Azaad

Taking note of the incident in which a gurdwara was allegedly demolished in Waraich village, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has sought action against the guilty. The Jathedar demanded that the state government should order a high-level probe into the entire incident and act tough against its perpetrators. Giani Gurbachan Singhclaimed the land illegally encroached by the dera involved in the incident was government land and the village panchayat had no right to sell or donate. He praised Sikh organisations for staging a peaceful protest over the issue. The Jathedar has also taken serious note of a matchstick company printing “khanda” on matchboxes, which, he said, was a sacrilege of Sikh symbols.

The SGPC has condemned the Union government’s move to appoint senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler as head of the Indian delegation for London Olympics and demanded reversal of the decision. In a strong-worded statement released here today, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said that appointing a person who was “involved in massacre of Sikhs” during the 1984 riots would be tantamount to adding salt to injury of the Sikh community. Makkar claimed the move will hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs, besides tarnishing the image of the Indian democracy. He said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi should immediately reverse the decision. In another development, the SGPC today informed that the UP-based firm that was selling tobacco pouches by the name of Giani Paan Samagri with a photograph of Guru Nanak Dev on it had tendered an apology.

Baba Ramdev, who visited the holy city today to garner support for his anti-corruption campaign, has advocated the construction of the Operation Bluestar Memorial. Talking to mediapersons, Baba Ramdev said there should not be any politics on this issue. He said everyone should respect the decision to raise the memorial while expressing hope that it would be a historic monument.

With the DSGMC chief PS Sarna expressing his intention to raise a memorial to pay homage to those killed in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the politics of memorials is hotting up. Sarna said the DSGMC would purchase land for the memorial which, unlike the Operation Bluestar Memorial, would not be in the form of a gurdwara. “It will be a befitting tribute to thousands of innocent Sikhs killed in the Capital in November 1984.” He said a consensus among Sikh organisations would be evolved on the issue. The DSGMC chief was confident that all political parties, including the Congress, would support the move. “The Prime Minister has already apologised to the Sikhs for the 1984 riots and compensation has been announced for the riot-hit. I see no reason why the Congress will oppose it,” he said. During her visit here on Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had endorsed the move. Observers say building the memorial will pay rich dividends to the Sarna group in the DSGMC elections. Kalia for memorial on lines of Jallianwala Bagh Manoranjan Kalia, BJP MLA, has urged the CM to set up a memorial on the lines of Jallianwala Bagh to commemorate the sacrifices of Punjabis. Favouring a monument in the Capital Delhi to pay tribute to those killed in the 1984 riots, he said: “Let the Delhi Government give land for the purpose and let all Punjabis contribute to building the monument”.

The Congress today lashed out at the BJP for its approval to Operation Bluestar Memorial. The BJP vice-president and party incharge of Punjab affairs, Shanta Kumar, has said yesterday that he was satisfied with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s plea that the “memorial will commemorate all those killed in the Army operation, including innocent persons and not just the militants”. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna said this simply meant that the BJP had no objection to a memorial for the militants. “In that case, why should the BJP object to honouring Balwant Singh Rajoana either,” he asked. “There can be a memorial either for the militants or the innocent persons and not for both”, he said. Khanna said the BJP owed an explanation to the kin of terrorist victims as to why it had supported the memorial. “It is clear choice between principles and power”, Khanna remarked, pointing out, “ the BJP has opted for power while forsaking its principles”. Khanna, however, said he was not surprised at the BJP’s double standards.

University of Birmingham has more Sikhs than Aston and BCU put together...its also got the biggest Sikh soc out of the three too

