Six Sikhs ride through 4 countries to bow at Golden Temple : Times of India

AMRITSAR: Eight-year-old common dream of six Sikhs from Malaysia came true on Thursday when they arrived in the Holy City on their motorbikes after traversing 6,100 km through rough weather and terrain. "All my fatigue disappeared when I entered the city of the Golden Temple. I can't describe the feeling in words," one of the Malaysian bikers Gurwinder Singh told TOI. 

An insurance agent by profession, Gurwinder said that they had to wait years to get required permissions, especially from the Myanmar government. The group usually covered 350-400km everyday. "It was our heartfelt desire to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and an excitement that never let us get tired," he said. 

Another member of the expedition, Ravin Singh, a lawyer, said they spent nearly Rs 5 lakh each on their 17-day trip from Malaysia to India. "There were difficult times on our way to India, especially heavy rains in Malaysia and Myanmar and bad roads, but nothing deterred us. Our mission was to seek blessings of the Almighty at the Golden Temple," he said. 

The group began their tour from Petalingjays in Malaysia with another aim of spreading the message of world peace and passed through wide swathes of Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and India before reaching their dream destination. 

"People here are very cooperative and friendly. However, roads and sanitation have much scope for improvement in India," said another biker Resham Singh, who works in an automobile company. He said they had to spend a night in a forest in Burma. "That was an unforgettable experience," he said. 

Gurwinder said that there were 115 gurdwaras in Malaysia that followed the Nanakshahi calendar adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. However, he said their shouldn't be any confusion over the dates for observing Sikh religious festivals. He said they would leave for home by air and would send their bikes by ship.

with thanks : Times of India : MUST READ : LINK

University Parish of Leuven's visit to Gurdwara Sint-Truiden (Belgium) under the guidance of Professor Bert Broeckaert

Louke Manpreet Kaur Bamps                                                                                                           

 With Thanks :

Professor Bert Broeckaert ,
Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies,
KU Leuven,Belgium

Photo's Courtesy: Prof. Bert Broeckaert

DSGMC demand from Govt.of India for withdrawing security cover of anti Sikh genocide perpetrators

DSGMC demand from GOI for withdrawing security cover of anti Sikh genocide perpetrators Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler

New Delhi / 18 – 11 - 2014

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Manjit Singh GK today raised demand from the Government of India for withdrawing security cover given to the leaders of congress party Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar who were responsible for perpetrating anti-Sikh genocide of 1984 which led to death of thousands of innocent Sikhs.  

These leaders are enjoying security cover since days of previous regime led by Congress party ruling the Government of India to show the investigating agencies that these two leaders should be protected and their interest should not be harmed, said  Manjit Singh GK.

“All these years Sajjan and Tytler continue to enjoy all the facilities of the Congress party government including the security cover. They were given prominent positions but now with BJP taking over the Government of India, a time has come when these leaders be punished according to the laid procedure of law and their security be withdrawn so that a message be sent to the Sikhs community that the present government is conscious about their issues,” demanded Manjit Singh GK.

GK said that security cover to these two leaders is a hindrance in delivery of justice to Sikh families who are victims of anti Sikh genocide as both Sajjan and Tytler have been using their security men to intimidate the witnesses who are very important in deciding cases against them.

GK said a number of meetings have taken place with the ministers of the BJP led Government of India including minister of home affairs Rajnath Singh. “Sikhs have high hopes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would resolve all issues related to the Sikhs which are pending for many years,” said GK.

GK, also president of Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi, said in number of meetings with the ministers of government of India it was demanded to file charge against Sajjan Kumar in a case registered in Nangloi police station, setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate all cases of genocide and rehabilitation of victim families. “Response from the government on all these issues is awaited,” said GK.

With thanks,

Media DSGMC

Inaugration of Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh Hall in Gurdwara Damdama Sahib

Dr Jaspal Singh Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala as Chief Guest 

With Thanks :Media DSGMC

Track Asia Cup 2014 : Hope to get selected for 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Nagar Keertan in East Delhi at Krishna nagar !

Waive off tax on ‘Char Sahibzadae’ : DSGMC plea to Union information and Broadcasting Ministry

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has demanded nationwide tax waiver from union information and broadcasting ministry on picturication of ‘Char Sahibzadae’ an animation movie on life of four Sahibzadas (Sons) of tenth Guru Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

In a letter written to Arun Jaitley ,union finance minister  who is also holding the charge of Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said that tenth Guru; Shri Guru Gobind Singh and his entire family laid life for peace, and humanity and laid foundation for a secular India. The contribution of martyrs for the nation can’t be ignored at any cost, GK told Jaitley.

GK appealed countrymen to make their children watch this movie which shows two elder Sahibzadas of the Guru, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh who laid lives fighting mughals at Chamkaur di Garhi. While two younger Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh were bricked alive in Sirhind.

“Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s father Guru Tegh Baghadur Sahib was martyred  in Chandi Chownk of Delhi, for peace and humanity. Every citizen of India be given a chance to witness the great contribution of Sikh Guru and his Sahibzadas,” adds GK in the letter demanding tax waiver.

With thanks : Media DSGMC

"When Harry Baweja  set out to make Chaar Sahibzaade, the only thing he knew was that it was to be a gift to the future generations, but even he could not have predicted the appreciation that is coming his way".Chaar Sahibzaade will definitely become
most successful animation movie in India till date".

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Prof.
Department of Political Science,
SGND Khalsa College,
University of Delhi
Dev Nagar
Delhi -110005

SIT ( special investigation team ) to open the cases of 1984 genocide

DSGMC to Home Minister, rehabilitate 1984 genocide victims, set up SIT to investigate cases closed

New Delhi / 13-11-2014

The Delhi Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) President Manjit Singh GK & Genral sect. Manjinder Singh Sirsa talking to media today said that the Gurdwara committee is making vehement efforts to resolve the issues of the victims of 1984 genocide, which led to killing to thousands of innocent Sikhs across the country. He said, after BJP led NDA government took over the central government, a series of meetings were held with the minister of home affairs government of India Rajnath Singh he demanded rehabilitation of the genocide victims, getting jobs for the victim families and setting up of special investigation team (SIT) to open the cases of genocide shut without any investigation.

GK also informed that in written request handed over to Rajnath Singh it was also demanded to expedite filing of charge sheets in FIR No. 67/1987, of Police Station Nangloi, Delhi against congress leader Sajjan Kumar for perpetrating genocide on innocent Sikhs in national capital leading to about 4,000 deaths.

“Congress Government had been most blatantly shielding Sajjan Kumar,” said GK talking to the media today. He informed that Delhi police prepared a charge sheet in April 1992 for murder under section 302 against Sajjan Kumar but it was never sent to court for trial.In another case, related to genocide registered in Delhi cantonment Police Station, the case was transferred to CBI in October 2005, but 2 months after that Delhi Police filed a closure report giving clean chit to Sajjan Kumar ;Delhi High Court passed strictures and held that it had no power to file the closure report as thei nvestigations was already transferred to CBI.

DSGMC President who is also president of Delhi unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded rehabilitation of victim families of genocide and appointment of a special investigating team (SIT) headed by a Supreme Court Judge to open the cases of innocent Sikhs killed in genocide in different parts of India.  According to GK about 2000 families lost the earning members of and ladies and children survived. “Children can’t study and have no means of earning. The jobs be given to the victim families,” demanded GK narrating their pitiable condition.

DSGMC also demanded that huge electricity bills charged on the victims living in the flats allotted in Tilak Vihar should be waived off. “The victim families be rehabilitated with jobs and dwelling units,” further demanded GK. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur

Associate Prof.
Department of Political Science,
SGND Khalsa College,
University of Delhi
Dev Nagar
Delhi -110005

Delhi to Chandigarh : Inside Shatabdi's elite Anubhuti coach

With Thanks : Indian Express : LINK :

‘Wall of Tears’ :November 1984 Sikh genocide memorial at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib

DSGMC begin construction of November 1984 Sikh genocide memorial at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib  .Sikh head priests, top leaders of SAD and BJP starts construction.Memorial to be called ‘Wall of Tears’ says DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK. New Delhi/ 1-10-2014

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today  started construction of November 1984 Sikh genocide memorial in the sanctum sanctorum of Gurdwara Rakhabganj Sahib.

The start of construction is dedicated to the memory of thousands of innocent Sikhs killed in the massacre and those who laid their lives trying to save them and coincided with completion of 30 years of massacre of thousands of innocent Sikhs in November 1984.

Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM and President of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Harsimrat Kaur Badal and DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK formally started the construction in simple yet impressive function, in the presence of Jathedar Shri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Mal Singh and Jathedar Takht Shri Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh, Damdami Taksal Chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, former Akali Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, Nihang Jathebandi Head Baba Balbir Singh and Kar Sewa Baba Bachan Singh. 

The religious leaders also graced start of the construction and large number of Sikhs from Delhi and other parts of the country also converged at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib.

In his speech Parkash Singh Badal paid tributes to the innocent Sikhs killed in the genocide termed today’s event as historic but very painful. “The massacre of 1984 is wrongly called as riots, it was actually genocide when innocent Sikhs were mercilessly done to death in most gruesome manner,” said Badal adding that it was Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which stood by the hapless Sikhs at that time.

“It is very sad that Congress party leaders who led mobs to massacre Sikhs were rewarded with plum post instead of being punished,” said Badal in his emotionally charged address. He welcomed Rs. 5 lakh compensation announced by the NDA government for genocide victims’ families and demanded rehabilitation of these families, a special investigation team led by a Supreme Court Judge to thoroughly probe the genocide and condemning of the genocide in parliament.

Praising DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK, as son of the panth, Badal said he belongs to a true panthic family and GK’s father Jathedar Santokh Singh was his contemporary who laid his life for the panthic cause.

                                                   

























BJP Leader Arun jaitly

Praising the efforts of SAD for building the memorial Jaitley said that BJP would always support SAD and BJP-SAD coalition is unbreakable. “There is no question of breaking alliance,” he reiterated.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that there was no example of such a genocide perpetrated by the congress party led government. He called upon the Sikhs living across the globe to unite under the supremacy of Shri Akal Takht and contribute for building the memorial. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving compensation to the genocide victims’ families and demanded justice for the perpetrators.

He also called upon the Sikhs living in the world to bring their children to the memorial so that they could know that Sikhs were gruesomely killed by then government.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK in his address said that memorial in shape of a wall has been named ‘Wall of Tears’ and would have names of all innocent Sikhs massacred in 1984 genocide. Memorial is designed by Renu Khanna and associates would have ‘Waiting for Justice’ written over it. A laser light on the memorial would light up the sky would be visible for several kilometers, informed GK.

“The pilgrims visiting the memorial would condemn the congress party and would also pray for the peace to departed souls,” said Jathedar Shri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbhachan Singh. 

Former MP and minorities commission chairman Tarlochan Singh suggested union minister Harsimrat Kaur to locate documents from the government records related to late arrival of Army to control the massacre, reasons why Shri Darbar Sahib was mentioned as ‘enemy territory’ at time of operation bluestar and the Army officers who were given military honours after he operation. He also demanded that the army officer who were given honours at that time be directed to surrender the honours and medals.

Delhi unit President of BJP Satish Upadhay, MP Meenakshi Lekhi and Jaya Jaitley also took part in the function. School children paid floral tributes at the time of start of construction of memorial.  

DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, senior Akali leaders Avtar Singh Hit, Onkar Singh Thapar and Avtar Singh Bhogal, DSGMC Senior vice-president Ravinder Singh Khurana, vice-president Tanwant Singh and MLAs Harmeet Singh Kalka and Jatinder Singh Shanty and member of the DSGMC were also present on the occasion.

With Thanks : Media DSGMC
Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Prof.
Department of Political Science,
SGND Khalsa College,
University of Delhi
Dev Nagar
Delhi -110005