just_someone

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 4

The court of Additional Sessions Judge here today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of senior vice-president of the of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Daljit Singh Bittu. Bittu was booked by the police on May 31 on charges of sedition after he along with some of his associates raised provocative slogans during a protest against Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

Bittu had filed a plea for anticipatory bail in the court of the District and Sessions Judge, who had earlier stayed his arrest. Sources said as the District and Sessions Court Judge was on leave,Bittu's case was taken up for hearing in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge. — TNS

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070705/punjab1.htm#29

Ludhiana, June 30

The Danga Peerat Welfare Board (1984), Punjab, is sore at the state government’s move to issue fresh red cards to 1984 riot victims.

They feel that not only the entire process was tedious but they were being regularly harassed by staff of the district administration while getting, enquiring or submitting the forms.

As per the conditions laid down by the government, those who migrated to Punjab after 1984 riot need to submit the proof of being a riot victim for getting the red card. The affidavits submitted by the victims were not treated as evidence. The government has further asked them to submit documents like electricity or water connection bills, ration card, passport, driving license, registry of the house, gas cylinder connection or a bank account opened in 1985 only.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, vice-president of the board Harinder Pal Singh said a month ago, the government had published an advertisement in which it had asked the riot victims to submit relevant documents for getting the red cards. Harinder, who is physically challanged, said: “I went to Mini Secretariat on a wheel chair for getting all details along with a form. But, after two days when I went to submit the form it was rejected by staff concerned. I was told to fill a new form and submit it.”

“While submitting the forms, we are not given any receipt. They just write numbers on files. In case, the forms get misplaced, whom should we contact? Secondly, when we submit an affidavit saying we are riot victims, it should be considered as sufficient evidence. If we are proved wrong, law will punish us. It is impossible to procure documents of 1985 at this stage. That time, when we came to Punjab, we were more worried about our survival then the documents or proofs”, said agitated Harinder Pal Singh.

Harjinder Singh Bagga, another riot victim, said influential persons were able to get red cards issued by the government. “The government must extend the date for issuing the red cards”, he added.

The Central government had already directed the state government to set up a committee for verifying the facts and not to put extra burden on riot- hit people on technical grounds, riot victims said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070701/ldh1.htm#3

Moga, June 29

Members of Sikh community and followers of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda came close to a showdown thrice in and around the Nihal Singhwala sub-division during the past 24 hours.

Dera follower Buta Singh of Himmatpura village was organising ‘namcharcha’ when the activists of the Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj reached there and tried to stop him. The police brought the situation under control.

Elsewhere, unidentified persons burnt a tempo belonging to Ruldu Singh, a dera follower and a resident of Gehlan village, last night.

The bhog of a dera follower at Dhalle Ke village turned into a hotspot when the deceased’s brother Mangal Singh insisted that it be held according to the Sikh rites while his friends wanted a ‘nam charcha’.

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 29

The meeting of the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), which was constituted to spearhead the agitation against the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, was held here today sans the Sant Samaj. Even as several member of KAC continued to elude the media, some leaders confided that it had been decided to reconstitute the Khalsa Action Committee following recent developments.

A split in the Khalsa Action Committee was quite evident after the meeting. Some of the members, who appeared to be demoralised after the meeting, maintained that though some important decisions had been taken in the meeting, the details could not be revealed to the media.

However, sources within the KAC disclosed that the committee had decided to meet the Chief Ministers of both Punjab and Haryana to take up the issue of dera chief's arrest. Besides, the KAC has also decided to hold a series of protest marches in the state, the sources stated.

The KAC also approved the rejection of Dera's apology by the Akal Takht, the sources said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070630/punjab1.htm#8

CHANDIGARH: Nothing can get more ironical for Punjab police — while on one hand it has launched a war on drugs, on the other it is facing a major problem of drug addiction among its own ranks.

Thousands of Punjab policemen, who arrest drug peddlers and seize narcotics each day, are also waging a battle against addiction amongst its own people.

A survey conducted by Punjab police has put the percentage of addicts, including alcoholics, at 50 per cent of the total force in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur. According to IG (border zone) R P Meena: "Over half the cops here are alcoholics or into drugs like opium. Some even use smack and heroin. They are basically up to the inspector rank."

