Hand written Guru Granth Sahib ji

1984 anti sikh riots : Congress seeks dismissal of case in US on grounds of delay

New York: The Congress Party has sought dismissal of an anti-Sikh riots case against it in a US court on grounds that the case was filed nearly 25 years after the 1984 riots took place. A US judge in New York will hear the motion on June 27. 

In a motion filed in federal court in New York on May 29, the Congress party has sought dismissal of the claims filed by rights group Sikhs For Justice saying the riots took place in November 1984 and the victims filed their case in March 2011. 

Due to the lapse of 25 years, the statute of limitation had already expired, lawyers for the political party said. 

"Plaintiffs' claims are time-barred because they complain about alleged activities that occurred more than twenty-five years ago; all statutes of limitations have long expired," said attorney Geoffrey Stewart of the law firm Jones Day, which is defending the Congress in the case. 

The party has been accused by the Sikh group of conspiring, aiding, abetting and carrying out attacks on the community in November 1984 following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. 

Judge Robert Sweet, presiding over the matter, said the Congress' motion to dismiss SFJ's complaint or to get a stay would be heard on June 27. 

Meanwhile, SFJ said Congress Member of Parliament Motilal Vora submitted an affidavit in the US Court in support of the motion to dismiss the complaint filed by riot victims. 

Vora's affidavit states that "no summons and complaint from the New York Litigation was delivered to the Indian National Congress Party in accordance with the Hague Service Convention". 

with thanks : IBNLive : LINK for detailed news.

Sikh TSA Agent Kulwinder Singh Wins Religious Rights Case Against Agency

A TSA agent won a $30,000 settlement after he complained to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that he wasn't allowed to display his kara, a wristband that some sikhs wear to remind them of the divine, the Religion News Service reports.

Kulwinder Singh, who works at New York's JFK airport, said a supervisor asked him to cover up or remove the wristband.

“By keeping it concealed, it defeats that purpose,” the attorney who represented Singh to the wire service.

As part of the settlement, the TSA will have to post notices that Sikhs are free to wear the kara if they wish by mid-June.

with thanks : Huffington Post : LINK for detailed news.

US Sikh body gives scholarships to Punjab students

Washington-based Sikh Human Development Foundation (SHDF) has given scholarships totalling about $210,000 to 504 needy students pursuing higher education in 159 institutions in Punjab and other northern Indian states for the 2011-12 academic year.

"This number is up from 412 of thelast year," said Gajinder Singh Ahuja, secretary general of SHDF. "Fifteen scholarship recipients belonged to farmers' families where the farmer had committed suicide to escape the excruciating debt burden." 

There is increased emphasis on female education in our programme, he said, noting 69 percent of the scholarships went to female students and 31 percent to male students. 52 per cent scholarship recipients were from rural areas and 48 percent from urban areas.

SHDF has granted 2,373 scholarships since the programme was initiated in 2001 and 774 students have already graduated and have become professionals, according to SHDF chairman Amar Jit Singh Sodhi.

"It is heartwarming that some of the scholarship recipients have landed in multi-national companies or found top career jobs throughout India and overseas," he said.

Rajwant Singh, SHDF's outreach director, said: "In rupee terms, this year we have distributed more than Rs.1 crore (close to $210,000) as pure scholarship money."

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK for detailed news.

European Journal | Italy: Sikh Cheese Producers

Now 50% DU quota for Sikhs

For the first time four DU colleges are considering reserving 50 per cent of their under-graduate seats for Sikh students.

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, in North Campus, is among the four colleges planning the reservation.

The colleges, all run by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), were declared minority institutions last year by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institution. During this year’s admission season, the colleges will have a separate cut-off for Sikh students.

“We will reserve 50 per cent of the seats for Sikh students. For general category seats, students will be admitted as per university norms. There will be separate cutoffs to admit students to the minority seats. The dates for admissions will be according to the university and the college will remain as close to the university as it has been,” said Dr Jaswinder Singh, principal of SGTB Khalsa College.

