Nirvair S Khalsa

http://www.sikhsangat.org/news/publish/eur...In_Action.shtml Sikh Lobby in UK Parliament Results in Action Posted in: Europe Jul 6, 2008 - 11:38:20 AM On 1 July Sikhs organised a successful lobby in the UK Parliament titled: Proud to be Sikh – Make the Sikh voice heard. The three issues covered on the lobby were: 1. Need for a nationwide Government code of practice regarding Sikh articles of faith to ensure wider understanding and awareness to prevent any unnecessary restrictions and discrimination in the post 9/11 era 2. Recognition and monitoring of Sikhs as a distinct category by all public bodies to ensure Sikhs are equally treated as regards employment, appropriate representation and are provided a fair share of public services 3. The recent indiscriminate attacks on innocent Sikhs in India by police and armed forces It was most refreshing to see a cross section of the Sikh community with not just some of the old familiar faces and activists, but more youngsters and a sizeable turnout of women. Politicians also picked up on this and welcomed the broader representation of British Sikhs. The meeting chaired by Rob Marris MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs was switched to Committee Room 14, the largest in the Houses of Parliament, to accommodate a large number of Sikhs that totalled around 120. Many would have been left standing if the meeting had remained in the smaller Committee Room 9. The first speaker was Anna Fairclough, the lawyer working for Liberty who explained the background to the Kara case in Aberdare Girl's School in South Wales and some of the arguments presented in the legal challenge in the High Court in London between 17-19 June. Protection of Sikhs from discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976 and the 1983 House of Lords Mandla v Lee case were the basis for the arguments in court. Despite some complications in this specific case given Sarika Singh's background and biological parents those present in the High Court believe the judgement expected later this month will be favourable. The next main speaker was Paramjit Singh Dhanda a Minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government. Paramjit has become a relatively smooth talker and being from the Sikh community is aware of some of the things members of the community would like to hear. In between his smooth talking he touched upon the 'difficulties' of producing a Code of Practice. He was also cautious in talking about guidance covering only the Kirpan in Government buildings. Sikh activists and the APPG for UK Sikhs took serious note of what was said and the limited scope and constant delays in introducing a wider code of practice covering all Sikh articles of faith. A proposal was put forward whereby the APPG for UK Sikhs working with grassroots Sikh organisations will re-take the initiative on behalf of the community for agreeing and introducing a wider code of practice with the UK Government at the earliest opportunity. The proposal is expected to be endorsed at the AGM of the APPG for UK Sikhs on Wednesday 9 July. On the need for monitoring of Sikhs as a distinct category in the Census 2011 so all public bodies need to ensure Sikhs are equally treated as regards provision of public services Paramjit Singh Dhanda suggested there were some within the Sikh community that did not agree with this approach. This along with the demands of several other groups appears to be part of the 'official' reason why the ONS are reluctant to have a distinct category for Sikhs in the Census 2011.. Several of the politicians present were made aware that specific written consultation carried out by ONS in this area did not support this view as there was unanimous support in the Sikh community for monitoring of Sikhs as a distinct category. The politicians present were left in no doubt about the strength of feeling in the Sikh community that the Sikh case was entirely different to other groups given the legal precedence, results of the consultation exercise by ONS and cross party political support. It was proposed ONS should be invited to meet with the APPG for UK Sikhs to explain its position to elected representatives. Parliamentary questions are also to be tabled to establish the facts regarding those for and against monitoring of Sikhs as a distinct category in the Census 2011. Another idea being considered is a Judicial Review challenge against the ONS if it ignores the Mandla v Lee case and the results of its own consultation and fails to allow monitoring of Sikhs as a distinct category in the Census 2011 so all public bodies ensure Sikhs are equally treated as regards provision of public services. The third issue raised in the lobby was the recent indiscriminate attacks on innocent Sikhs in India by police and armed forces following the killing of Bhai Balkar Singh who was shot dead in Mumbia on 20 June 2008. Images of the attacks on Sikhs were circulated to politicians who agreed to raise an Early Day Motion expressing their concern on the treatment of Sikhs and calling on the UK Government to raise the matter with the Indian authorities. Simon Hughes MP, the President of the Liberal Democrats and Vice-Chair APPG for UK Sikhs who also spoke said he would publicly raise the matter with the Foreign Secretary in either Parliamentary Questions or during debate. Labour MPs also agreed to take up the matter at a personal level with Foreign Office Ministers. Virendra Sharma the MP for Ealing Southall also attended the Sikh Lobby for the first time and expressed his full support on all the issues raised. Responding to a question from Sikhs Simon Hughes also said he would keep up pressure on Paramjit Singh Dhaddi's continued detention. Politicians that took part in the lobby included: Rob Marris, Simon Hughes, Paramjit Dhanda, Mark Todd, Mike Gapes, David Kidney, Alan Keen, Fiona Mactaggart, John Hemmings, Ken Purchase, Virendra Sharma, Adam Holloway and Doug Naysmith. Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London, Dominic Grieve, the new Shadow Home Secretary and several Labour Ministers sent their apologies. Some of the Sikhs that spoke during the lobby were: Balvinder Kaur, Chair of the Sikh Women's Alliance; Dabinderjit Singh, National Co-ordinator for the Sikh Secretariat; Gurmukh Singh, Administrative Secretary for the British Sikh Consultative Forum; Harbhajan Singh, Sikh Federation, Leicester; Harjinder Singh, Sikh Care Society Heathrow; Councillor Jagir Kaur Sekhon OBE; Kashmir Singh, General Secretary of the British Sikh Federation; Mejinderpal Kaur, Director of United Sikhs; Det Chief Inspector Pal Binder, Secretary of the Metropolitan Police Sikh Association; Ranjit Singh, General Secretary Council of Khalistan; Sukhvinder Singh, Adviser to the Sikh Federation (UK) and Councillor Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. Around half a dozen youngsters also spoke at various times during the lobby. Amritpal Singh National Sikh Resource Centre