However, Punjab police has woken up to the dark reality and decided to take measures to check the menace. All the SSPs have been asked to identify addicted policemen in their districts and once the clear picture emerges, police department will start organising de-addiction camps.

"All cops who are alcoholics or into drugs will also be provided counselling on a regular basis," adds Meena.

Explaining the reasons behind the state of affairs, Meena said cops are becoming addicts because of increasing job stress, long duty hours and easy availability of drugs.

However, Meena adds, "The problem of drugs among policemen should not be looked at differently. It just reflects the overall picture of the society of Punjab, which is in the grip of drugs and alcohol."

Meanwhile, senior police officers are of the opinion that suspension is not the solution to this problem. An officer said thousands of policemen will lose their jobs if they are suspended but that would not make them quit drugs and alcohol.

Another officer said the police department alone is not in a position to solve the drug menace and added that the government should also extend help in conducting research, opening drug-deaddiction centres etc.

He also confessed that drug addiction is one of the major reasons behind cops turning into criminals. A senior officer said some cops later get into drug peddling and crimes like bank robberies. During the last three months Punjab police has registered 87 criminal cases involving 115 cops.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/...how/2152239.cms

Chandigarh, June 26

A city-based human rights lawyer, today wrote a letter to the Ambassador, Royal Embassy of Belgium, New Delhi, requesting refusal of visa to former director-general of Punjab police K.P.S. Gill or to initiate his trial if he enters the Belgian

territory.

Rajvinder S. Bains asserts in his letter that Gill has been accused of abduction, torture, murder and disappearances of youth during his tenure as Punjab DGP, which amounts to crimes against humanity.

“I have credible information to suggest that K.P.S. Gill will seek to enter Belgium as early as July 21or sometime later. Our information is that Gill, currently president of the Indian Hockey Federation, is planning to attend the six-nation BDO Champions Challenge, which is scheduled from June 3 to July 1 in Boon, Belgium,” Bains, a member of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, states in his letter.

Bains alleges that there is extensive documentation to prove that Gill is directly involved in the abductions, torture, murder and disappearances.

According to the letter, the incidents involving Gill are said to have occurred during his tenure as the Punjab DGP in early 1990s.

“I believe that on the strength of this information, Belgium should deny entry to Gill. No individual implicated in such heinous crimes should benefit from the ability to travel internationally. We urge the Belgian immigration authorities to immediately take all necessary steps to ensure that Gill is not authorised to enter the Belgian territory,” Bains pleads.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070627/cth1.htm#7

Chandigarh, May 3

Director-general of Punjab police NPS Aulakh today ordered an enquiry on the basis of reports published in various newspapers regarding fake killings by Punjab police during the period of militancy in the state.

JP Birdi, additional director-general of police, will head the fact-finding team for conducting a thorough enquiry into the allegations.

A spokesperson of the police said the Punjab government had viewed the news reports with concern and considering the gravity of the issues involved, the enquiry has been initiated.

It may be mentioned here that certain specific instances were quoted in these reports in which the police had reportedly shown that it killed some terrorists in encounters earlier. However, these people were still alive. It has further been mentioned in these news reports that innocent persons were killed in place of such terrorists.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070504/main1.htm

Nice to see the Punjab Police on top form as usual! Only took them 25+ years to figure this one out _oh_OLD:

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

So I got a phone call from my friend to say they had heard the new Immortal Productions track - Son of a Sardar on the Bobby Friction show on BBC asian Network!

Not totally convinced I had a little look on the net and found this! Check it out!

Son of a Sardar at Number One!

* Bobby Friction Blog: 11 Apr 07, 02:58 PM

Friction's Top Five Tracks

1. Tigerstyle - Son Of A Sardar (Immortal Productions/Soldier Sound Recordings)

2. Unique Sounds Roadshow feat. Surinder Shinda & Minus P – Jagga (Remix) (Babycamp Records)

3. Sudha – Living By Numbers (White)

4. Davut Guloglu – Katula Katula (Destan Muzik)

5. Timbaland feat. MIA Come Around (Mosley Music)

The Tigerstyle track is number 1 as Ive never heard 'Sikh' music sound like this before. There are many Islamic musicians and artists out there talking about religion and identity - but this is the first powerful & explosive piece of music I've heard from 2nd Gen. Sikhs. Kanwar (the rapper on this track) has done a work of almighty beauty.

