Azaad

Virsa Singh Valtoha was in the UK not too long ago..

Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today not only questioned Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s silence on the attack of Lt Gen KS Brar but also accused him of rewarding five former terrorists with important positions in his party and government. Amarinder maintained that Badal’s silence on the issue simply amounted to his approval for the attack. He said, “You are either with the terrorists who attacked Gen Brar or against them.” He claimed that Badal had adjusted five former terrorists in the party and government. He said former terrorist Virsa Singh Valtoha had been given the party ticket and was now a legislator. Amarinder said that former terrorist Amarjit Singh Chawla had been appointed member of the Punjab Public Service Commission by Badal earlier and was now a member of the SGPC. He said former Khalistan Commando Force terrorist Amrik Singh Shahpur and former terrorist Rajinder Singh Mehta were serving as SGPC members. Another Ex-terrorist Jaswinder Singh Dhaliwal was part of its NRI sabha, he said. CM Parkash Singh Badal tried to evade questions on the attack on Lt Gen Brar. All Badal said on persistent questioning in Bassi Pathana was “wrong is wrong”. When asked about Amarinder’s statement that allowing the building of a memorial to commemorate Operation Bluestar had encouraged separatist forces, the Chief Minister gave the example of the killing of Sikhs in a US gurdwara two months earlier. He said such incidents could happen anywhere. He said there was no question of revival of terrorism in the state. Punjab Congress general secretary Arvind Khanna lashed out at the “opportunistic” silence of the Punjab BJP on the murderous attack on Lt Gen Brar.