:HP:

Fully agree.

Sikh Panths Mahaan Parchaarak Sant Baba Ranjit Singh Jee Khalsa Dhadrianwale tell Sangat in a gathering of hundreds of thousands of Sikhs to stay away from Pakhandhee and Dehdharee Babe. Three day Guru Maneo Granth Chetna Samagam held at Chola Saahib where thousands recieved Amrit. See attached one such news cutting appearing in various Panthic media sources around the globe:

Sticky please Admin?

It is the opposite of Panthic, not even faintly close to the idea!

Shouldnt there be more options, like who deserves more Juthiya :6 , neither are fit to lead a gadha forget anything else! Agree! ...funny, but definitely true!

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080616/punjab1.htm#16Former Takht chief defies directive of Sikh clergy? Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 15 Former Akal Takht Jathedar seems to have violated the directive of Akal Takht by publishing and distributing a booklet on Dasam Granth. Akal Takht had directed the Sikh sangat not to whip up any controversy about Dasam Granth. The meeting of the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht here on June 6 had also directed Prof Darshan Singh to desist from speaking against Dasam Granth. G.S. Lamba, an office-bearer of the International Human Rights Organisation, has alleged that it was unfortunate that former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, has written foreword of the controversial book on Dasam Granth. The former Jathedar has also used derogatory language against Dasam Granth . The hymns from Dasam Granth are recited at Takht Hazoor Sahib and Patna Sahib and by a number of Sikh organisations. Certain Dasam Granth hymns are recited at the time of Amrit Sanchar. However, the former Jathedar claimed that Dasam Granth was not authored by the 10th Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. In the booklet, Prof Darshan Singh alleged Dasam Granth was being equated with Guru Granth Sahib under a "deep-rooted" conspiracy. Earlier, Prof Darshan Singh was declared permanent "tankhaiyya" (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib. However, the meeting of Akal Takht had adopted a middle path and reversed the decision of Takht Patna Sahib. The Akal Takht meeting had imposed an undeclared ban on Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib, debarring him from attending meeting of the Sikh clergy here.

You're correct that Badal does do wrong things. However, that in no way lets DSGMC off the hook for its disrespect of Guru Granth Sahib ji's angs, nor does it let prof. Darshan Singh off the hook for his misleading prachaar. Ragi Darshan will not stop now. It seems he has truly been bought out by the anti-Panthic groups...

New Official (English/Panjabi) Main Posters from www.Prakash300.com: 'Azaad' Jee, please update your first post with these posters, thanks in advance!

Prakash300 - huge Samagam. Please see the following topic:http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=36454

The anti-Panthic terrorist “Rastriya/Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh” is the parent organisation of the “Rashtryia ‘Sikh’ Sangat”. They are both the same thing; there is no difference when it comes to their abnormal beliefs to annihilate and merge Sikhism into Hinduism.

DHAN DHAN BREHAMGYANEE SANT BABA GURBACHAN SINGH JEE KHALSA BHINDRANWALE (12th Jathedhaar of Sree Guroo Gobind Singh Saahib Maharaaj Jee's Damdami Taksaal) 10 days remaining until the 47th Barsi of Brehamgyanee Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Jee Khalsa Bhindranwale. Perhaps a STICKY please Admin?

...Not sure 100%, but they were supposed to be in the UK this week...Due to something they had to attend to in India, Bhai Pinderpal Singh has delayed his visit to the UK for a while (perhaps just a couple/few weeks). They were scheduled to be at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton this evening for the Bhog of the Akhand Paath in commemoration of Guroo Arjan Dev Saahib Maharaaj Jee's Shaheedi Anniversary...