The college will continue to provide three per cent reservation for physically handicapped students, both in general and Sikh quota, he said.

The other three colleges awarded the minority status in July last year are Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College and Mata Sundri College.

with thanks : Indian Express : LINK for detailed news.

Man chops off Sikh's beard, arrested

Ambala, May 14 (PTI) A man has been arrested for attacking a Sikh youth and allegedly chopping off his beard following a scuffle over ice-cream in the Cantonment area here, police said today. The Sikh youth, Gurjeet Singh, who runs an ice-cream parlour in Palledar Mohalla, in his police complaint alleged that a customer came to his shop last night and asked for a cup of ice cream. The customer, Aman, entered into an argument with Gurjeet over the quantity of the ice cream served and soon it took an ugly turn and he attacked him with a sharp weapon, police said. Gurjeet, who received minor injuries in the attack, alleged that Aman had also cut his beard with the weapon. Police arrested Aman and booked him for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings. Meanwhile, Haryana SGPC and Akali Dal have condemned the incident.

with thanks : IBNlive : LINK

Foundation stone of Langer hall at Gurdwara Bala Sahib : DSGMC : SikhsIndia

Vaisakhi 2012 celebration & Turban Day in Oslo (Norway)

The Vaisakhi 2012 celebration in Oslo (Norway) was a week full of different activities.It reached its peek on 14th April when hundreds of Sikhs marched through the main street of Oslo, and over 1500 Norwegians wore turbans in all imaginable colours. Sikhs arrived in Norway in the beginning of the 1970´s.Since then,Vaisakhi has been celebrated in Norway and Vaisakhi celebration has gone through several milestones.For instance,when first Gurdwara was established in 1984(Oslo),and the first time Sikhs marched through the main street of Oslo.This year the Nagar Kirtan ended up at Rådhusplassen (Town Hall square, in the middle of central Oslo) where different activities were held and langar was served. One of the main activities is the Norwegian Turban Day.

In 2010 a group of young Norwegian Sikhs felt that even though the Nagar Kirtan is extremely beautiful, the point of walking through central Oslo fade away when we forget to actively invite the Norwegians (non-Sikhs). People not familiar to Sikhism observe a lot of turbans, long beards, kirpans and hear us screaming something they can’t understand. Those who aren´t used to this might find it bit scary. Having this in mind, UngeSikher (Young Sikhs) under Gurudwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji – Oslo, decided to do something, and arranged the first Norwegian Turban Day in 2010.It was a great success.

This year The Norwegian Turban Day was held for the third time.Several tents were put up at the Town Hall square and the guests went through a route consisting of several posts.When they leave the tent they are told to show the turban respect if they want to keep it. In the tent we hang up posters and photos of Sikhs that provide information about Sikhism. Not least,representatives from Young Sikhs are there to break the barriers. The excitement and positive feedback from the guests was enormous. Not only did several thousand people visited, but over 1500 tried and kept their turbans. Over 1500 Norwegians from 2-90 years walked around in the city with colourful turbans! In a time where Sikh turbans are unfamiliar and seen as scary; it is important to invite the rest of the society and make them understand that even though you wear a turban you are not scary.Almost all the big newspapers and TV-channels covered The Turban Day. Aim of the Norwegian Turban Day is to re-launch the turban as a symbol of solidarity, equality and religious freedom. The past years have been characterized of prejudices in the public debate, not least; there is growing tendency of polarizations in the society. With The Turban Day contributes in reducing the gap between Sikhs and the society. Link:http://www.sikhfoundation.org/2012/

Gurmat Camp by DSGMC

Dr.Man Mohan Kaur with Daler Mehndi

Dr.Man Mohan Kaur ( Principal,Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,Dev Nagar,University of Delhi) with Daler Mehndi,King of Bhangra Famous Punjabi singer