balraj singh khalsa
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Posts posted by balraj singh khalsa
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The following was posted on another forum by Harmander Singh (Sikhs In England)
The silence is not surprising, BOSS used to be the British Organisation of Sikh
Students, given their reluctance to answer any emails or any other form of
communication I have often thought it must now stand for British Organisation of
Silent Sikhs (given some have not been students for over a decade).
I have always admired the SHRG for their involvement in diverse fields in the
past and still have an expectation of a comprehensive public report on their
activities for they have been in receipt of public funds - The Freedom of
Information Act should not have to be used to ascertain the aims and proposed
outcomes of their bid for funds but is always there if need be.
Harmander Singh
UK
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Have heard a rumour that one or two or is that three (one-man band) Khalistanis who are extremely unhappy that Young Sikhs will take a more central role in the rally and march for remembrance, justice and freedom are trying to cause difficulties.
They appear not to like the fact that the event will be run more professionally and are trying to get the support of non-other than Piara Khabra (yes that fairly useless MP for Southall who is pro-Indian) to try and lobby the Royal Parks, the GLA and others to try and disrupt the rally and march planned for 4 June.
These one-man band Khalistanis are showing their true colours. They either fear that they will lose the one stage they somehow manage to hijack and try and ruin each year or their paymasters are increasingly becoming worried be the activism of Young Sikhs at events like 'Sikhs in the Square' or the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils some 21/22 years after 1984. These events are showing how to make a positive impact to highlight the plight of the Sikhs.
Young Sikhs supported by the larger more responsible organisations/elders - Sikh Federation (UK), Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Shromoni Akali Dal (Amritsar) etc. need to be alert to the tactics of these one-man band Khalistanis and turn up in larger numbers than ever before.
One-man band Khalistanis appear to have failed in disrupting the preparations for Sunday 4 June in central London. Desperate accusations against the Royal Parks Agency and Metropolitan Police of 'collusion' and 'bias' appear to have back-fired. There is no substitute for ones own incompetency.
Young Sikhs, Sikh Federation (UK), Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Shromoni Akali Dal (Amritsar) etc. should now push ahead with preparations and Sikhs in other countries should also begin planning.
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Have heard a rumour that one or two or is that three (one-man band) Khalistanis who are extremely unhappy that Young Sikhs will take a more central role in the rally and march for remembrance, justice and freedom are trying to cause difficulties.
They appear not to like the fact that the event will be run more professionally and are trying to get the support of non-other than Piara Khabra (yes that fairly useless MP for Southall who is pro-Indian) to try and lobby the Royal Parks, the GLA and others to try and disrupt the rally and march planned for 4 June.
These one-man band Khalistanis are showing their true colours. They either fear that they will lose the one stage they somehow manage to hijack and try and ruin each year or their paymasters are increasingly becoming worried be the activism of Young Sikhs at events like 'Sikhs in the Square' or the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils some 21/22 years after 1984. These events are showing how to make a positive impact to highlight the plight of the Sikhs.
Young Sikhs supported by the larger more responsible organisations/elders - Sikh Federation (UK), Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Shromoni Akali Dal (Amritsar) etc. need to be alert to the tactics of these one-man band Khalistanis and turn up in larger numbers than ever before.
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Honoured Sikh calls for ethnic recognition
Feb 10 2006
THE youngest ever civilian to receive an OBE has urged Town Hall chiefs to recognise the borough's Sikh population as a distinct ethnic minority.
Dabinderjit Singh, 40, of Kendal Drive, Slough, said the community needs to be monitored as a separate group to ensure it receives its fair share of services.
Mr Singh, pictured, a leading member of the Sikh Federation UK, said: "I am not saying that Sikhs in Slough do not receive a fair share of services.
"But what I am saying is that it is impossible to tell because that information is simply not available because it's not recorded.
"For example, the information that supported the Sikh school bid had to be created from scratch because the local authority did not have it."
Mr Singh, who received his OBE for his work as director of the National Audit Office, made his plea following a major conference organised by the federation last week.
A delegation from the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Slough joined hundreds of groups at City Hall in London for the event - 'Making Sikhs Visible to Decision Makers'.
The conference was hosted by London Mayor Ken Livingstone and called on public bodies to address key issues facing the community. Mr Livingstone promised last year that public bodies in the capital would monitor Sikhs separately.
Sikhs were recognised as a distinct ethnic group by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act in 2001. Slough council and Thames Valley Police will be sent a conference report, but Mr Singh said it was 'disappointing' that neither attended despite invitations.
A spokesman for Slough council said it valued the Sikh community's contribution to the town, which was why it had begun monitoring Sikhs as a distinct ethnic category 18 months ago.
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100new...-name_page.html
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Posted by Jasvir Kaur on Learning Zone:
What is the Sikh Human Rights Group (SHRG) up to these days -
anything on the Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar case, Kulvir
Singh case, Swiss hijackers case, release of Sikh political prisoners
in Indian jails, justice for the victims of the November 1984 anti-
Sikh pogroms, exerting pressure on India to gain access to Punjab for
Amnesty International or the UN Rapporteur on Torture etc.
All we seem to hear about is SHRGs role in pushing the "secret"
British Sikh Consultative Forum, getting grants from the UK
Government for capactity building, helping advise the Jathedhar of
the Akaal Takht, attending some UN Conference (irrespective of the
subject) etc. - the real HEART of the SIKH HUMAN RIGHTS agenda!
Please tell me I'm wrong and you are doing all this fantastic work on
SIKH HUMAN RIGHTS that apprears to be never publicised. Silent
opposition to protect human rights - that's a new one!
Now the SHRG needs to be "sanctioned" by the Home Office to do a
project - what is the world coming to - at one time SHRG was always
talking about why it was important to be independent! Or
is "sanctioned" a word which means the SHRG has received another
grant from the Home Office and must be seen to be doing something for
the money. Also is this the same grant received by the "secret"
BSCF, which operates from the addrtess of the SHRG, that was
disclosed in a recent Parliamentary Question.
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Please Admin - A sticky would be really helpful
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Elsewhere I asked about the Home Office (UK Government) funding of £23,500 for the "secret" BSCF.
Those belonging to the "secret" BSCF according to their web site are:
Chairperson
Bhai Mohinder Singh: 0121 511 125
Vice chairpersons
Dr Sadhu Singh: 07958378776
Mr Avtar Singh Sanghera: 012476 684 802
General Secretary
Dr Jasdev Singh Rai: 07956 212 343
Liaison Secretary
Balwinder Singh: 0121 522 4828
Press Secretaries
Jaswinder Singh Nagra (English press): 07956 950 591
Having read the article from the Times of India below about the Sikh Federation (UK) the BIG question is:
Why is the Indian Government not worried about funds being provided by the UK Government to the "secret" BSCF?
Dr Jasdev Singh Rai - Ex-President of the ISYF
Dr Sadhu Singh - Ex-General Secretary of the ISYF
Jaswinder Singh Nagra - Ex-Press Secretary of the ISYF
Balwinder Singh - Ex-President of the ISYF (DT)
These were all around during the 1980s when the armed struggle was at its peak.
Also isn't Avtar Singh Sanghera regularly reported in the media as a leader of the banned Babbar Khalsa?
That leaves the controversial Chairperson, Bhai Mohinder Singh that many already know about.
India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)
UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India
RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL
[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.
Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."
Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.
Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.
India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".
It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).
The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."
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Only your local MP and also mention both EDMs.
Additionally, ask your MP to write to the UK Foreign Office on the basis of the two EDMs AND ask for copies of the letter from your MP and any response.
Please wait with the MEPs until the Written Declaration is tabled in the European Parliament. This is likely to happen in about 10 days time.
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Did you know?
Lynne Jones the Labour MP for Birmingham, Selly Oak recently asked a Parliamentary Question regarding grants to faith communities.
The response by the Home Office Minister on 9 January 2006 indicated in 2004-05 the former Faith Communities Unit awarded grants for a range of capacity building projects to the following two Sikh organisations:
British Sikh Consultative Forum
Network of Sikh Organisations
The amounts are £23,500 and £6,300 respectively. The response to the Parliamentary Question has indicated the grants were awarded by the Home Office conditional on the organisation completing the project within an agreed timescale.
Question 1 - The first question that arises is which British Sikh Consultative Forum has received the grant. Is it the breakaway 'secret' BSCF as referred to it by its General Secretary Dr Jasdev Singh Rai and whose committee members according to its web site are:
Chairperson
Bhai Mohinder Singh: 0121 511 125
Vice chairpersons
Dr Sadhu Singh: 07958378776
Mr Avtar Singh Sanghera: 012476 684 802
General Secretary
Dr Jasdev Singh Rai: 07956 212 343
Secretary
Apardeep Singh: 07771 834 934
Liaison Secretary
Balwinder Singh: 0121 522 4828
Press Secretaries
Jaswinder Singh Nagra (English press): 07956 950 591
Kulwant Singh Dhesi: 07916 126 589
or is it the 'open' BSCF that appointed Principal Gurmukh Singh as its Administrative Secretary and an Administrative Team (Kashmir Singh, Sukhvinder Singh, Balvinder Kaur, Ranjit Singh, Balwinder Kaur and Dabinderjit Singh) that can be replaced at any meeting of the 'open' BSCF based on the wishes of its participating members.
Gurmukh Singh has provided a list of participants (and will no doubt do again) and is empowered to share the minutes of any of its dozen or so meetings.
Question 2 - Are the member organisations (not yet disclosed) or the officers of the "secret" BSCF listed above or the Administrative Secretary and Administrative Team and participating organisations of the 'open' BSCF aware of the grant to the BSCF (to whichever BSCF it may apply)?
Question 3 - What did the "capacity building project" undertaken by the BSCF comprise and who was aware of it?
Question 4 - Has the "capacity building project" undertaken by the BSCF been completed within the agreed timescale (condition of the Home Office grant)?
Question 5 - Which Sikh organisations have applied for grants from the Home Office Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund? The assessment process is currently under way and the successful organisations will be awarded grants in February 2006.
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I've got a question for all sikhs
Do I have to tie my judda completly or leave a little bit open????? :kid:
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Standard letter/email to send your MP in the UK
Candle Light Vigil in XXXX (local details) and outside the Houses of Parliament - 17 January 2006 (5-7pm)
Home Address
Dear XX (MPs first name)
A series of Worldwide Candle Light Vigils have been organised for 17 January 2006 to show our opposition to the death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India.
Candles will be lit in prominent places in cities throughout the world, including in India itself. Sikhs in more than 100 cities are expected to take part in the vigils and will be joined by prominent non-Sikhs, such as politicians, human rights and trade union activists.
In the UK the candle light vigils will be taking place simultaneously in a number of towns and cities and are being organised by the Sikh Federation (UK), Khalsa Human Rights, Sikh Secretariat, Young Sikhs (UK), Sikh student groups, Gurdwaras and the Sadh Sangat. The vigils are being supported by Amnesty International and other members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
The vigil in London will be taking place on Tuesday 17 January outside the Houses of Parliament (opposite St. Stephen's entrance) in Westminster between 5-7pm. MPs, Lords and members of the public will join Sikhs to light candles celebrating life, freedom and opposition to the death penalty. We would be delighted if you could join us in this campaign by lighting a candle outside the Houses of Parliament. Alternatively, you may be in a position to attend the local vigil in XXX outside XXXX between X-Xpm.
The worldwide vigilss are taking place on 17 January to coincide with the 11th anniversary of one of the most controversial and highest profile death penalty cases in recent Indian history. 11 years earlier on 17 January 1995 Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, a Sikh political activist, was illegally deported from Germany. Davinderpal Singh was handed over to the Indian authorities on the basis that he had nothing to fear on his return to India.
For 11 years Davinderpal Singh has been forced to live with the mistake by the German authorities. He was arrested and put in prison as soon as he landed in Delhi, tortured to obtain a false confession, charged and sentenced to death by hanging for a crime he did not commit.
When Germany deported Davinderpal Singh to a death-penalty prone country it violated the European Convention on Human Rights. After his deportation, the court of appeal in Frankfurt allowed his appeal and said that he should not have been deported as he would face torture, harassment and death in India and were he to re-enter Germany he would be given asylum.
The verdict of the court of appeal in Germany came too late for Davinderpal Singh. However, it has left Germany and the EU with a moral obligation to ensure the threat of the death penalty by India is removed and Davinderpal Singh and other political prisoners that are unnecessarily being held, either without trial or under false charges and without evidence, are released immediately.
We look forward to seeing you on 17 January.
Yours sincerely,
XX [Your name]
Sikhs in other countries may wish to send similar emails/letters.
This is particularly important in Canada where elections are taking place on 23 January 2006.
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Standard letter/email to send your MP in the UK
Candle Light Vigil in XXXX (local details) and outside the Houses of Parliament - 17 January 2006 (5-7pm)
Home Address
Dear XX (MPs first name)
A series of Worldwide Candle Light Vigils have been organised for 17 January 2006 to show our opposition to the death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India.
Candles will be lit in prominent places in cities throughout the world, including in India itself. Sikhs in more than 100 cities are expected to take part in the vigils and will be joined by prominent non-Sikhs, such as politicians, human rights and trade union activists.
In the UK the candle light vigils will be taking place simultaneously in a number of towns and cities and are being organised by the Sikh Federation (UK), Khalsa Human Rights, Sikh Secretariat, Young Sikhs (UK), Sikh student groups, Gurdwaras and the Sadh Sangat. The vigils are being supported by Amnesty International and other members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
The vigil in London will be taking place on Tuesday 17 January outside the Houses of Parliament (opposite St. Stephen's entrance) in Westminster between 5-7pm. MPs, Lords and members of the public will join Sikhs to light candles celebrating life, freedom and opposition to the death penalty. We would be delighted if you could join us in this campaign by lighting a candle outside the Houses of Parliament. Alternatively, you may be in a position to attend the local vigil in XXX outside XXXX between X-Xpm.
The worldwide vigilss are taking place on 17 January to coincide with the 11th anniversary of one of the most controversial and highest profile death penalty cases in recent Indian history. 11 years earlier on 17 January 1995 Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, a Sikh political activist, was illegally deported from Germany. Davinderpal Singh was handed over to the Indian authorities on the basis that he had nothing to fear on his return to India.
For 11 years Davinderpal Singh has been forced to live with the mistake by the German authorities. He was arrested and put in prison as soon as he landed in Delhi, tortured to obtain a false confession, charged and sentenced to death by hanging for a crime he did not commit.
When Germany deported Davinderpal Singh to a death-penalty prone country it violated the European Convention on Human Rights. After his deportation, the court of appeal in Frankfurt allowed his appeal and said that he should not have been deported as he would face torture, harassment and death in India and were he to re-enter Germany he would be given asylum.
The verdict of the court of appeal in Germany came too late for Davinderpal Singh. However, it has left Germany and the EU with a moral obligation to ensure the threat of the death penalty by India is removed and Davinderpal Singh and other political prisoners that are unnecessarily being held, either without trial or under false charges and without evidence, are released immediately.
We look forward to seeing you on 17 January.
Yours sincerely,
XX [Your name]
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Understand that representaives from the United Sikh Federation are meeting next week on Saturday 7 January at Dixie Gurdwara in Toronto (5-8pm). Candle Light Vigils in different cities in Canada is likely to be on the agenda.
If you know the local/national leaders of the United Sikh Federation why not chase them up NOW!
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Canadian Elections & Worldwide Candle Light Vigils
Had an opportunity yesterday to speak on CJMR 1320 on the Ajj Di Awaaz radio show in the Toronto Area (6-7.30pm). Spoke at length about the Sikh Agenda for the UK Government the need for Sikhs in Canada to become more politically active with regards to Panthic issues with the miri/piri concept at the forefront. This was done in part with the national elections taking place on 23 January 2006 and the large number of Sikh candidates - Over 20 with 5 keshadharis. It was emphasised that all politicians (Sikhs and non-Sikhs) should be pressured to act on Sikh issues and assurances should be sought from them prior to the elections.
The Worldwide Candle Light Vigils taking place on 17 January 2006 were also highlighted. On the live news from Panjab it was reported that Candle Light Vigils had been announced as taking place in various cities in Panjab. This is a tribute to the Sikh activists in Panjab that are still prepared to challenge the Indian authorities despite the torture, intimidation and abuse of human rights. It is also a message to Sikhs worldwide that if Sikhs in Panjab are prepared to protest they are duty bound to respond with protests in as many cities as possible - especially as we have greater freedoms to express our views.
Also spoke to prominent Sikh actvists in the USA. Some questionned the protests on 17 January as the usual annual protests on 26 January on India's Republic Day are already planned and will follow soon after. It was explained this was considered by those co-ordinating the event internationally and the 17 January was chosen as it coincides with the 11th anniversary when Professor Davinderpal Bhuller was illegally returned to India from Germany. Also the Candle Light Vigils are 'local' vigils in each city and will atrract much wider support, whereas the 26 January protests tend to be national events usually attracting Sikh activists.
