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16 year old Sikh girl Karamjit Kaur missing in Reno Reno, Nevada: Reno, Nevada: Sixteen-year-old Reno resident Karamjit Kaur has been reported missing, the Reno Police Department says. Kaur is described as East Indian, 5’7, 140 pounds with long black hair, brown eyes, a left canine tooth is that is longer than her other teeth and a scar on forehead. RPD says Kaur was last seen at riding her red and silver mountain bike from her residence located on Anchor Point Drive in Reno Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. She was last seen wearing a black v-neck short sleeve tee shirt, bright blue cotton pajama bottoms, and black flip flops. She did not take any possessions with her when she left. 2:30 p.m. update: The father of missing Karamjit Kaur implores whoever has taken his daughter to return her safely to her Reno home. “Whoever took her, bring her back safely. Drop her off. We just want her back,” said Surinder Mathon, 50. “She is very nice. She is a smart girl.” Family members and friends are gathered at the gir’s Anchor Point Drive residence, where Kaur lived for the last eight months. They were waiting for news. “We just hope she’s coming back. It’s the only hope we can have,” said Harry Thandi, a close family friend. “We’re hoping for the best.” full news @... http://sikhsangat.org/2009/10/16-year-old-sikh-girl-karamjit-kaur-missing-in-reno/

Khalsa School Teachers Speak out with other concerned Sikhs against Sohji developed by SIKHRI. The Sojhi syllabus has created two new controversies and raises several other issues that need to be addressed in order for the syllabus to be a reasonable syllabus to implement at Khalsa Schools across the country. These controversies are with respect to two unilateral changes, which were made without the Panth’s consultation. The Khalsa School Fremont teachers and other teachers have responded after seeing that the Sikh Research Institute hasn’t responded to the queries and neither wants to address them and also has failed to addess as to why they were put in. These issues are: Using ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ instead of ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ as Gurmantar of the Sikhs 1. It is important to remember that changing of “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ” to “ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ” is not just a spelling change; it is changing our “Gurmantar.” 2. In Gurbani the words “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ” and “ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ” both appear as nouns. Thus, the argument that “ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ” should be used due to viakran is inaccurate. 3. Furthermore, changing of “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ” to “ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ” before Ardaas is a changing of Gurbani. It changes the manglacharan recited before Chandi Di Vaar. This is disrespectful towards Gurbani, as no Sikh has authority to alter even one letter of Gurbani as Sikh history shows through Ram Rai. 4. The Panthic consensus is to use the word ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ and to say ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ not ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ. 5. -The Sikh Rehat Maryada and various other Rehatnamey consistently use the word “ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ.” Thus, in order to avoid unnecessary and unjustifiable dubidha (duality) in the Panth, Sojhi ought to be amended to use ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ as is the consensus in the Panth and as stated clearly by the ‘Sikh Rehat Maryada’. This a fundamental issue that changes the core values of Sikhism, changes Gurbani and is not in line with various historical sources. (Please see the attached file ‘Concerns with Sojhi’ PDF for details) The change of the dohra recited at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and other Gurdwaras - All historical Gurdwaras and other Gurdwaras in India , and abroad, consistently use the same prevalent dohra. Some Gurdwaras like Sees Ganj Sahib, Delhi add a few couplets after the prevalent dohra, but none change the first three couplets. Sojhi curriculum suggests that the following second couplet of the current dohra is equivalent to idol worship through the use of the word “dyh” to refer to Guru Granth Sahib Ji. ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਜੀ ਮਾਨਿਓ, ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਗੁਰਾਂ ਕੀ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੋ ਮਿਲਬੋ ਚਹੈ, ਖੋਜ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਮੈਂ ਲੇਹ॥ Rehatnamey and historical evidence shows that Sikhs respected Guru Granth Sahib Ji as ਸੱਚੀ ਦੇਹ. This proposed change can only create further dubidha, as the evidence for the change is tenuous as best – the historical evidence actually supports keeping the Dohra as it currently is. (Please see the attached file ‘Concerns with Sojhi’ PDF for details) We have several other concerns with the current Sojhi syllabus which include but are not limited to the following: 1. Sakhi of Mai Bhago in Virsa, Grade 1, pg. 61 – the text mentions “then at the battle of the Camkaur (ਚਮਕੌਰ), the Guru’s elder sons attained martyrdom, and the Guru was saved by five Sikhs and he evacuated Camkaur.”This view is inaccurate – Although Guru Sahib did agree to the request of the five Sikhs, Guru Sahib left Chamkaur Sahib on his own terms and challenged the opposing army to capture him. We find in Gurbani and Sikh History that the Guru is perfect and needs no help from anyone to be saved. In fact, the Guru is the savior in our lives. 