After the SGPC’s move to build Operation Bluestar Memorial in the Golden Temple complex, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) now moots a proposal to raise one in Delhi to pay homage to Sikhs killed in the November 1984 riots. This was stated by DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna who was in town today with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to inaugurate Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas, an inn for pilgrims. Spread over 2800-sq yard, the inn has been built at a cost of Rs 12 crore. It has 84 rooms (42 AC, 42 non-AC) and four halls. Sarna said a proposal for raising a memorial to the riot victims would be deliberated at the executive meeting of the DSGMC. Asked if the Congress would support the move, Sarna said the Congress had always been supportive of issues related to the Delhi Sikh community. Endorsing his stand, the Delhi CM said: “Till date, nobody has approached us with any such proposal. But it will definitely be considered if the DSGMC takes the initiative”. On Bluestar Memorial, Sarna said: “ I feel the memorial should neither be in the shape of a gurdwara nor within the premises of a gurdwara.” He alleged the DSGMC had built Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas because of the non-cooperative attitude of the SGPC towards Sikhs from other states. “We have been receiving complaints from Sikh pilgrims from other states visiting the Golden Temple that the SGPC staff is reluctant to accommodate them in inns. Even yesterday, the pilgrims who accompanied us from Delhi were refused accommodation at the SGPC-run inns. “If need be, another inn could be built over a 200-sq yard plot in the galliara area,” Sarna said. Among those present at the inauguration of the inn were present Jathedar, Takht Patna Sahib, Iqbal Singh, Shiromani Panthic chairman Manjit Singh Calcutta and district Congress leaders.

24th June- Guru Nanak Gurdwara,Bradford and Singh Sabha Bradford and then SIkh Temple Leeds 26th June- Ramgarhia Sikh Temple, Birmingham 7pm 27th June- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley St, Wolves 7pm 28th June- Singh Sabha Nottingham- 7pm 29th June- Guru Gobind Singh ji Gurdwara, Manchester 6.30pm more bookings are underway. Bhai Sahib will be going to London Guru-ghars too. PM me for more details or bookings.

All 3 birmingham universities

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has made it clear that he will maintain law and order at all costs, even if his party is accused of sowing seeds of discord. In a statement in the House yesterday, Badal said the demand to raise theOperation Bluestar Memorial had been a long-pending one. His government had only given tacit approval to something which the Sikh community and the SGPC had finalised between themselves. The fact that the CM placed a letter from the SGPC president on the floor of the House, stating what kind of memorial would be built in the Golden Temple complex, indicates he could have been instrumental in giving the final shape to the Bluestar Memorial. The middle path followed by the CM (the memorial will come up in the form of a gurdwara and not a museum or gallery) has been grudgingly accepted by the BJP which understands the SAD’s compulsions. The memorial controversy might die down, but on the issue of honouring Beant Singh’s assassin, Balwant Singh Rajoana, the SAD will have to do a tightrope walking. The BJP has made its clear that it will not recognise a murderer as a martyr. The Congress too is targeting the government on the issue although some Sikh legislators in the Congress do not want the party to make it a political issue. Badal has in a deft political move capitalised on this sentiment. In his statement to the House yesterday, he said he was “deeply pained” by the dangerous controversy created by the Congress over a religious monument and accused the party of trying to disturb the hard-won peace and communal harmony in the state. The statement said “most painfully and shockingly, the Congress government at the Centre in 1984 ordered and carried out a brutal Army assault on this house of God.” Badal said it was felt that this “saka” needed to be commemorated through a symbol to carry forward the Gurus’ message of peace and harmony. He said it was after deliberations with eminent scholars that it was decided that the memorial should come up in the form of a gurdwara. Badal said: “The period of SAD-BJP governments in Punjab has been one of peace and harmony. I am proud to say that even today, when the rest of the country is afflicted with violence and anarchy, Punjab remains the most peaceful state and an oasis of human brotherhood.” The Chief Minister said he considered restoration of peace and communal harmony in Punjab as his greatest achievement. “Its preservation in future also is my most cherished goal and mission. Peace and harmony in Punjab is a matter of sacred faith for me and I am committed to defend it with my life. “Even if I have to shed the last drop of my blood for peace and communal harmony in Punjab, I will consider that to be a part of my religious duty and will be proud of it. This is my sacred commitment to the people of Punjab”, the Chief Minister added. Meanwhile, BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar, who is incharge of Punjab affairs, told mediapersons in Jalandhar on Friday that his party was opposed to a memorial at the Golden Temple.

