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Posted at: Jul 31, 2017, 1:51 AM; last updated: Jul 31, 2017, 1:51 AM (IST) Death in Turkey: Kin allege hate crime The wailing relatives of Lovepreet Singh whose body was brought to Amritsar from Turkey on Sunday. Photo: Sunil kumar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 30 Family members of teenager Lovepreet Singh, whose body was brought here today from Turkey, alleged that he became a victim of racial abuse. His mortal remains were consigned to flames today. Balwinder Singh, deceased’s maternal uncle, said talks with his acquaintances in Turkey revealed that Lovepreet was shunted out of job twice for his being a turbaned Sikh. They shared that Lovepreet was objected for wearing turban, he added. He had gone on a study visa to Lithuania, but somehow got stuck in Turkey, considered a gateway to the European countries. The 19-year-old had flown to Istanbul on September 21 last year after his parents took Rs 8-lakh loan to send their son abroad and a sum of Rs 5.5 lakh was paid to the travel agent. His family members were thankful to the district administration and the External Affairs Ministry in extending support to bring the body from overseas. The Turkish authorities had claimed that his body was fished out of the sea on June 26. On the basis of Aadhaar card and his belongings, the Turkish authorities had approached the Amritsar DC.

Another in a succession of intriguing recent political events that has the potential to shape contemporary world history, was yesterday's constitutional referendum in Turkey. After last July's failed coup and subsequent declaration of an indefinite state of emergency that's been extended for a further 3 months, Turks yesterday went to the polls to vote, in essence, on the granting of presidential powers to the current incumbent of the Turkish presidency, Tayyip Erdogan, as well as other potential future leaders. Erdogan won which means he can potentially rule until 2029 providing he wins the necessary elections. Opinions? Is Turkey on the road to a dictatorship? What does this mean for European relations and ties between Turkey and the Middle East? Was the supposed coup a modern Kristallnacht designed to lend Erdogan a pretence under which he could strengthen his grip on Turkey? Or is he a patriot for putting his country's interests before any other foreign considerations, and democracy has had its day?

What interesting times we live in seems like its all kicking off lately. There army coup in turkey going on which means there will be a return to secular democracy and away from erdogans islamist poisoning of the turkish state.