Think we should all go out and and support the guys by buying the CD #1

Looks like we have some positive media for once! Congratulations to all those involved in the track and album

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Just wanted to let the sangat know that the father of our beloved shaheed - Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda passed away a few days ago.

The parents of Bhai Jinda stook to his word about not going into politics and stayed true to the cause. They never turned their back on the shaheeds

Can we all do ardas for this great father's soul and give the family strength to live is Guru Ji's hukam and may they always be a bright light in this world of darkness...

Dhan dhan Guru Ka Sikh

Chandigarh, December 1

A local court today acquitted militant Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, alleged main accused in the September 1991 attack on Sumedh Singh Saini, IG, Punjab Police.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R.S.Baswana, acquitted the militant for lack of evidence and weak presentations by the prosecution.The defence counsel had been pleading that Bhullar and the other accused had been "framed" by the investigating agencies.

A case under the TADA Act and Sections 302,307 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against Bhullar and two others — Partap Singh and Gursharan Kaur Mann — in 1991 after the attack in which four persons were killed and Mr Saini, who was then the Chandigarh SSP, seriously injured.

After the attack,Bhullar reportedly escaped to Germany. The Government of India then sought his extradition and he was arrested on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, in 2003.

And there was furore in the media about his alleged torture by the Delhi Police.

It was then that the Chandigarh Police applied for his transit remand in connection with the present case. Bhullar appeared for several hearing at the District Courts here.

During one of the hearings, the Sessions Court dropped charges under the TADA Act against him.

Bhullar had also been awarded death sentence by the Supreme Court for triggering off a bomb blast on September 11,1993, outside the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) headquarters on the Raisina Road in New Delhi.The then IYC chief, Mr MS Bitta, was among those injured in the blast.

Later, Bhullar petitioned the President for clemency and his mercy petition is pending with the Government of India.

In fact, the president of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front, Mr MS Bitta, had alleged here yesterday that the government had put the mercy petition in "cold storage" as even after three years no decision had been taken.

Mr Bitta had also alleged that the government was going soft on the militants, including Bhullar and the alleged prime accused in the Parliament House attack —Afzal Guru.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061202/punjab1.htm#4

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Would like to draw the sangat's attention to some positive feedback...

The Scotsman article

Have a read of the comments made by the public at the bottom. Some of them are really positive and heartwarming.

Examples

etc...

Well done to all our Sikh Brothers and sisters who made the long journey up north and represented the Sikhi saroop in such a positive manor

Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Pyare

Are they gonna be every thursday?

yeah, is this regular?

I think they will be held every Thursday :D

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/a...in_page_id=1770

In the mail on Sunday this weekend just gone, just a few pages from the front.

How a Guru turned Monty into England's new cricket Star

He is not, it must be said, a typical Eastern guru. True, he has a whiskery silver beard, but there are no flowing robes - just a white T-shirt, baggy tracksuit bottoms and work boots. His throne is a cheap nylon armchair in the kitchen of a Canadian farmhouse.

Yet this is Maharaj Ji, a man who - although he can't tell an off-break from a googly - has become the guide and inspiration for Monty Panesar, England's newest cricket star.

The 24-year-old spin bowler spent a month on Maharaj Ji's 5,000-acre community farm on the outskirts of Edmonton last autumn. On his return he described the trip as 'the defining moment of my life'.

Galumphing

He said: "To meet the master was fantastic. He told me to go home and concentrate on cricket, to go full whack and give it my passion. He has really motivated me."

Since then the "Montster" has gone from possible stand-in to core member of the England Test squad. Fans love his galumphing wicket celebrations and chant his name enthusiastically at every game.

So who is Maharaj Ji and how has he effected this amazing transformation? The global leader of the Nanaksar sect of Sikhism, he is 68, his wife Anita is in her 20s and they have a three-year-old son.