State BJP general secretary Manjit Singh Rai today condemned the demand for a Sikh Mayor in Amritsar. In a press statement, he said such demands were aimed at creating a rift between the Hindu and Sikh communities. “It was a Muslim saint, Mian Mir, who laid the foundation stone of Sri Harmandar Sahib. The shrine doors are open to people from all castes and creeds. The demand to hand over the political leadership of this holy city to a particular religion is against the teachings of the Gurus.” Rai said undoubtedly Amritsar was sacred for the Sikhs. But this did not mean that political posts should go to the Sikhs alone. The demand was unjustified as the entire Punjab was the land of the Gurus. “If things are to be decided on this principle, then the Prime Minister of a Hindu-dominated country would never be a Sikh. Neither would a Muslim be the country’s President. Neither Gaini Zail Singh would have been President of India, nor General JJ Singh the Army Chief,” Rai said. “Punjab has already witnessed terrorism and issuing such statements would only mean disturbing the peace and tranquility of Punjab.” he added.

The Punjab BJP today made it clear in the assembly that it was against bestowing honour on former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana, saying it would not compromise on terrorism. Speaking on behalf of the BJP after a demand from Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar that the party should make its stand clear on the floor of the House, Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said: “We do not regard any murderer as a martyr”. Naming Congress legislators Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Rakesh Pandey and Tarlochan Sondh, the BJP leader said “I am with them” on the issue. Mittal explained his own role during the period of militancy, saying he had led the fight against terrorism from the front, even as he accused the Congress of being responsible for the same. He even claimed that “Rao wanted us to support the Akali faction led by Capt Amarinder Singh. He wanted to make Amarinder CM as he felt the people of Punjab would not accept a Congress government”. Talking to TNS, Mittal said the memorial issue was likely to be closed with the Chief Minister making it clear that it would be a gurdwara without any photographs. “We had lodged a protest with the CM and told him categorically that raising a memorial to those killed in Operation Bluestar was not a good development”. He said with today’s clarification, the controversy on the memorial was over as the hardliners had given a different connotation to the proposed memorial. Mittal also claimed that there were hardliners within the SAD who wanted to create trouble for Badal. “They want to put Badal in an awkward position and not us”, he said, adding attempts were being made to embroil Badal in a controversy by joining religion with politics. The BJP leader also claimed that the SAD had little role in the decision to honour Rajoana, adding the Damdami Taksal and a few other hardline groups were behind the move. Mittal, however, made it clear that the BJP was opposed to any move to honour Rajoana. “We are clear that a murderer is a murderer and can never be turned into a martyr”, he added.

The Punjab Congress today forced two adjournments in the Assembly, asking the ruling SAD-BJP combine to clarify its stand on the issue of raising a memorial for those killed in Operation Bluestar in 1984 and ‘honouring’ ex-CM Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana. Replying to the Congress demand, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said a “small” gurdwara would come up in the Darbar Sahib complex. The gurdwara, bereft of any photographs, would be a symbol of peace and universal brotherhood, said Badal. The BJP, however, struck a discordant note on the Rajoana issue with its Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal saying that no “murderer” could be termed as a martyr. The trouble began when Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar stood up during Zero Hour waving copies of an article written by eminent columnist Kuldeep Nayar in English, Punjabi and Hindi dailies. Jakhar said the situation in the state was grim on all fronts. Jakhar claimed the article stated that when the Akalis were out of power they indulged in dharma morchas which evoked religious passions. “They (Akalis) are adopting the same tactics now while being in the position of authority. It means they want to divert people’s attention from problems like unemployment, drug trafficking and reducing income of farmers,” said Jakhar. The CLP leader said the people had faith in Badal because he represented the secular face of the Akalis. But the Chief Minister was resorting to a balancing act now to appease the hardliners and ensure they were not offended by the recent social engineering exercise of the SAD, alleged Jakhar. He sought a statement from the government on raising of the Bluestar memorial. The CM, too, was quick on his feet, saying though he did not expect the Leader of the Opposition to say anything that would create disharmony, he was ready to give a statement if required immediately. Akali legislators, including Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia urged the Speaker to let the CM speak on the issue immediately. The CM, however, said he wanted Jakhar to complete his speech and even asked his party MLAs not to interrupt the Opposition leader. The CLP leader started off well but his speech was disjointed at places because he did not name either the Bluestar memorial or Rajoana initially. However, when the Speaker questioned him as to what he wanted exactly, Jakhar said Badal as well as the BJP should clarify their stands on both issues. He said the CM could not simply wash his hand off the matter by claiming the SGPC was behind both moves. “Everyone knows the SGPC is your B team. Have you made any effort to stop these acts?” Jakhar added. In his reply, Badal said Congress leaders should remove any doubts in their mind that law and order situation and communal brotherhood would be affected due to the memorial. Urging the Congress not to say anything that would spoil the atmosphere of the state, he said the party’s “sanjh” (bonding) with the BJP had restored peace. Badal asserted that as long as he was alive he would ensure that peace and communal brotherhood would remain intact in Punjab. “I am ready to sacrifice my life for this cause”, he said, adding that some forces were trying to derail the hard-earned peace in Punjab. The CM even read out a prepared reply, which stated that the Army action on the Harmandar Sahib in 1984 had left deep wounds on the psyche of the Sikh community. He said this assault was condemned not only by Sikhs but by all right-thinking people from all communities. Badal on Bluestar memorial The monument would be a gurdwara where the holy Guru Granth Sahib would be placed. The gurdwara, bereft of any photographs, would come up in the Darbar Sahib complex. It would be a symbol of peace and universal brotherhood

Barely 24 hours before the scheduled protest march by Sikh radicals against police “inaction” against those responsible for the death of 20-year-old engineering student Jaspal Singh in police firing here on March 29, the the entire district has been put on alert. Security has been tightened. Ravcharan Singh Brar, SSP, and Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha are monitoring the situation even as a three-tier security apparatus has been put in place. Former Khalistan Commando Force chief Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, will not participate in the protest. He was taken into preventive custody just before violence rocked the city in March this year. What is unnerving the police are intelligence reports that suggest that known Sikh radicals may join the protest march from the victim’s native village Chor Sidhwan to the DC’s office in the heart of the town. Those likely to be part of the protest are Simranjit Singh Mann, SAD (Amritsar) chief, Daljit Singh, SAD (Panch Pardhani), Harcharanjit Singh Dhammi, Dal Khalsa chief, Lakhwinder Singh of the Damdami Taksal, Baljit Singh Daduwal and Ram Singh Sangrawa.

Differences have cropped up in the state Youth Congress over the issue of opposing the construction of a memorial at the Golden Temple in memory of those killed during Operation Bluestar. State Youth Congress chief Bikram Choudhry had declared to hold a protest on June 20 against the construction of the memorial. But the announcement has not gone down well with some Youth Congress leaders who have openly declared to boycott the protest. Raising his voice against the protest, Kamaljit Singh Brar, Punjab Youth Congress general secretary and son of former Congress MLA from Baghapurana Darshan Singh Brar, said, “This issue is connected to the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and therefore, the state Youth Congress should not appose the construction of the memorial.” Brar said, “No political party should mix politics with religious issues as this could disturb the communal harmony and peace in the state. He added that the Youth Congress should raise its voice against injustice being done to people and other social evils prevailing in the state.

The Damdami Taksal today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to have a Sikh as Mayor of the holy city. In a statement here today, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said Amritsar was known as the spiritual centre of the Sikhs across the world. Therefore, it should have a Sikh mayor. He said the Shiromani Akali Dal had seen a historic victory in Amritsar in the recent municipal elections, capturing 24 seats. He said this demand should not be seen as that of a particular organisation or a political group. “ It is the desire of the entire Sikh community that a Sikh owing allegiance to the SAD should be appointed Mayor of Amritsar". He urged the SAD leadership to consider this demand seriously.

Gurdwara Baba Sang Smethwick 19th June-21st June 6pm-7pm

Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib

Shaastaar

Bhai Kanhaiya ji in battle

Jhoolde Nishan The power of the Five

Baaghi ya Badshah

Maharaj after leaving Anandpur Sahib

my mommy does mine :biggrin2:

Baal Gobind Rai bows to the Sees of Sri Guru Tegh Bahudar Sahib ji