Kara row: Brown asked to intervene Th Asian Age BY OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT London June 13: A Sikh teenager in Wales, who was excluded from her school in south-east Wales for refusing to take off her kara, a religious bangle, has asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene n the case. She, along with her family, is due to hand over a petition over the issue addressed to the Prime Minister at Downing Street on Friday. Fourteen-year-old Sarika Watkins-Singh, of Cwmbach, near Aberdare, in south-east Wales, was excluded by Aberdare Girls’ School in November 2007 over the issue as the school has a strict uniform policy and does not allow students to wear any kind of religious symbols. The 14-year-old girl has been attending Mountain Ash Comprehensive School on a temporary basis after being excluded by her school. The petition, organised by the Sikh Federation UK and National Sikh Resource Centre, has support of over 250 organisations, like civil liberty, anti-racist groups and trade unions, and 150 gurdwaras too. Sikh Federation UK secretary told BBC that the kara was an "article of faith" and Sikhs had no choice but to wear it. http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftn...intervene-.aspx

14-year-old goes to High Court after being excluded from school for wearing religious bracelet By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 2:55 PM on 13th June 2008 The mother of a teenage girl excluded from school for wearing a religious symbol said her education had suffered immensely as a result. Sinita Singh's 14-year-old daughter, Sarika, has not attended Aberdare Girls' School in south Wales since being told last year she could not wear a bracelet known as a Kara. Her case will be heard at the High Court in London next week and is due to last three days. Sarika enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School earlier this year, which is allowing her to wear the bracelet, and will stay there until the legal process is complete. Enlarge Sarika Singh Sarika Singh wearing a kara, religious bangle, on her right wrist, leaving Aberdare Girls' School, in south Wales, with her mother Sanita Singh The family travelled to 10 Downing Street today to hand in a petition which calls upon Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene in the matter "to show discrimination is totally unacceptable". The petition has gained the backing of 150 Gurdwaras - the main Sikh religious institutions - and over 200 Sikh organisations and 70 non-Sikh organisations. Speaking from London, Mrs Singh said: "It (exclusion) has affected her in some good ways but also in a hell of a lot of bad ways. "She has lost a lot of education and if she had been in Aberdare Girls' School she wouldn't have gone downhill and she would have kept her grades. "She has gone to a new school and although it is a good school she has gone two years behind. There is a lot of stress, worry and panic attacks. It is the build-up of everything." She added: "We hope the outcome next week will be in our favour so we can just get back to normal. "She had top grades and was doing really well (before exclusion). This is one of the most important years of her school life with her GCSEs approaching. "Let's hope we've raised awareness and let's hope it never, ever happens again." Human rights group Liberty, which is supporting Sarika's High Court battle, claims the school has breached race relations and human rights laws by not allowing Sarika to wear the Kara. Sarika, the only Sikh at her school, was excluded from Aberdare Girls' School in November, after being taught in isolation for two months. The school bans girls from wearing jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs. Amritpal Singh of the Sikh Federation said: "We have very strong backing for this petition. "We are showing that the Sikh community are looking at this and that nobody should have to suffer discrimination that Sarika has suffered. "The Sikh community are together on this issue." Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1026239/14-year-old-goes-High-Court-excluded-school-wearing-religious-bracelet.html

http://www.daily.pk/world/europe/81-europe...s-bracelet.html

Also see: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=37152&st=0

http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=37558&st=0&gopid=351116entry351116 'Bangle' supporters petition PM The family of a Sikh girl excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle will hand in a petition to Downing Street. Sarika Singh, 14, and her family are calling on the Prime Minister to intervene over the row. The teenager has been excluded from Aberdare Girls' School since November 2007 for wearing a Kara bangle. Supporters of the family will also go to the High Court in London on Tuesday to argue against the school's decision. The petition is to highlight the strength of feeling in the Sikh community who are fully behind the family Jagtar Singh, Sikh Federation (UK) The petition has been organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) and National Sikh Resource Centre. The petition has the support of 150 Gurdwaras – the main Sikh institutions - and over 250 Sikh organisations throughout the UK. The campaigners also say the petition is being supported by around 70 non-Sikh organisations, including civil liberty and anti-racist groups, as well as trade unions. The petition, addressed to Gordon Brown, lists a number of organisations and then states that the following "call upon you to intervene in the case of Sarika Singh to show discrimination is totally unacceptable." Jagtar Singh, spokesman for the Sikh Federation (UK), said: "The primary purpose of the petition with the High Court case next week is to bring it to the attention of the general public. "...this is to highlight the strength of feeling in the Sikh community who are fully behind the family. It has much wider implications for Sikhs in other parts of the UK. "It's about discrimination and Sikhs are protected under law. The school has made it into an issue about the Kara." They also draw attention to the High Court hearing, where they say, Aberdare Girls School has "breached race relations and human rights laws and is ignoring the 1983 Mandla v Lee case from the House of Lords that forms the basis on which Sikhs are protected against discrimination." In January, Rhondda Cynon Taf council told the school's governors it would no longer give them any more support or financial assistance and confirmed this was continuing for the court case. A spokesman for the council said at the time: "The current court case essentially involves the school and the family. "The council is not providing any support or financial assistance with regard to this matter for as long as the current situation prevails. "Matters of funding are therefore the responsibility of those involved in the legal proceedings and any queries should therefore be directly addressed to them." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7451534.stm