As is the nature of leaders of this type, he has attracted his fair share of controversy. Six years ago he was convicted of drink-driving and fined £280 and banned for a year.

In 1994, it was alleged that he promoted free sex as a path to enlightenment, blew £21,000 of his sect's funds in the casinos of Las Vegas and used community money to build a home for his wife - all of which he strenuously denies.

To his 20,000 devotees, however, he is a living saint who raises more than £60million a year for charity.

Certainly, when The Mail on Sunday visited him at his farm last week, we found a charming man who is happy to work the same 12-hour days as his volunteers.

Blessings

Asked about his most famous pupil, the Maharaj said: "I don't know what cricket is. I have never seen him play. I have no idea what happens."

In fact when Monty first arrived in Edmonton, the guru saw him simply as the son of Paramjit and Gurharan Panesar, both followers at his temple in Coventry, which he visits every January.

The Maharaj said: "It's the blessings working for him and what he believes. It's a spiritual connection that makes him what he is. I told him to be strong and play with one mind. Put your mind fully into the activity you are doing and believe in yourself 100 per cent."

It was Monty's close friend Subby Sidhu, an IT consultant from Coventry, who suggested that the cricketer, who is a computing and management graduate of Loughborough University, could benefit from the Maharaj's guidance.

Subby, 25, said: "I have been to stay and work on the farm nine times. I knew how much it would help Monty with his game. The guru is a saint, a teacher of life. He told Monty that cricket was his destiny."

During his stay, Monty worked in the wheat and canola fields. At the end of each day, he would be called for the ritual blessing, at which the Maharaj hands out offerings of cereal bars, Cadbury's chocolate, fruit and sweets to his disciples.

Dinner often consists not of lentils and rice but chips, Kentucky Fried Chicken and iced buns. Alcohol is not allowed as it is strictly against the Sikh religion - which sits uncomfortably with Maharaj Ji's drink-driving ban.

Asked if he viewed himself as a saint, the Maharaj insisted: "Others may say that but I don't want that for myself."

Perhaps not, but judging by Monty Panesar's recent performance, his reputation for working miracles is set to grow.

Is this the same guy who encourages the dancing fiasco at the Coventry nagar kirtan people were on about a while back?

Dear Cyber-Sangat Ji,

taken from www.mistakesingh.blogspot.com

Sangat victorious over Ek Niwaas

Congratulations to global Sangat regarding the Beadbi that WAS occuring at Ek Niwaas.

It has been confirmed in police presence that Maharaj will no longer be kept at Ek Niwaas and will be handed over to Akal Takht Sahib.

This is just another case where when the Sangat unites, under one flag, with one motive we can change anything.

Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj

In the last week or so many different jatha's and Gursikhs of the panth came under the banner of the Khalsa to sort out Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji's beadbi that has been occuring for 7+ years in Wolverhampton at Ek Niwas.

It was so inspiring and heart warming to see young and old, akj to GNNSJ members, various gurdwara committies, amritdhari and sehajdhari all come together with the support of the Akal Thakht to fight this issue together.

To us this was a true display of Ekta. Putting aside all differences and grievences to fight for a common goal.

May Guru Ji bless all those who fight under His banner together

VJKK VJKF

No - it is not the same jatha.

The original singh got shaheed.

The current jatha has done and continues to do great seva, but is not the original jatha with the same name. im not sure if the online kaveeshar is old or new jatha's but you can usually definetly tell the difference in the voices (older jatha's was more course).

Brilliant work by all of them!

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

just got this email of my cousin :|

the original jagowala jatha was Bhai jagir singh mast and with him was shaheed bhai nirmal singh chola sahib and bhai jarnail singh.they have been to the UK i think they r still here :wub:

bhai nirmail singh got shaheed after coming back from the shaheedi program in memory of Shaheed General Bhai Sahib Sukhwinder Singh Sangha of the Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK), he had just sang the song in which the singhs took revenge for the Shaheedi of General Sukhwinder Singh Sangha by killing the police officer in charge of killing bhai sahib it was ssp operation harjit su, they put this dog too death in less than 24 days, thats what u call revenge massa rangar style :wub: AKAAAL

vaheguru

theres one happening on soho rd birmingham on the 3rd too

I saw it too

They were amazing, I was mesmorised.

