In Kabul, stranded Indians take refuge in a gurdwara

KABUL: Dozens of Indian labourers have been forced to take refuge in Kabul’s Sikh temple after job agents who promised lucrative jobs in the unstable capital disappeared, leaving the men penniless and without passports.

Billions of dollars in Western military contracts have turned Afghanistan — long a source of refugees fleeing chronic conflict — into an unlikely magnet for migrant workers willing to risk their lives for a more lucrative pay packet.

Around 200 stranded men were crowded into the Karte Parwan Gurdwara, the centre of Afghanistan’s small Sikh community, last month. Many flew home after their families scraped together funds for flights and travel documents, but over 30 are still stuck. Mumbai-native Subhedar Khandu is one of them. He said he paid Rs 1,50,000 ($3,300) to an agent who promised he would earn $800 a month doing construction in Afghanistan.

“I took out a loan to pay the agent, who I met in Mumbai. I thought I would get a one-year contact,” Khandu said. Instead, when he arrived in November, he was locked up in a house with other labourers, given only one meal per day and no work or salary. When his visa expired a month later, the agent vanished and the men turned to their embassy in desperation.

“We were locked in a kind of camp for one month. This is much better but we have nothing to do still, we just sleep a lot.” Contractors supplying foreign troops, who have been fighting in Afghanistan for over eight years, often rely on foreign migrant workers for menial but comparatively well-paid jobs in construction, food preparation and other fields.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-Kabul-stranded-Indians-take-refuge-in-a-gurdwara/articleshow/5431730.cms

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Sikh who died fighting muggers is UK's hero

LONDON: A Sikh man of Indian origin who was killed while confronting two muggers who were running away after snatching a woman’s handbag has been described as a hero by the British police.

Sukhwinder Singh, a builder and father of one, was attacked while pursuing the two muggers who had robbed a 28-year-old woman near Barking station. After chasing the two men along several streets, Singh caught up with them and a fight broke out, during which he was stabbed around 7pm on Friday, according to the Metropolitan Police. Singh, 31, was immediately taken to Royal London Hospital where he died of his injuries.

Describing Singh’s actions as ‘‘very brave’’, detective inspector of Metropolitan Police John Sandlin said, ‘‘This is a tragic death of a man who was killed for attempting to stop others committing crime. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Sukhwinder had been living in London for 10 years and was reportedly staying with his cousins in Barking.

The Metropolitan Police has issued descriptions of two suspects who were described as black, aged in their 20s to 30s, and of average height.

Local politician Nirmal Singh Gill said, ‘‘We are all very shocked. He didn’t deserve this — nobody deserves it — but he was a special young man.’’

With thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Sikh-who-died-fighting-muggers-is-UKs-hero/articleshow/5431810.cms

SikhsIndia
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GURUDWARA PRABANDHAK COMMITTEE of KGP GURUDWARA

I, Kulvinder Singh Dhami,on behalf of the Sikh Communityof Kharagpur(KGP) & being a member of the GURUDWARA PRABANDHAK COMMITTEE of KGP GURUDWARA, would like to bring to your kind notice that we are in the process to construct a school(GURU TEG BAHADUR KHALSA PUBLIC SCHOOL) for the benefit of the community residing here & for other pepole also. So through all your sites, we would like to request to all the sikhs residing in this world for contributions & donations to help us for this noble cause. So, i would request you to give us your valued suggestions on how to proceed further on this matter.

My E Mail ID is : ksd.mint_o@yahoo.co.in

CBI finalises chargesheet against Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) CBI has finalised its chargesheet against senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and is likely to submit it to the designated court here "soon".

Sources in the agency said the chargesheet was finalised after receiving a nod from Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna recently to prosecute the Congress leader, an accused in the riots that shook the country 25 years ago after the assasination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards.

"We have finalised the chargesheet and it will be filed soon," a senior CBI official said requesting anonymity.

The sanction was required in the case of Sajjan Kumar as he was also charged with section 153-A of IPC (spreading enmity between two communities).