Youngsters influenced by radical Sikh propaganda and not trained terrorists could have been behind the attack on Lt Gen KS Brar, according to Punjab Police officials who track movement of radicals here and abroad. Lt Gen KS Brar (retd) © being escorted out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport after his arrival from London in Mumbai on Wednesday. — AFP There is a feeling among police circles here that the attack was the work of amateurs and not trained professionals. Officials said the fact that even three attackers could not overpower the General or attack him in a manner that could be described as fatal, indicated they were novice and had not been sufficiently motivated to “go for the kill” at all cost. Sources said the fact that the attackers did not use firearms also indicated that they were more interested in sending out a message. Terrorist organisations, on the other hand, would plan such attacks meticulously, they added. They gave the example of how the Babbar Khalsa had flown in terrorists from abroad to execute Rashtriya Sikh Sewa head Rulda Singh two years ago. Officials, however, claim they had been preparing to counter such a scenario in Punjab for around six months. They said the events following awarding of death sentence to former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana in March this year gave a fillip to separatist forces. The state-managed protests after Rajoana was awarded the death penalty helped radical forces to stage a comeback among youth abroad. Sources point towards the propaganda unleashed by “Sangat” television abroad and collection of $1.5 million in two days after a Sikh youth died in a clash in Gurdaspur during protests held to demand clemency for Rajoana. The incident gave boost to the radical cause, they said. Sources said the inflow of funds to separatists abroad resulted in its onward flow to former militants in Punjab. They said such people, including Daljit Singh Bittu and Kulbir Singh Barapind who were arrested recently, were under pressure to show results in Punjab. The Punjab Police claims both Bittu and Barapind had been distributing money to militant families in Punjab. The Punjab Police has decided to oversee the security arrangements of all officers who had been associated with anti-militancy operations. Though the security cover had been thinned in some cases, it has been further strengthened in case of high-risk individuals including former state police chief KPS Gill and some religious leaders. Intelligence agencies have asked the Centre to take steps to counter the anti-India propaganda among youth abroad.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved a budget of Rs 74.55 crore for the construction of phase II of Virasat-e-Khalsa project showcasing the glorious history of Sikhs. Presiding over a meeting of Anandpur Sahib Foundation Trust, he also directed the Finance Department to release Rs 44.52 crore to mitigate the shortfall of the estimated budget for the project. Badal asked his team to chalk out a comprehensive plan to initiate cultural activities like historical plays, recitation of "waar" (bards), patriotic song competitions and laser show, particularly on weekends, at memorials sites of Baba Bandha Singh War Memorial at Chhapar Chiri in Mohali, Wadda Galugharsa Memorial at Kup Rahera in Sangrur and Chhota Galughara Memorial in Khanuwan Chamb in Gurdaspur. It was informed in the meeting that till date more than 18 lakh people had visited Virasat-e-Khalsa phase-I, built at a cost of Rs 250.52 crore and was dedicated to the nation on November 25, 2011. The work of phase-II from Gallery 15 to 27 would be completed by March 2014. Latest techniques like light effects, holographic projections, stereoscopy 3D, video wall, cutouts, miniature sets, animatronics and augmented reality etc. would be employed for the construction of phase II project by roping in world-class companies in these fields. Work on memorial to begin soon Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the construction work on the Jang-e-Azaadi memorial dedicated to martyrs of the freedom struggle would commence within the next six months. Presiding over a maiden meeting of Jang-e-Azaadi Foundation here today, the Chief Minister said the memorial would be built over 25 acres at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the attack on Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh Brar in London on Sunday. Maintaining that his position on Operation Bluestar was well known to everybody in and outside Punjab, Amarinder said the attack on Gen Brar was highly condemnable and those guilty of it must be brought to book. Amarinder blamed CM Parkash Singh Badal for creating the situation which led to the attack saying that the establishment of memorials commemorating the event did not allow old wounds to heal. Amarinder pointed out that the persons who attacked Gen Brar were young and might not even have been born at the time of Operation Bluestar. They must have been provoked by the setting up of the Bluestar memorial. Even as Lt Gen KS Brar (retd), who was attacked in London on Sunday, termed it as an attempt to kill him, Indian security agencies are searching for answers to know how the attackers got to know of the travel plans of the General, who is under ‘Z category’ security. Gen Brar, who was divisional commander of the 9 Division of the Army that was tasked with flushing out militants holed up in the Golden Temple in 1984 under ‘Operation Bluestar’, has been on the ‘hit-list’ of Sikh radical groups. Gen Brar told reporters in London, “It was an assassination attempt by pro-Khalistan elements. They straight went for my neck with a sharp blade.” He said there have been several threats to his life and those had been brought to the notice of the police and army authorities in India. For security agencies, the attack on means that the General, usually reclusive, was possibly being observed and also that someone inimical to him knew his location in London. It could also mean he was being tracked in India and London, said sources, adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs was waiting for a factual report from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Gen Brar said the Punjab Government was sympathetic to terrorists as it was supporting construction of a memorial inside the Golden Temple and slammed it for taking the situation back to the 1980’s. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard has appealed for information from members of the public and described the four assailants as wearing dark clothing and long black jackets and sporting long beards. LOOKING FOR ANSWERS How did the attackers get to know the travel plans of Lt Gen KS Brar (pic)? It seems that he was being observed and someone knew his exact location in London. Was he being tracked in India and London? I’m a soldier, won’t let go easily: Lt Gen Brar Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 2 As a sworn enemy of Sikh militants, Lt-General Kuldip Singh Brar (retd) might have been anticipating an assassination bid as he believes that after Operation Bluestar, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s men not only swore to take revenge, but have also acted upon it. Of the five major architects of Operation Bluestar in June 1984, two — Indira Gandhi and General Vaidya — were assassinated while two others — General Sundarji and General Ranjit Singh Dayal — died natural deaths. “I am the only one who is still alive. They would rather see me dead," he told the media after an assassination attempt was made on him in London on the night of September 30. General Brar exhibited valour in grappling with those who came to assassinate him even though he was without any security. On June 6 every year, those owing allegiance to Bhindranwale observe martyrs’ day where they renew their pledge to kill him. “But I am a soldier and will not let go easily,” asserts the 78-year-old General. After his retirement from the Army, General Kuldip Singh Brar moved to the highly protected Mumbai Cantonment. Whenever he has to travel out of Mumbai, he informs the local military station that in turn keeps the higher authorities posted. That could be the reason that Indian High Commission was not aware of his presence in London. Though a born soldier - his father DS Brar retired as a Major General — General Kuldip Brar had been maintaining a low profile for obvious reasons. “As and when I talk about Operation Bluestar, lot of old wounds are revived,” he said in an interview months before his present holiday in London. Incidentally, both General Kuldip Brar — Bulbul to his friends — and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the dreaded Sikh militant leader whom Army troops killed during Operation Bluestar, belonged to the Moga area, a stronghold of the Brars. Early days Born in 1934 into a Sikh family, General KS Brar moved to a boarding school at the age of five with a career in Army in mind. He later moved to Doon School and subsequently joined the Maratha Light Infantry in 1954 as a Lieutenant. During the 1971 action against Pakistan, General Brar commanded an infantry battalion. He was in the first batch to enter Dhaka on the morning of December 16, 1971. He was honoured with the Vir Chakra for the battle at Jamalpur. Pitted against the 31st Baluch battalion of the Pakistani army, his soldiers had to move across the Brahmaputra at a location where no bridges existed. Therefore, they were able to only carry limited weapons. It was General Brar’s motivation that made up for the shortage of weapons in the ensuing battle. Operation Bluestar Had Operation Bluestar been delayed by a couple of days, General Brar would have been in Manila with his wife on a month-long holiday. On May 31, he was asked to come to Chandimandir for a briefing where, after consultation, the then Western Army chief General Sundarji and chief of staff General Ranjit Singh Dayal asked him to cancel his holiday and instead, proceed to Amritsar. It was Operation Bluestar that rendered his career controversial in Sikh circles though he has always justified his action by saying that it was important not only to save Sikhism’s most sacred shrine from militants but also dispel the danger of declaration of Khalistan. Immediately after Operation Bluestar, General Brar faced the wrath of not only the Sikh militants, but also of religiously inclined people including his own relatives. One of his maternal uncles, who was settled in London, severed relations with him. General Brar said that when he visited his uncle in his last days, his uncle had tears in his eyes while endorsing General Brar’s actions as an Army Commander. His account Nine years after Operation Bluestar, General Brar decided to come out with a book “Operation Bluestar: The True Story”. The book went into eight reprints and finally, one of his ardent supporters even translated it into Punjabi. In his book and subsequent interviews, General Brar recounted how the operation went. Initially, the Army had planned to start the operation by 7 pm on June 5, 1984, and end it before dawn on June 6. But it was not to be. It was a pitched battle that continued for six days and witnessed a lot of bloodshed. General Brar maintains that he talked to his men (many of whom were Sikhs) personally on the morning on June 5 and told them what they planned to do and why they had to do it. It was explained that the operation was not targeting any religion, but against some militants who had defiled the temple. The soldiers were given the chance to opt out in case they felt participating in the operation would hurt their religious sentiments. General Brar maintains that none of his men, including Sikhs, walked away. In fact, in the unit commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammad Israr (whose 10 guards later led the first unit into the temple premises), a Sikh officer, Second Lieutenant Jasbir Singh Raina, raised his hand as he wished to be the first one to enter the Golden Temple to wipe out the militants.

In a gruesome incident, four members of a Sikh family, including three children, have been found murdered in their home in Belgium’s capital city of Brussels. All the four victims, who hailed from Punjab, had their throats cut, a report from Brussels said. The gruesome discovery was made when the father of the children found them and his wife dead after he returned his home in the Brussels municipality of Etterbeek from work on Friday night, Belgian news portal Deredactie.be reported. According to the report, the Brussels judicial authorities have confirmed that they are probing a quadruple murder, but have refused to comment further on the case. The father of the children came to live in Belgium 15 years ago and his wife joined him around 5 years ago. The report, however, did not give names and other details of the family.

Judicial Magistrate Ashish Thathai today remanded Daljit Singh Bittu, former president of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, to judicial custody. He was facing accusations of helping extremists, conniving with them in order to disturb the peace and harmony of the state. Additional public prosecutor Monika Gupta has submitted before the court that the police was still investigating the case, so the accused be sent to judicial custody. Agreeing with the prosecution, the accused was sent to jail

In a move that could be seen as a gesture of reaching out to leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Sikh community, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal today called on Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and suggested showcasing of the Sikh history during the Maha Kumbh next year. Singhal, accompanied by SAD leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia met Sukhbir at the latter's Safadarjung Road residence here this morning. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar was also present. The VHP leader suggested that considering the rich contribution of the Sikh community to the country and its harmonious coexistence with other communities, the heritage could be on display in the form of an exhibition at Allahabad where over 12 crore people are expected to visit over the two-month period. Ramoowalia said the VHP leader also informed that a similar invitation had been extended to leaders of the Jain and Buddhist communities.

Forty-five days after a deadly shooting at Wisconsin Sikh temple, hundreds of Sikhs and their supporters lined the halls of Congress on Wednesday for a Capitol Hill Senate hearing on hate crimes and the growing threat of domestic terrorism. 18 year old, Harpreet Saini, son of one of the shooting victims, testified at the hearing and asked the Senators to help track hate crimes against the Sikhs. Below is an extract from his heartfelt and emotional appeal. “A little over a month ago, I never imagined I’d be here. I never imagined that anyone outside of Oak Creek would know my name. Or my mother’s name, Paramjit Kaur Saini. Or my brother’s name, Kamaljit Singh Saini. Kamal, my brother and best friend, is here with me today. As we all know, on Sunday, August 5, 2012, a white supremist fueled by hatred walked into our local Gurudwara with a loaded gun. He killed my mother, Paramjit Kaur, while she was sitting for morning prayers. He shot and killed five more men - all of them were fathers, all had turbans like me. And now people know all our names: Sita Singh, Ranjit Singh, Prakash Singh, Suvegh Singh, Satwant Singh Kaleka. This was not supposed to be our American story. This was not my mother’s dream.... It was a Tuesday, two days after our mother was killed, that my brother Kamal and I ate the leftovers of the last meal she had made for us. We ate her last rotis - which are a type of South Asian flatbread. She had made the rotis from scratch the night before she died. Along with the last bite of our food that Tuesday came the realization that this was the last meal made by the hands of our mother that we will ever eat in our lifetime..... Senators, my mother was our biggest fan, our biggest supporter. She was always there for us. She always had a smile on her face. But, now she’s gone. Because of a man who hated her because she wasn’t his color? His religion? I just had my first day of college. And my mother wasn’t there to send me off. She won’t be there for my graduation. She won’t be there on my wedding day. She won’t be there to meet her grandchildren. I want to tell the gunman who took her from me: You may have been full of hate, but my mother was full of love. She was an American. And this was not our American dream.... Senators, I came here today to ask the government to give my mother the dignity of being a statistic. The FBI does not track hate crimes against Sikhs. My mother and those shot that day will not even count on a federal form. We cannot solve a problem we refuse to recognise. Senators, I also ask that the government pursue domestic terrorism with the same vigor as attackers from abroad. The man who killed my mother was on the watch list of public interest groups. I believe the government could have tracked him long before he went on a shooting spree. Finally, Senators, I ask that you stand up for us. As lawmakers and leaders, you have the power to shape public opinion. Your words carry weight. When others scapegoat or demean people because of who they are, use your power to say that is wrong. So many have asked Sikhs to simply blame Muslims for attacks against our community or just say, “We are not Muslim”. But, we won’t blame anyone else. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. I also want to be a part of the solution. That’s why I want to be a law enforcement officer like Lieutenant Brian Murphy who saved so many lives on August 5, 2012. I want to protect other people from what happened to my mother. I want to combat hate - not just against Sikhs, but against all people. Senators, I know what happened at Oak Creek was not an isolated incident. I fear it may happen again if we don’t stand up and do something. I don’t want anyone to suffer what we have suffered. I want to build a world where all people can live, work and worship in America in peace. Because you see, despite everything, I still believe in the American dream. In my mother’s memory, I ask that you stand up for it with me, today, and in the days to come...”

Canada today assured India that it would do everything possible to curb the activities of ‘pro-Khalistan’ extremists from its soil as the issue figured prominently during talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and visiting Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird. Ottawa also offered to supply natural gas to India and reassured New Delhi of its commitment to fast-track the remaining procedures for the implementation of the civil nuclear deal signed between the two countries in June 2010. Addressing a joint press conference with Krishna after the talks, Baird said India and Canada were on the same page as far as the fight against extremism and terrorism was concerned. He acknowledged that Krishna had raised with him reports of pro-‘Khalistan’ groups regrouping in Canada and their events being attended by even Canadian leaders. “We have taken note of that (India’s concerns)...our government will do everything possible to control radical extremism,” he said. Baird pointed out that whenever incidents of anti-India activities came to the notice of his government, it had taken appropriate action. The government was also trying to sensitise Canadian officers about the sensitivity of the issue so that they could act with better understanding. The Canadian leader recalled that Canada had listed certain groups as terrorist organisations in 2003. “We agreed that we got to do more to tackle this challenge and we are completely on the same page as India. Extremism is completely unacceptable,” he added. The two ministers are understood to have discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as international issues. Responding to a question, Baird said Canada had no concerns with respect to nuclear proliferation from India. This was one of the prime reasons why it had entered into a nuclear pact with India. He was confident that the two sides would soon conclude all the formalities so as to implement the nuclear deal. Krishna, on his part, said India looked forward to early completion of negotiations on appropriate arrangements for the nuclear accord. He said India was pleased with the progress the two countries were making on bilateral framework agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and the Social security Agreement. These were in addition to a number of accords for cooperation in areas like agriculture, mining and higher education signed over the last few years. The Indian minister said Canada could be a true partner in India’s pursuit for food security as well as energy security. Trends in supplies and price of oil and gas have made Canada an economically attractive option for sourcing India’s requirements.

I have put up this news so that the sangat is aware of whats happening. Personally I think this is such a shame and wished it could've been avoided. Sikh Federation UK is alot stronger with everyone together.

In a statement released to the media, Bhai Charan Singh and supporters have announced their breakaway from Sikh Federation UK and intent to create a new Jathebandi (organisation) under the name of DharamYudh Jatha (Damdami Taksal). Bhai Charan Singh said that this decision was taken after differences cropped up between themselves and the Federation's leadership. The Jathebandi would be formally announced at Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, Tividale on the Sunday 16th September, the same day of the Annual Sikh Federation's conference to be held at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton. Bhai Amrick Singh, Chairman of Sikh Federation UK, commented that unity was vital in Panthic Sewa and therefore Sikh Federation would strive for unity for the chardi kala of the Panth. This split comes as another blow for Sikh Federation UK after some members in the past had broken away and created International Panthic Dal UK.

http://www.seat61.com/India.htm#book%20-%20from%20outside check out this website and page...will give you details of booking train tickets online outside India. Alternatively go to a travel agent. Few in birmingham book tickets for you

there is a mix of youngsters to adults...

Needs to have a great RPM Ratio... Roti per minute ratio!! Average would be making 3 rotiya per minute

Feel free to go to Gurdwara Singh Sabha on Friday evenings at 6pm and join in with the Gatka classes. Would be a good way to join in with new Sangat

With Shiromani Akali Dal MP Rattan Singh Ajnala moving a Bill in the Lok Sabha for an amendment in Article 25 of the Constitution that clubs Sikhs with Hindus, the ruling party in Punjab has taken another step towards fulfilling its Panthic agenda. The agenda was kept on the backburner during the recent Assembly elections as the SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) made development a poll issue. Political observers see it as a SAD bid to cater to its traditional Sikh vote bank that was virtually given a cold shoulder in the Vidhan Sabha poll. The SAD, in fact, projected itself as a secular party as fielded a sizable number of Hindu candidates. Though the Bill will not bring the party any immediate electoral gains, it has its eyes on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Also, if the Bill is tabled in the Lok Sabha, it will be a win-win situation for the SAD. If the Congress supports the Bill, the SAD will score a point and if it doesn’t, the SAD will get more ammunition to target the Congress during the Lok Sabha elections. While moving the Bill, the SAD leadership, however, has given an impression that though it wants to push the issue forward, at the same time it wishes to keep away from it. Political pundits wonder as to how the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha at a time when both Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal were abroad. Also the fact that Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who always leads the charge in any debate on Sikh issues, didn’t move the Bill has taken many by surprise. It is being interpreted as a SAD attempt against upsetting its alliance partner BJP, which banks on Hindu votes. Ajnala termed it as a step forward after the passage of Anand Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 in May this year. He said while the marriage Bill facilitated separate registration of Sikh marriages, the amendment in Article 25 will strengthen the distinct identity of Sikhs in the world. SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema, however, pooh-poohed the talk that the SAD leadership wanted to steer clear of the issue. He said Ajnala moved the Bill as the leader of their parliamentary group. Former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh said he had first moved the Bill for amendment in Article 25 in the Rajya Sabha way back in 2008 and it was listed thrice in the agenda, but never discussed. He said the amendment was a key demand of the Sikhs and the Congress MPs from Punjab should also extend their help in getting it passed. Noted Sikh scholar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagarian said without the amendment in Article 25, even the separate marriage Act was meaningless. Eye on LS poll The Bill is not expected to bring the SAD any immediate gains,. But the SAD hopes it will pay the party rich dividends in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections If the Bill is tabled in the Lok Sabha it will be a win-win situation for the SAD If the Congress supports it, the SAD will claim credit forintroducing the Bill in Parliament If the Congress doesn’t support it, the SAD will get a point to target it in the LS poll Badals’ absence SAD rivals wonder as to how the Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha at a time when both Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal are abroad Surprisingly, is that Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who always leads the charge in any debate on Sikh issues, did not move the Bill Political pundits feel that the Badals are treading a cautious path as the Bill could annoy its coalition partner, BJP Law Minister Salman Khurshid today struck a positive note on the demand to amend Article 25 of the Constitution to recognise Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as religions independent of Hinduism and said a consensus on the issue was entirely possible. Speaking to The Tribune, Khurshid said the government was posted on the matter and was deliberating upon it. “We will have to see what position the Ministry of Home takes on this issue. We will then work forward on it. Consensus on this matter is entirely possible. We are discussing this subject and it will soon come before the Cabinet,” the Law Minister said on a day when the Lok Sabha had on its agenda a private member’s Bill of Akali Dal MP Rattan Singh Ajnala. He has sought an amendment of Article 25 of the Constitution, which says Hindu institutions of worship and Hindus would be construed to mean Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Ajnala’s private member’s Bill could not be introduced in the House today as the proceedings were adjourned for the day over the NDA’s demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his alleged role in the coal allocation scam highlighted by CAG. “The Bill will now be taken up on September 7,” Anjala said. Titled ‘The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2012’, it can become a law only after the government adopts it as its own legislation as had happened with the Anand Karaj Amendment Act that Law Minister Salman Khurshid had moved as a Government Bill last year after Cabinet clearance.

After the amendment of the Anand Marriage Act for separate registration of Sikh marriages, the community is now setting its eyes on amendment of the Constitution to recognise Sikhism as a full-fledged religion. At present, Article 25 of the Constitution of India describes Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as parts of the Hindu religion. Sikhs have long been seeking amendment to this Article to grant Sikhism an independent identity under the law. In a significant move, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today allowed Shiromani Akali Dal’s Khadoor Sahib member Rattan Singh Ajnala’s private member Bill to amend Article 25 of the Constitution to meet the community’s pressing demand. The Bill titled ‘Constitution Amendment Bill 2012’ seeks to drop Explanation II in Article 25, which — while guaranteeing a right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion — defines Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as components of the Hindu religion. Clause 1 of Article 25 of the Constitution provides the freedom of religion to everyone in India. Sub clause (b) of Clause 2 of Article 25 says: “notwithstanding the freedom of religion, the Government can make any law pertaining to the social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of the Hindus”. The problem arises in Explanation II of sub clause (b) in Clause 2 of the said Article, which says: “the reference to Hindus will be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina and Buddhist religions and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly as well.” The statement of object and reasons behind Ajnala’s private member Bill listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha tomorrow wants Explanation II dropped and says, “The drafting of sub clause (b) of Clause 2 of Article 25 tends to ignore the separate and distinct identities of Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions. Rather, it shows that these religions are either part of the Hindu religion or associated with it. This has resulted in avoidable confusion across the world about the independent identity of these three religions. This Bill proposes to amend Article 25 with a view to distinctively refer to Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions along with Hindu religion.” The Bill also refers to the recommendation to amend Article 25 along similar lines made by the National Commission on Review of the Constitution headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice MN Venkatachaliah during the NDA regime. The Bill at hand is a constitutional amendment Bill and the second major bill moved as a private bill by Sikh MPs. The Anand Karaj Amendment Act was earlier moved as a private member’s Bill in Rajya Sabha by former MP Tarlochan Singh.

MILWAUKEE, WI, USA (August 16, 2012)–The Sikh Community of Wisconsin has suffered yet another shock after the August 5 shooting at the Oak Creek Gurdwara. According to police reports, Dalbir Singh (56) was fatally shot this past Wednesday in Milwaukee at his place of work. The killing of another Sikh living close to Oak Creek has met the entire Sikh nation with a surprise. Picture of Dalbir Singh, Courtesy: Fox News [/center] Dalbir Singh was a regular attendee of the Gurdwara where six others were shot to death by a White supremacist terrorist who opened fire there. Whether the killing of Singh can be linked to the shooting at the Gurdwara is still being investigated. The incident took place at night time around 9:10 PM when Dalbir Singh’s store – Harmony Food Store located near 38th and Locust was robbed. As per police reports, this is a case of attempted robbery. No arrests have been made and Milwaukee police is searching for suspects. Further specifics are yet to be disclosed by the police. The store had CCTV cameras installed and the investigation team is going through the footages to track down the robber.

Delhi-based philanthropist Vikramjit Singh Sahney today announced that he would bear all expanses of the children of the two Sikh preachers who were killed in the recent Wisconsin gurdwara attack in the USA. Preachers Ranjit Singh and Sita Singh were among the six persons killed in the August 5 incident. Their young sons and daughters are living in Delhi. Sahney, chairman of the Sun Foundation and international president of the World Punjabi Organisation (WPO), said all expenses related to the marriage of daughters of the two preachers would be borne by him. He has also made fixed deposits of Rs 1 lakh each for the daughters of the deceased. Besides this, all needs of the young children of the victims would be taken care of by Sahney in terms of their education and upbringing. Sahney also announced that the WPO would confer a bravery award on Satwant Singh Kaleka, president of the Wisconsin gurdwara, who sacrificed his life fighting the attacker, thus giving enough time to women and children inside the gurdwara to move to safety. THE COMMITMENT z Vikramjit Singh Sahney has announced that he will bear all expenses related to the marriage of daughters of preachers Ranjit Singh and Sita Singh z He has also made fixed deposits of Rs 1 lakh each in the names of the young girls z Besides this, all other needs of the young children will also be taken care of by Sahney

Last I heard was that Sri Akal Takhat Sahib was waiting upon AISSF and Karnail Singh PeerMohammed to present their evidence

Kirtan by Nirvair Khalsa Jatha at the Chaupai Sahib Jaap

Chaupai Sahib Jaap and Kirtan by Nirvair Khalsa Jatha at Gurdwara Baba Sang, Smethwick on Wednesday 8th August 7pm-9.30pm In the Memory of our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives and for the Chardi Kala of those who have been injured in Oak Creek Gurdwara, Milwaukee, USA.

Hes the one who does the sewa of bringing the kirtani jatheh over, arranges sponsorship and visa's.