2. Poem about Guru Granth Sahib, Virsa, Grade 2, Pg. 47 – the poem (’Poem about Guru Granth Sahib’ PDF) continually attacks Sikh traditions by referring to Guru Sahib as “a book.” The poem fails to recognize the fact that the Granth contains the Guru’s jot and thus becomes holy and instead dismisses respecting the physical embodiment of Guru Granth Sahib by not advocating seva like doing chaur. 3. ‘Rahit Mariada,’ Virsa, Grade 4, pg. 4 – Sojhi mentions that only three changes have been made to the Rehat Maryada since it was passed in 1936 while ignoring other changes. On April 28th, 1985 a hukamnama (‘Hukamnama about Nitnem Banis’ PDF) issued by Akal Takhat Sahib (Signed by: Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib, Jathedar Sri Damdama Sahib, Jathedar Sri Anandpur Sahib, Head Granthi Sri Darbar Sahib, Head Granthi Sri Akal Takhat Sahib) amended the Rehat Maryada on pages 9 and 26 to have morning Nitnem banis include, Jap, Jaap, 10 Svaiye (Sravag Sudh), Benti Chaupai, and Anand.Sojhi as a curriculum should strive to connect the Sikh Youth to Sikhism and the Guru. A curriculum shouldn’t advocate personal views on issues that the Panth doesn’t have a clear consensus on and should instead focus on bringing the community together. 4. There are countless spelling mistakes in the Boli part of Sojhi – Use of ‘ ੱ ,’ and ‘ ਿ’ is very inconsistent. It is clear that we already have lot of controversies in our religion. We don’t need more controversies on Gurmantar, Ardaas and Dohra. As such we have attached our research to this news article (‘Concerns with Sojhi’ PDF) that outlines our research and viewpoint. In its current state, Sojhi has and can only create further controversies, confusion and dubidha. These are the few issues that have been brought to our attention, as a result we ask that Sojhi be available in its entirety to the Sangat, so it can be properly reviewed and overhauled to ensure that all other rehat and maryada inconsistencies in the syllabus can be addressed by the entire Sangat. http://www.esnips.com/web/Harinder-SikhRISyllabusSojhi News: http://sikhsangat.org/1469/2009/04/anti-pa...y-sikhri-fateh/

Kharar, Punjab: Senior Punjab Cabinet Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh was killed in a car accident on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana National Highway-95 in Kharar on Sunday evening. The four-time MLA’s driver Parminder Singh and Personal Security Officer (PSO) Rattan Singh sustained injuries in the mishap. The demise of Capt. Kanwaljit Singh sent wave shocks in Punjab. Capt Kanwaljit Singh was elected MLA for the third term from Banur assembly constituency. He has served as home minister and Finance Minister in previous two SAD governments. Born on September 1, 1942 Capt Kanwaljit Singh took active part in Dharam Yudh Morcha during emergency declared by late PM Indira Gandhi. He went to jail several times during agitation on Punjab’s demands. The accident took place around 5 pm when the Hyundai Elantra car in which the Minister for Cooperation, Defence Services Welfare, Removal of Grievances, Pensions and Welfare of Pensioners was returning from Ludhiana, collided head-on with a ten-tyred truck, coming from the opposite direction, stated by Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Dalbeer Singh. Incidentally, the minister was not travelling in a official car, the use of which is prohibited under the model code. The Elantra car involved in the accident belonged to his aide Prem Singh, sarpanch of Dhakoli village in Dera Bassi. Constable Ravinder Singh, an eyewitness, said the minister’s car, which was moving at a high speed, was hit by the ten-tyred truck before it collided head-on with another truck coming from the same direction. The truck drivers, both of who fled the spot, applied the brakes but could not avoid the collision. The impact of the accident was so strong that both the front airbags of the car burst. The 66-year-old Akali leader and his 25-year-old driver were trapped on the front seats of the badly crushed car, while the PSO, who escaped with minor injuries, pulled them out before their escort police party rushed them to the nearby Kharar civil hospital. Dr Sumeet who attended to the said an unconscious Capt Kanwaljit was gasping for life when he was brought in. “He was bleeding profusely from the head with his face and both arms badly crushed,” she said. Capt Kanwaljit was given life-saving first-aid before being referred to the PGIMER in Chandigarh. According to PGIMER officials, he reached PGIMER at 5:50 PM and was critically injured. A team of doctors in PGIMER made all possible efforts to save Captain kanwaljit Singh who along with two others sustained injuries. “Captain Singh, 65 years of age was in Polytrauma condition and he died at around 8:30,” said a doctor. Other two persons travelling in the car were Parminder, 33 and Ratan Singh, 45. They sustained serious injuries during the accident. Doctors inmformed that both are in polytrauma condition and we are trying to revive them. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, formwer Chief Minsiter Capt Amarinder Singh and several ministers expressed shock over demise of Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Capt Kanwaljit Singh and his son Jasjit Singh Bunny share some information at their house in Chandigarh. Capt Kanwaljit Singh and his son Jasjit Singh Bunny share some information at their house in Chandigarh. Captain Kanwaljit Singh was considered a man of principles and an upright politician. He was respected as visionary leader who was guide for the present Akali leadership. He was general secretary in SAD (Longowal) and SAD (Badal). He has widely travelled abroad and changed the face of cooperative movement in Punjab. He is survived by his wife Sarabjit Kaur and son Jasjit Singh Bunny who is Chairman of Punjab cooperative Bank. Bir Devinder Singh former deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha also expressed grief over the demise of capt Kanwaljit Singh. He described him a a gentleman politician. The Punjab Governor, General (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues has expressed deep shock over the sad demise of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister Punjab. Describing Capt. Kanwaljit Singh as a seasoned politician and an able administrator, General Rodrigues said that his contribution in different facets of national life will be ever remembered. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of bereaved family. Punjab government on Sunday declared holiday on Monday, March 30 and seven days mourning as a tribute to departed Akali leader and cooperation minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh. He died Sunday in a road accident. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has called meeting of his cabinet on Monday to pay tributes to Capt Kanwaljit Singh. He has expressed deep shock over the demise of senior party functionary and a visionary leader. Punjab Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry by Patiala Divisional Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir. The Kharar police have registered a case against the truck drivers.

Punjab Police disrupt Sikh Nagar kirtan in Mukatsar Mukatsar: The situation went out of control in the Maghi Nagar keertan organized by the SGPC here today when the DSP Mukatsar Baljit Singh Sandhu along with his police party pounced upon the float by the Bhujhang Khalsa International. Bhujhang Khalsa International float was decorated with the pictures and huge hoardings of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. The police searched the float thoroughly. When they could not find anything during the search, they took away two kirpans belonging to singhs in the float. The police seperated the float from the nagar keertan and took it to the police station Mukatsar and arrested Maninder Singh, the president of Bhujhang khalsa international who was present on the float. A large number of youth lead by Ranjeet Singh Jeeta, spokesperson of Bhujhang Khalsa International assembled in front of the police station in protest against this police action. In view of the protest, the police released Maninder Singh after a while.

NBC Portrays Sikhs in Negative Light: A Protest from the Sikh Nation NBC Press Advisories: We are writing this letter on behalf of the the Sikh Community in USA regarding the documentary Forbidden Love , due to be telecast on Jan 17, 2008. On Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 while watching the election coverage for the Michigan Primaries many Sikhs watched the advertisement for your report " Forbidden Love" which was flashed repeatedly. In this AD you show a picture of Jassi and Mithu, a sword and then the picture of a Sikh gentleman with flowing beard. This is a very provocative AD and portrays the Sikh community in a negative light. I, as community leader and activist request you to reconsider your decision to air this documentary. The incidence on which this documentary is based, happened 5-6 years ago. The facts in the matter have not been established, hence it is irresponsible for Bob McKeown to assert that Jassi's uncle has killed Jassi. The Sikh nation after experiencing and being the victim of constant barrage of negative propaganda by the Indian Government and intelligence through western media, stand resolute to fight such negative portrayals of Sikhs through legal and righteous channels. Though we hold NBC in high esteem of giving the fair coverage to the Sikh community after Sept 11, 2001 attacks, where many Sikhs were assaulted and murdered, we do not want the public primed negatively against the Sikhs one more time. It happened in 1983 where the western media start showing Sikhs as villians and terrorists like shown in the movie OCTOPUSSY in 1983 and others and the list goes on. The purpose was to prime the world against the Sikhs before the bigger title of being terrorists can be forced on them. ABC news, Peter Jenings innocently or maliciously labeled Sikhs as the killers of Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister who indeed was killed by a suicide bomber, a Hindu Tamil. In 1985 Indian Intelligence blew it own Air India's plane and blamed it on the Sikhs. Only two years ago two Canadian Sikhs were exonerated by the canadian courts who were falsely accused of blowing Air India's plane in 1985 over the international skies. Please read the book SOFT TARGET by two canadian journalists Brian McAndrew and Zuhair Kashmeri which points the finger at indian Intelligence. It all happened because of the lobby by Indian Government and indian Intelligence. Unfortunately the exoneration of those two innocent Sikhs have not exonerated the entire Sikh Nation whose name has been stained forever. Sikhs are an ecumenical people who saved the religion of Hindus from extinction, they liberated Jews, the victims of Nazi Germany and brought an end to slavery in Africa in 1893 by giving their own lives. They recognized Israel as a nation with its full right to exist as a nation in 1949, where as India did not recognize Israel until 1992 and that too under pressure. Sikhs as a nation fight to reclaim its lost sovereignty through peaceful, democratic and political means. Freedom is our birthright and no propaganda or defamation by any media can stifle the voice of freedom. We appeal to you as law abiding citizens not to portray our community in negative light and not air this documentary as we consider you fair and righteous. We look forward to meeting your chief executive in person and sort out any questions you may have. Sincerely, Dr. Paramjit Singh Ajrawat Antidefamation Sikh Council for Freedom of Khalistan