Sources said the sanction was given by Khanna to allow the CBI to launch court proceedings against the Congress leader.

with thanks : source : http://www.ptinews.com/news/461740_CBI-finalises-chargesheet-against-Sajjan-Kumar

sikhsindia
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Freedom fighters at the mercy of God

S Rattan Singh s/o S Harnam Singh of bhogpur dist jallandhar participated in Quit India movement and was prisoned at lahore central jail.He is 85 years old and is a victom of RED TAPISM.Inspite of having proofs and documents that prooves that he was a freedomfighter he is denied his dues of Swatantarta Samman Pension. He is being harrased for the last 13 years by the officers of punjab and central govt.

And another case is of S Basant Singh s/o S Kishan Singh of Fatehgarh Korotana dist Moga. He was a companion of Neta Ji Subhash Chander Bose and acompanied him in all the activities and was captured by British Militry in Ipoh and was made Prisoner Of War. He was released after 8 months and wasnot taken back in Naval Base Police Singapore because of his participation in the activities of I.N.A.He was not issued any service certificate as he has joined I.N.A.He has joined I.N.A.from civil from singapore and donated all fo his earnings to I.N.A.fund and became a full time warior. and now at the age of 90 years he is penniless and is waiting endlessly for death as only death can bring end to his miseries. He was facilitated with many honors as Tamar Patra BY INDIRA GANDHI IN 1972 and with many medals which he had sold to meet his medical expenses. He is waiting for his pension so that he can live comfortably in the last days of his life.

If any body can help these soldiers....?

Satwinder Kaur united sikhs Delhi
satwinder_1961@yahoo.com

RWA - a new blog

If you are from Delhi, please log on to RWABhagidari blog www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com and add about any civic problems being faced by you, with pics & vids. You can add any ideas, suggestions as well comments on various issues raised in the blog.

The blog is very well covered by print media which includes Hindustan times, Jagran City plus, Amar Ujala, Rashtriy sahara as well Delhi Aajtak TV Channel etc. in the last few days.

Looking forward to meet Delhites on the new blog launched by our CEO Mr. B S Vohra, who is already having a Sikh blog www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com as well a Sikh portal www.sohnijodi.com.

Best regards

SikhsIndia

Manmohan Impressed By Malaysian Sikhs Success, Says Darshan

NEW DELHI, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was impressed with the Malaysian Sikh community's social and economic success, said Malaysia National Sikhs Movement president Tan Sri Darshan Singh Gill.

He said the premier was happy over the contribution of Sikhs towards the development of Malaysia.

Earlier, Darshan presented a coffee-table book which he had authored, and titled 'Sikh Community in Malaysia', to Manmohan at his residence in Delhi where the former attended the eighth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave.

-- BERNAMA

with thanks : source : http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=467228

SikhsIndia
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Sikh museum opens in Balongi

“A Comprehensive policy has been chalked out to promote tourism in the state and all-out efforts are being made in earnest to implement the scheme,” said Punjab Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria, while inaugurating a Sikh heritage museum at Balongi village on Thursday evening.

Parvinder Singh, president of the Sikh Heritage Cultural Society, who has sculpted the statues of various Sikh warriors took the minister around the museum.

Gabria announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh from his discretionary quota for the development of the museum. Gabria, who also holds the portfolio of Jails Ministry, said Rs 82 crore was being spent to renovate existing jails and construct new barracks in jails across the state and the work would be completed by March 31.

He said blocks of 48 houses each would come up at Faridkot and Kapurthala jails till August 15 for housing the family of jail inmates.

With thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Sikh-museum-opens-in-Balongi/565232

SikhsIndia
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1984: A Sikh Story airs this Sunday (10th January) on BBC One at 22:55.

Sonia Deol to present BBC One's
1984 : A 'Sikh Story'
this Sunday (10th January)
on BBC One at 22:55.

SikhsIndia

Subscribers - plz add your comments on various issues

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Slumdog Sikhs : must watch

Plight of Sikhs ? Who cares ? If it is so bad in Delhi, what do you think of the other parts of India. Where are our leaders ? We are more than pleased on spending huge sums on various samagams every month. Do we really care for the slumdog & down trodden sikhs. If you are really concerned, please add your comments.

SikhsIndia
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