Hi, i was wondering do any1 no where i can purchase so sikh tops and sweatshirts like da defenders of the faith ones, n some with Bhindranwala on it?

So can you please tell me where i can purchase dem on da internet?

WJKK WJKF

WJKK WJKF

The defenders of the faith hooded tops and t-shirts and the Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindrawale tops are made by www.boss-stall.com

I hear they will be online to purchase in a week or so...

Hope that helps veerji

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

dear sangat ji

just spoke to my cousin he knows about the movement, he told me this:

there is a lot of mis information going around at the moment in goverment circles, Bhai Nirmal Singh Nimma the cousin of Shaheed Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda is still alive and living in Amritsar. He was released from prison and now is married.

there was a lot of nirmal singh nimmas in all jatha's the most famous of was Bhai Nirmal Singh Nimma Lt General KCF who got Shaheed with Shaheed General Kamaljeet Singh Sultanwind in about 1988.

hope it helps

wjkk

wjkf jio,

Bhai nirmal singh didn't belong to any jathabandi and he is a shaheed.

I found a picture of nirmail singh.

WJKK WJKK

Hmmmmm interesting......

There certainlly were alot of Nirmal Singh Nimmas in all jathebandis be that KCF, KLF, BTFK, BKI or SSF. But im not sure what group the Bhai Nirmal Singh Nimma who helped kill vaydia was from but he was Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda's Cousin and is definatly shaheed. From what i gather i would say whatever Jathebandhi this Nimma who turned informer was from, he is not well known and we should not confuse him with Bhai Nirmal Singh.

WJKK WJKF

158146[/snapback]

158302[/snapback]

wjkk wjkf

Thank u for u help my brothers yeah i guess there wer more nirmal singhs bhull chuk maff but the nirmal singh im n about was defo in kcf.

wjkk wjkf

158367[/snapback]

I was searching for something on google and stumbled across this link...

www.ledevoir.com/2003/01/06/17583.html

Im not 100% sure what it's trying to get... What does everyone make of it?

Think it roughly translates to "I'm sharpening my crucifx man"

Dear sangat ji

OVER 700 INDISCRMINATE DETENTIONS, IN PUNJAB

There has been a spate of arrest’s of Sikhs in Punjab. This has sent shock waves across Punjab as people trying to get back to normal lives after the tragic events of the last 21 years have been woken up to the hellish nightmare once again. Gursikhs who have sacrificed their loved ones for the panth are again been targeted. The total horror can not be imagined. One Gursikh has already committed suicide. How many will follow?

The Sikhs in Punjab have no voice they fear reprisals from police. Sikhs in the free world have to raise the banner of revolt.

The British Sikh Council and the Sikh Youth UK have arranged 3 days of silent protests outside the Indian High Commission to raise the issue as the Indian Prime Minister prepares to visit Gleneagles. Dr Manmohan Singh has failed to curb police excesses or start any enquiries into previous human rights excesses. We can not and will not sit back and watch our fellow Sikhs go through another Operation Woodrose, when the Indian army swept across Punjab after the attack on Sri Harimandir Sahib taking away thousands off Sikh youths never to be seen again.

Please join the demos Outside the Indian High Commission, London

Wednesday 29th June 3-6pm

Thursday 30th June 3-6pm

Friday 1st July 3-6pm

We demand the world takes notice of the plight of the Sikh Nation

Please can you contact the press and make them aware of the ILLEGAL DETENTIONS in Punjab and ask them why the British media is not covering the mass detentions in Punjab and make them aware of the demonstrations. Ask them its such a important issue to the 500,000 sikhs living in the UK. The arrests and abuses are getting worse day by day but the free press are very quiet.

Contacts

Times 0207 782 5000

Guardian l: 020-7278 2332

Independent (0)20 7005 2000

Telegraph

BBC world news ask for India desk - 020 7240 3456

BBC NEWS TV - 020 8433 2221

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

OVER 700 INDISCRMINATE DETENTIONS, IN PUNJAB

MANY TORTURED AND MANY INCOMMUNICADO

WORLD SILENT, INDIAN PM TO VISIT GLENEAGLES,

SIKH GROUPS ASK WHEN WILL HE IMPOVE HUMAN RIGHTS?

As the Indian Prime Minister prepares to visit Gleneagles, Sikh groups are asking when India will improve its approach to human rights.

According to Indian newspaper reports more than 700 people have been detained indiscriminately in Punjab following the re-arrest of a jail break alleged insurgent Jagtar Singh Hawara. Those detained include relatives, friends, acquaintances, human rights activists and people who took food and clothes to Mr Hawara while in Jail originally. Many unconnected people with previous activist record have also been detained

Mr Hawara tunnelled his way out of the jail more about 18 months ago. (Jan 2004) Despite many previous arrests at the time of his jail break, the police have started to swoop widely again after his re-arrest.

Many women are being held incommunicado as well. Lawyers are concerned about the plight of many detainees. Relatives fear to seek redress, scared of reprisals from police and therefore these detentions are not even reported to the press.

Information is trickling gradually through newspapers and police statements. Many Sikh leaders who have been vocal about human rights were detained prior to this for raising slogans of self determination. They remain in detention.

As the Indian Prime Minister prepares to visit Gleneagles, many Human Rights groups wonder whether the Indian State will ever change its approach to human rights. Despite setting up Indian Human Rights Commission, violations continue unabated.

Incommnicado detentions are common. Dr Manmohan Singh has failed to curb police excesses or start any enquiries into previous human rights excesses.

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh

A Sikh defence to all the Bezhti stuff going on has finally been published this morning in the Guardian....

/www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1391895,00.html

Behind Behtzi

Colonial attitudes linger, finding their most xenophobic expression among liberal defenders of free speech

Jasdev Singh Rai

Monday January 17, 2005

The Guardian

Freedoms are never absolute, least of all in multicultural, multiracial societies where responsibilities to co-exist must limit them. Most British people recognise this, which is why the career of the football commentator Ron Atkinson was ended when he made a racist remark. Britain's Asian communities are generally less fazed by colour prejudice, but are sensitive to offence of the sacred: culture and the sacred defines Asians. The Sikh community's reaction to Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's play Behzti illustrate this.

In her statement - published on these pages last week - Bhatti, now self- declared "Sikh warrior", missed the point. It was not the substance or message of her play that invoked the wrath of so many Sikhs, but the deliberate, sensational and offensive use of sacred icons.

Sikhs, like Christians, do not mind criticism of their religion or exposure of hypocrisy. A genuinely creative production can get the message to the right people without causing gratuitous offence. Even satire can work without being offensive. Indeed, Sikhism, like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, has pluralism at the very core of its beli

ef system. But when a line is overstepped, conflicts begin.

The sacred is variable in different communities. Hindus, renowned for tolerating any provocation, get into a rage if beef is taken into a temple. For them, the cow is the foundation of piety. For Muslims, Muhammad is the embodiment of Islam, and sacrilege is to portray him in any physical form or abusive context. Criticism of most other aspects of Islam will not offend - it is even encouraged.

For the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, the text in complete form, is sacred. The Granth Sahib is the embodiment of the Sikh gurus and is treated as our living spiritual guide. The gurdwara is where the Guru is in residence and therefore has a different significance than a synagogue, a church or a mosque. The Sikhs zealously maintain the sanctity of the Guru Granth Sahib while being happy to engage with criticism of other aspects of our religion.

Behzti's theme is sexual and financial abuse using Sikh characters. Most Sikhs could not care less about this. But by setting the play - unnecessarily - in a gurdwara, Bhatti disrespected the sanctity of the Guru. An offended Sikh can of course stay away from the play, but most Sikhs feel they have to maintain the gurdwara's sanctity. This may not make sense to non-Sikhs - just as chaos theory is beyond classic scientific logic, the sacred is beyond the discourse of human reason.

These cultural reactions are not limited to Asians. To Christians, the body of Christ is part of the sacrament. Most Christians are deeply hurt when Christ is depicted in a degrading fashion, as he was most recently in Jerry Springer - The Opera.