Also see: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=37152&st=0

Also see: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=37152&st=0

http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=37559 'Bangle' campaign goes to No 10 The family of a Sikh girl excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle have asked the prime minister to intervene in the matter. Sarika Singh, 14, and her family delivered a petition to No 10 Downing Street signed by Sikh organisations. The teenager has been excluded from Aberdare Girls' School since November 2007 for wearing a Kara bangle. A High Court case in London next week, challenging the school's decision, is expected to take three days. The petition was signed by 150 Gurdwaras, Sikh meeting places, and other Sikh organisations as well as more than 70 non-Sikh bodies, including civil liberty and anti-racist groups and trade unions. Speaking in London, Sarika's mother, Sinita Singh, said her daughter's education had been badly affected by the exclusion. She said: "She had top grades and was doing really well. It has affected her in some good ways but also in a hell of a lot of bad ways. Let's hope we've raised a lot of awareness and let's hope it never, ever happens again Sarika's mother, Sinita Singh "She has lost a lot of education and if she had been in Aberdare Girls' School she wouldn't have gone downhill and she would have kept her grades." Sarika enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School in the Cynon Valley earlier this year, which is allowing her to wear the bracelet, and she will stay there until the legal process is complete. Her mother added: "She has gone to a new school and although it is a good school she has gone two years behind. "There is a lot of stress, worry and panic attacks. It is the build-up of everything. "This is one of the most important years of her school life with her GCSEs approaching. Let's hope we've raised a lot of awareness and let's hope it never, ever happens again." Sarika, the only Sikh pupil at Aberdare Girls' School, was excluded in November, after being taught in isolation for two months. The school bans girls from wearing jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs. The governors rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail. Human rights group Liberty claims the school is violating the Race Relations Act 1976, the Equality Act 2006 and the Human Rights Act 1998. In January, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council told the school's governors it would no longer give them any more support or financial assistance and confirmed this was continuing for the court case. Guidelines In the same month, the Welsh Assembly Government published new guidelines for school governors, saying they should take account of religious views and consider whether uniform policy interfered with the right to manifest a religion or belief. Amritpal Singh of the Sikh Federation said: "The Sikh community are together on this issue." "We are showing that the Sikh community are looking at this and that nobody should have to suffer discrimination that Sarika has suffered." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7451534.stm

Even a "beating" is not enough for these fools. If they do not get what they deserve in this life, Dharam Raaj will see to them later. Dhaas is sure Veer "Khalistan_Zindabad" will agree. Someone may want to get this false video removed from the link above and ban 'Singh Sabha International' account on You Tube/Google Video. maybe it's better to spread it around. and teach people what bani says about sants (as listed in that long post on role of sants). this way people will know just how much they are distorting gurbani. Agree with you. Their twisted views and false propaganda need to be exposed on a more larger scale to the wider community.

"Canadian 'Singh' Sabha International" BEWARE OF THIS ANTI-PANTHIC DISEASE The so-called "Canadian 'Singh' Sabha International" (although small in size) is worse than even the "typical" anti-Panthic missionary organisation. The extremely large bulk of their baseless literature (and videos) speaks for itself in regards to their twisted ideology. They are a small narrow-minded cult, there with the sole reason to twist Sikhi and cause internal Panth conflict. Excommunicated former-Sikhs and anti-Panthic organisations are supported by the "Canadian 'Singh' Sabha International", or even a part of the cult organisation. Kala Afghana, Inder Ghagga, ("Professor") Darshan Ragi, Rozana Spokesman,...etc are all supported (and vice-versa) by this warped anti-Panthic cult. The anti-Panthic cults website shows external links to the official websites such as that of Kala Afghana, Fateh Publications, Sikh Marg, Rozana Spokesman and UK-based Panjab Radio...etc. Sikhs should have nothing to do with the self-styled "Canadian 'Singh' Sabha International" disease.

:BOW: