SinghWarrior

Pyara, my great friend, the Jathebandiaan offered Bal a route out of the mess he put himself in weeks (and even some months) ago, which would have united the channels and given Bal a face-saving measure. Sangat TV agreed to go by this, Sikh Channel didn't. The Jathebandiaan expected Bal to do the decent thing and eventually fall Into line. They did not wish this whole thing to be brought into the public. However, Bal got more and more obnoxious as time went on, whilst re-branding the event from a Protest to an Awareness Day, as the Jathebandiaan suggested. Finally, the Jathebandiaan were left with no option but to formally go public, as the Sangat kept requesting them to clarify their position and they felt they had to respond to Bal's provocative actions, when on Monday, he signed a piece of paper with an agreement which would avoid this situation arising again in the future, and then he immediately repudiated his signature and thereby broke his word. How can Bal expect the cooperation of the most active Jathebandiaan going forward? Don't get me wrong, Sikh Channel has been a force for great good, but it has messed up big time too. It was the same channel that deliberately sensationalized Dudley, and sought to portray all naujawaan as extremists. Time for Bal to realize that he can never be bigger than the Panth!!!

It's a sad state of affairs when all youth can do is tarnish Sevadaar singhs working tirelessly for the panth as being 'Badal da chamchae'. Like I said, after this protest is over, get off your backsides and join these organizations that are doing their best to serve the Panth, or set your own orgs up if you think the incumbents are so tainted with links to Badal. Pyara - agree that Sunday will have a galvanizing effect, but it could have been WAY better if the Jathebandiaan were on board. Remember it is these same currently being maligned Jathebandiaan and Sevadaars that organize the successful '84 rally (with the support of ALL media channels and papers).

I think I agree with you aksantali that our Jathebandiaan need better communication as to what they're up to. They do a lot of work but need more communication to gain the confidence and trust of sangat. This is why it's important that more naujawaan get involved, so that they are part of the solution. It's very easy for us to make posts on SS.com (including me), but it is hundred times harder to effectively engage and lobby ministers. How many of us can hand on heart say we have managed this? Trust me - I tried, but did not have much success. I took Dr Rai's suggestion, and took my MP for an informal meal - much more effective! These people have the experience, as they deal with politicians all the time. However, if we think we can be agents of positive change, let's take pro-active steps to join Sikh organizations, and make a difference (rather than whinging on SS.com!). Back on topic, if you speak to SCUK Sevadaars, you will realize that they have made great progress in dastaar issues in the uk, and are against D-Day for genuine and sincere reasons - not because they are Indian govt or Badal agents. Sometimes you have to trust those that have more info than you. If you don't trust them, become a leader yourself (in the positive sense) and serve the Panth better than the incumbents.

Firstly, it's easy for us to sit on our backside to criticize our elders, though they are the same ones that have got some success to date in parliament through effective lobbying (on about the uk, not other countries where an awareness day may be/is required). If we think elders are doing nothing and are useless leaders, why don't we, as youth, step up and get involved in organizations like SCUK? They're crying out for educated naujawaan to get involved. Secondly, Bal/Sikh Channel knew about these concerns months ago. They were arrogant and obnoxious, and chose to ignore them. Thirdly, they have listened to some concerns - they've rebranded it from a protest to an awareness day. SCUK wanted to avoid washing dirty linen in public by reaching an appropriate solution in private discussions - this has been going on for at least 4 weeks. However, it is clear from the statement - Bal should'nt have gone back on his word, and he needs to realize his limitations. His actions forced the SCUK to go public. Bal needs to change his attitude and work for the betterment of the Panth, rather his TV channel.

A few members from SCUK might attend. Ask the Executive Committee though whether they think D-Day is a good idea - almost all will likely say no, though they might turn up begrudgingly.

Is Sikh Council promoting this event? I don't think so. We spend years saying we need an organisation which is democratic and represents all Sikhs. When we finally get one which is positively engaging with Ministers and MPs, and which is making a real difference on the ground, why is Sikh Channel effectively taking actions which will only undermine the Sikh Council? How can the Sikh Council be credible when it makes the statement to government that it represents UK Sikhs, when one of the channels overrides it and does what it wants! We're all stuck in our own egos (including the Sikh Channel), and refuse to sacrifice our egos to represent a United front to government and MPs, which is what is BADLY needed. Sikh Council was a way of uniting the Panth in the UK, but for its own benefit and publicity, Sikh Channel is refusing to listen to the Jathbandis and Sikh Council! People will turn up on the day, protest and leave, but it will be the sewadaars at Sikh Council that will have to pick up the pieces and seek to re-build the relationship that they are having to spend months to establish and develop! Sadly, it seems Sikh Channel is not interested in the longer term strategic agenda for the Panth, only short term publicity which promotes the channel.

Agree with Singh211. What sense does it make to have a protest when Parliament is shut on a Sunday? MPs won't even know the protest happened and it makes Sikhs look stupid, especially when our organisations, including Sikh Council UK, BSCF and Sikh Federation are already having ongoing discussions with the government on recent EU-enforced law changes which affect the Dastaar. Sikh CHannel took this step to organise a protest without any consultation with Jathebandis or Sikh organisations, and it will waste a lot of energy. I'm not against protests, as have supported them in other contexts, but when protests happen, they should be coordinated with the Panth united, in order to ensure they are a success. This protest is not supported at all by the most active Sikh Jathebandiaan. Sikh Channel, it seems, are refusing to listen to our SInghs that have links with the Government ministers we need to influence. They seem to have an ulterior agenda too, otherwise they would have listened to the Singhs that actively know how to successfully lobby the Government. Having said all the above, I have nothing against Sikh Channel, and any awareness raised on the Dastaar issue is better than none at all.

Very sad state of affairs. Everyone goes on about beadbi in India, but very few people are willing to actually do anything on beadbi issues in England!

I do not stand to gain anything financially, though I assure you I do know a fair bit about the law of equity and the financial background of the Academy (directly from the mouth of the Academy sevadaars). From what they have told me, the statement posted above doesn't go into the full detail of what is going on, which might lead you to believe that certain individuals are currently acting in their selfish interest. Knowing the Gursikhs involved, I think this lack of detail is probably an unintended consequence, as they probably wanted to keep the statement short. The seva that individuals have done is WAY more than you or me could probably do in our entire lives. Therefore, once again, I would URGE people not to speculate without FULL knowledge of the facts. If anyone has any questions, please ring the Academy sevadaars directly to clarify any concerns/questions they may have.

I don't think it is wise to speculate on the financial issues, or make any attacks on any individual, without FULL knowledge of the facts. Clearly, by some of the posts above, it appears people don't have FULL knowledge of the facts. Accordingly, such people should not make statements suggesting certain individuals are at fault or acting greedy. If people want to have FULL knowledge of the facts, they should speak to the Academy sevadaars directly rather speculating on a forum.

"Satgur Mera Maar Jeevale" Source - Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj

The fact that he's talking about this without any remorse shows he is still guilty from a Gurmat perspective. Until he goes Pesh, is truly sorry for his Bujjar Kurehit and changes his ways, Sikh Sangat have every right to make an example of him, because he shamed the institution of "Granthi" sevadaar, a duty Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaaj gave to Brahmgyani Baba Buddha Jee!

Just found the post when they agreed to close down the hall: http://satkaarcampai...akal-takht.html

Just came across the following link: http://satkaarcampai...at-camp-at.html Good work by Satkaar to do grassroots parchaar on Satkaar where it is needed. I think this was the Gurdwara that meat and alcohol going at parties right next to Maharaaj's Darbar.

I think Admin should ban this "JalandharSher". He's come here with pre-conceived ideas to promote caste-ism and defame Gursikhs. People like this have no place on SikhSangat.

Vahiguroo. How do the activities of this "Singh Sabha" Gurdwara fit in with the ideology of the original Singh Sabhias, who gave Shaheedi in the Gurdwara Sudhaar Lehar? These "alleged" Singh Sabhias are doing the exact opposite of what the original Singh Sabha movement was about!

I heard Sikh Channel have banned everyone who supported the Satkaar Campaign on their channel from entering the studios, which is a follow-up to them showing completely biased and one-sided coverage of the Dudley protest. This means prominent UK sewadar Singhs such as Manvir Singh, Navreet Singh, Sukhwinder Singh "Sukhi Baba", Navjot Kaur, etc., are now also banned from the channel. WHAT A JOKE!!! Based on this, some Singh from Coventry told me that Kam Singh has stopped the Sunday evening Sikh Youth Show on Sikh Channel. The only Youth (and truly Panthic) show has stopped! What can we expect from the media, when the so-called Sikh media does this to its own Panthic sewadars?

Singhs are seeing if they can arrange one last minute. Be ready in the morning, and guroo-kirpaa naal, transport will get sorted. I understand other towns/cities are arranging last minute transport too. Keep in contact with the local active Singh/Singhneeyaan.

I just got a text to say that they will publicly confirm and announce the protest on Sangat TV at 9pm tonight.

The actions of the Dudley committee are an absolute DISGRACE. Waheguru Ji bhalla karae on their souls. Seriously - what are they up to? If anyone doesn't know, address is: Guru Nanak Singh Sabha Gurdwara, 118 Wellington Road Dudley DY1 1UB

Why are you looking to Satkaar Sevadaars only to do Gursikhi Parchaar? It's each of our duties to do this. If we all did Kamar-Kassa and were "Jaagrat", we wouldn't have these problems. Our community has a tendency to turn a blind eye on wrong things, if it doesn't affect us individually - it's easier to say it's someone else's problem than take responsibility for resolving it. This attitude has led us to where we are now, where people like Mr Medare think because something wrong has been going on for 30 years, then it must be acceptable. JAAGO SINGHO JAAGO!

Mr Medare - seriously - what's wrong with you? If someone was looting your house for 30 years and you couldn't defend yourself, when you finally build the strength to defend yourself and your property, do yet let the looters carry on, because they been doing it for the last 30 years?

This COMMITTEE is a DISGRACE. They're more interested in Booze and Meat than ensuring their Langar hall is run properly with SUCHAM. Wake up Dudley Sangat and kick these modern day equivalents of Masands out of the Gurdwara - they have no place there!

This is very sad news. The Khalsa Panth has to wake up from its sleep Singho/Singhneeyon! Does this help explain why the Dudley protest was cancelled, as action might be needed here? I called the place up, but the woman didn't answer. I left her a voicemail, and will try calling again in the morning. Has anyone else called?

I've spoken to one of the Midlands elder Parbhandik Singhs who was in the meeting with the family. It was a difficult decision for the elders to call off the protest, as the UK sangat were really up for this. As far as I'm aware, coaches were at least ready to leave from Coventry, Southall, East London and minibuses/coaches were coming from Bradford/Leeds, Derby, Leicester, as well as countless other Sangat coming in cars. But in the end, I think the right decision was made. If the Sangat made journeys when they weren't really needed, then this would put them off for next time. It would be wrong for Satkaar to not disclose that the party had been cancelled, when they knew otherwise. ALSO, Sangat would be sacrificing other Seva to attend this protest. It's BEST if Sangat's and police (as we are taxpayers too) resources are used when they're most needed. It's best to "pick and choose" battles when they're most needed. Satkaar Campaign will be a long-term vision with many challenges that will come up - sangat has to keep this in mind. If any Singh feels otherwise that there is still a need to protest, they're still free to go down themselves as stopping Beadbi is duty of every Sikh - not a few individuals. I agree that this is a massive embarrassment for the committee. They were giving it large that the party will go ahead, but it's not. The family have, in fact, turned against the committee. They - the committee - are cowards for cancelling their own parties, and risking the parties of innocent and unaware families.