Nor are these cultural, "irrational" reactions limited to religious communities. When the Australian prime minister patted the Queen on the back in a friendly gesture, it threw the English establishment into a spin. The monarchy, an idiosyncratic institution in the rational, modern world, is treated as a sacred living icon of secular British culture.

Neither

is rationalism alien to eastern cultures. Science and mathematics thrived both in the great age of Hindu civilisation and Islamic ascendancy. Eastern cultures have long traditions of theatre, reform movements and of absorbing criticism. But when a creative work offends the sacred, it loses its message.

The Sikh approach to free speech appears paradoxical. Sikhism emerged challenging both forced proselytisation by Islamic invaders and caste restrictions among Hindus. The Guru Granth Sahib, the text, uses rational discourse to deconstruct proscriptive, superstitious and suppressive ideologies. All the Sikh gurus used practical rational examples to attack superstition and blind ritual. Yet Sikhs will throw out a person who walks into a gurdwara hall with shoes and uncovered head. The sacred is different to the irrational.

Sikhism believes that the rational is as speculative, variable and subjective as any other construction of belief. From that philosophical premise, the sacred cannot be dismissed. Jacques Derrida similarly analyses the subjectivity of rationalism. Further, Sikhism holds that language is limited. The Guru Granth Sahib uses several tools of communication including poetry, music and pragmatic symbolism. Again, a 20th-century western philosopher - Foucault - has also articulated the limits of language.

The sacred may not make sense in the constructed paradigms of rationalism, but it sustains people through traumatic times, as well as giving strength to the successful. Offending the sacred wounds those whose hopes and culture are orientated around the subjective inscrutability of sacred icons.

Fifty years after the end of colonialism, most British people are comfortable living with people of different colours. But many are still uncomfortable with different cultures. The legacy of colonialism lingers, now disguised as a defence of "free speech". Ironically, it finds its most xenophobic expression among liberals. Forty years ago, it was the British way to condemn racism but t

o defend remarks like Atkinson's in the name of free speech. No longer.

Asian communities look forward to a day when cultural pluralism is likewise claimed as the British way of life.

· Dr Jasdev Singh Rai is director of the Sikh Human Rights Group

Jasdev@shrg.net

Vaheguru Jee ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh

Looks like she's loving all this attention.

Apparently the woman is going to be appearing on The Culture show tonight at 7pm on BBC 2

Everyone try and watch and ring in if we can or need to

Lets hope she keeps the bezhti of sikhs to a mimimum... Though i somehow doubt it

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh

"Hamri kro hath dai racha": Oh Lord protect us with your hand

The Tsunami disaster has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people, made countless homeless and destroyed property and infrastructure. Those who survived are in danger of dying from exposure, starvation and disease.

The Sikh community have got together to organise a special programme in rememberance of all those who have lost their lives and in the name of those who are sill suffering...

On SATURDAY 8TH JANUARY there will be CHOPAI SAHIB JAAP and a KEERTAN DARBAAR to pray for the victims and RAISE MONEY for the disaster.

The event will take place at:

GURU NANAK PARKASH GURDWARA,

71-81 HARNELL LANE

COVENTRY

CV1 4FB

FROM 6PM TILL 12AM.

This is a plea to ALL the sangat, regardless of age or organisation to attend and join the sangat to offer spiritual hope as well as monetary aid.

The charities that will be supported are:

KHALSA AID

077 3330 3831 (UK)

ravisingh@aol.com

www.khalsaaid.org

UNITED SIKHS

(0044) (0) 870 1993328

contact@unitedsikhs.org

www.unitedsikhs.com

(For general enquires please ring: 07956 595 850)

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh,

Benti to all the cyber sangat...

can you please please please pledge your prayers...

You can be totally anonomous if you like... just put singh/kaur/gupt as your name and pledge as much as you can give, even if it is just one mool mantar...

Lets try and get the sangat from all parts of the world joining in... lets stand united and give a little food for the soul...

Ask your parents, brothers, sisters, mama, chacha lol if they want to join in and pledge for them if they dont know how to register

We've all been giving our pennies and cents away, now its time for the spiritual gifts as well

Please visit www.sikhhelpline.com to pledge

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh