ISO) burning effigies and demanding a ban against the serial aired on TV channel Colors. The Sikh bodies are apparently miffed even with the government, alleging that the Centre government did not take cognizance of protest filed by SGPC with them.

National Organizational Secretary, YAD, Gurpreet Singh Prince said, "The character in the serial would be addressed by different persons in different expressions, which could hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Naming the serial Gurbani is highly condemnable, and we will continue our protests unless it is stopped from airing or its name is changed." 

While a media statement issued from General Entertainment Channel (Channel) says they have taken note of the reports and concerns of Sikh bodies, when contacted, Colors spokesperson said, "Our channel has tremendous respect for all communities including Sikhs. We would never do anything to hurt their sentiments. In fact, the producer of the show is a Sikh herself and even has a niece named Gurbani. The name, Gurbani has been given to the lead protagonist in the serial and it symbolizes everything that is pure, cultural and spiritual about Punjab." The spokesperson added, "However, to respect the sentiments of the people, we have decided to change the name of the show. Our team will get in touch with the concerned people, or organization to seek some time to change the name and will try and implement it as soon as possible."

The serial addresses a long standing issue of Punjab, that of deserted NRI brides and highlights the great dream of this region, that of going abroad.  

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Sikh killed for marrying a second time

LAHORE - A Sikh man was murdered on Saturday over his decision to marry a second time, police officials said Saturday.

According to reports, unidentified men entered 28-year-old Amarjeet Singh’s store at Shalimar Town and assaulted him.

They then bundled Singh into a car and sped away. Later, Singh’s body was found near Sheikhupura district.

The body bore marks of torture, police said. Singh dealt in natural medicines. When police contacted Singh’s family in Peshawar, they learnt that he had recently decided to marry for a second time despite opposition from the woman’s fiancé.

“The deceased’s family told us that Amerjeet Singh had contracted a second marriage with the fiancé of Arjun Singh. It suspected that Arjun and the brothers of the second wife of Amerjeet might be involved in this murder,” an official of Shalimar police station said.

A murder case has been registered against Arjun Singh, Saroop Singh and Mastan Singh, the officials said. Singh’s body was sent to the city mortuary for an autopsy. 

with thanks : PToday : LINK