Please consider organising a Candle Light Vigil in the town/city where you live to show you care about those Sikh political activists still in Indian jails and to call for an end to the death penalty in India.
Candle Light Vigil mentioned at a number of Gurdwaras in Toronto - Dixie, Mississauga etc. We were told to watch for announcements in the media about candle light vigils in different cities in Canada.
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Sikhs and Jews - separated at birth?
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LAUREN GELFOND FELDINGER , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 29, 2005
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All the Holy Land faiths found connections with the Punjabi Sikhs, but Jewish groups felt a surprise affinity.
The monotheistic Sikhs are a religious and ethnic group, a minority - like the Jews - who have suffered generations of persecution and worries about assimilation, intermarriage and keeping the religion relevant to their youth.
They revere their scriptures as the ultimate guru, teacher and source of enlightenment. Written without punctuation, numbered verses are used to track the readings and to bind those who have lived in Diaspora as a result of exile. The text mentions 1,100 names of God, an entity without gender or form. God, known as "The Ultimate Reality," may not be pictured in two or three-dimensional art. Every person, regardless of faith, is said to contain sparks of the divine and anyone can lead prayers; there are no clerics.
Marriage and having children are considered divine activities and infidelity is forbidden. Though many Sikhs avoid substances that may harm the body or mind, early Sikhs rejected ascetic self-denial and observe a commandment to rejoice in God's name. Hard and honest work is considered a good deed, as is service to the Sikh and larger community, the place of worship and the unfortunate.
Ten percent of their earnings and a portion of their time should be allotted to charity. Sikhs around the world consider each other family and in the Diaspora they have created vibrant Sikh communities worldwide.
The highest attributes are divided into acts of faith in God - as in prayer and meditation - and acts of loving kindness toward fellow humans. Despite an accent on mercy and compassion, violence is permitted in special circumstances, such as self-defense, and Sikhs are known as good warriors, aspiring to be "saint-soldiers." Sikhs don't cut their facial (or head) hair as a sign of respect to God's will and as a mark of distinction.
Nonetheless, there are marked differences between Sikhs and Jews. Sikhs emphasize karma and reincarnation, practice cremation and have outlawed fasting.
The Sikh faith was founded in the late 15th century in northern India by Guru Nanak, who preached tolerance and equality for every person, regardless of caste, religion or gender. These ideas were always on his mind as a boy growing up Hindu, but crystallized after he mysteriously disappeared in the River Bein. According to tradition, he emerged after three days, saying that God is the one being, transcendent and without form, and that "there is no Hindu; there is no Muslim."
There were 10 gurus in succession; the final one declared that the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is the final and eternal guru. Today, the main body of Orthodox Sikhism upholds this belief, while divergent streams claim to have a living guru in human form.
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CANDLE LIGHT VIGILS IN MAJOR CITIES IN CANADA - 17 JANUARY 2006
Met up with and spoke to one of the leading Sikh students and Taksali Sewardars - Bhai Jusdev Singh from TORONTO yesterday at the Gurdwara Jot Parkash Sahib.
He is the Vice Chair of the Canadian Organization of Sikh Students. COSS aims to unite Sikh Students Associations at Canadian Universities and Colleges to advocate and extend the love of Sikhi.
Bhai Jusdev Singh suggested it would be possible through their contacts to organise around 10 candle light vigils across all the major Canadian cities. Sikhs from across Canada are urged to contact Bhai Jusdev Singh on +1 416 835 1909.
Great news for those of us living in Canada. Bhai Jusdev Singh should be at the Gurdwara Jot Parkash Sahib (135 Sun Pac Blvd, Brampton) this evening for the Bhog of the Akhand Paath to mark the First Barsi Of Baba Thakur Singh Ji and the Kiratn Darbar that will follow. Let's meet him and find out about the plans.
Are there Sikh Sangat members from the USA that could provide an update?
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Can someone let me know what the Canadians are doing?
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Worldwide Candlelit Vigils Calling For Justice For The November 1984 Victims Of Anti-sikh Pogroms
in POLITICS | LIFESTYLE
Posted
COSS will come back to you with dates, venues and times for Canada