Darbar Sahib may go Solar Amritsar: Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is introducing hi-tech technology, in almost in every sphere, to streamline its functioning. Apart from computerization of its departments, the committee has already launched its website. The technology has entered the kitchen too. With the chapatti-making machines already in place, the committee is now planning to cook the langar with the help of solar energy. For centuries, womenfolk have taken time out of their household chores to converge around a huge iron tava in the Golden Temple to make fresh parshada for the sangat as part of the community kitchen or langar. And for anyone to actually get a chance to do the seva was considered a privilege. But now the community activity, which traces its origin to the times of Guru Nanak Dev, has been modernized with the introduction of a parshada-making machine. Earlier, the SGPC had installed the water -filtration plant for Sarover of Golden Temple, despite objections raised by the then Head Granthi , Giani Puran Singh. The Rs five-crore plant was the result of efforts of US-based Tut brothers. However, no brows were raised when imported, battery-operated scrubbing machines were donated by Surinder Singh Kandhari, an affluent Sikh from Dubai. These machines cover a phenomenal area of 4,500 sq /m per hour and clean and dry simultaneously, leaving the Parikarma floors sparkling clean. The US-based Sikh scholar and noted columnist, Harjap Singh Aujla, told The Tribune that during his conversation with SGPC chief Avtar Singh, the latter had in principle agreed to introduce solar power system in the complex. Aujla told SGPC chief that power scarcity, especially during the summer months, was a common feature as the overburdened PSEB was in no position to supply the required quantity of power. The scholar suggested that since SGPC has ample, it should about generating power to relieve pressure on PSEB. Aujla suggested that SGPC should give a call to Sikh Diaspora to install solar power generating plant. The latter would be more than happy to respond, he said, adding that the former could come forward to donate the equipment and the land can be provided by SGPC. He also offered services of Sikh diaspora to install astroturf and a synthetic track at Gurdwara Khadoor Sahib. Aujla said he was glad to receive positive response from SGPC chief who promised that all the proposals were under his active consideration.

More than one hundred Sikh demonstrators protested against France's ban on religious insignias in public schools on thursday morning outside the Consulate General of France. Sangat came from as far as Central valley to protest against French ban on head covering in public schools. After two hours of protesting against French consulate, the group of sikh activists went to Stanford University, where Ambassador Jean-David Levitte was invited to speak on the subject of international studies program. Approximately 15 visible sikhs listened to his speech. Representatives of Voices for Freedom, UNITED SIKHS and Fremont Gurdwara committee were there to raise their voice. After the event, the group of Sikhs approached the ambassador to discuss the turban issue. Bay Area Sikhs said on Thursday, there is no evidence to suggest that French core values are threatened by anyone expressing their religious faith. Sukhdev Singh Bainiwal, a supreme council member of the Gurdwara Sahib, said it is important to note that thousands of Sikh soldiers gave their lives in World War I and World War II. "Sikhs fought for the freedom of France," Bainiwal said. "We did not wear helmets. We wore turbans. They did not have a problem then." Enacted in March 2004, the ban sparked outrage among Muslims and Sikhs and prompted lawsuits on behalf of three Sikh students. Taran Jit Singh, project coordinator for the New York chapter of the United Sikhs, said the organization is appealing a lower French court ruling upholding the ban. French proponents of the ban say the law protects the French traditional value of secularism, the belief that religion and ecclesiastical affairs should not enter into the functions of the state, especially public education. Others say it is attempt to quell the growing wave of Islamic fundamentalism in France. Sikhism originated in Punjab and is not connected to Islam. Union City resident Sarabjit Cheema saidshe took the day off from her job at the California Department of Transportation, and brought her two youngest sons from Csar Chvez Middle School to join the protest. If American schools were to adopt similar laws, Cheema said, she'd pull her children out of school permanently and home-school them. "I took the day off work to support a cause that is very dear to me," Cheema said. "All kids should enjoy the freedoms that my sons have." Gurmeet Singh, a 47-year-old businessman, said a ban on wearing turbans is the equivalent of a law forcing everyone to wear a turban. "Let me put it this way: How would people feel if they turned the law around and forced everyone to wear ... headgear?" Gurmeet Singh said. "How would you feel? For us, (wearing a turban) is not a choice, it's a must."