Bbc Cover Satkaar Campaign

[Satkaar]

Press Release

Birmingham, UK - 1 December 2010

BBC cover Satkaar campaign

Copies of Akal Takhat Sahib Hukumnaama and Sandesh attached

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

In a sign of the increasing momentum for the grassroots, UK Sangat-led Satkaar campaign requesting the closure of all party halls in Gurdwaras which allow meat, alcohol and tobacco on their premises, the BBC Asian Network presented a discussion show on this matter on Tuesday 30 November. The discussion ran for just over an hour. The BBC Asian Network also covered this issue in their hourly news bulletins on such day. The discussion can be heard on the following BBC iPlayer link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00wbkwk/Nihal_30_11_2010

It will be evident to any Sikh that has loyalty to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj, the Khaalsa Panth and Akal Takhat Sahib, that those trying to justify allowing meat, alcohol and tobacco on Gurdwara premises in the discussion show had absolutely no basis from a Gurmat perspective.

Several other media organisations have expressed an interest in covering the Satkaar campaign. Satkaar Sevadaars will keep the UK Sangat updated as to when there will be coverage.

Members of the UK Sangat have also requested Satkaar Sevadaars for copies of the 1998 Hukumnaama and 2006 Sandesh from Akal Takhat Sahib which are relevant to this movement to prevent Beadbi happening in our Gurdwaras. Please find attached copies of the 1998 Hukumnaama and 2006 Sandesh for your reference. Even though the offending Gurdwaras with party halls have already been provided with these, we would request the Sangat to individually forward them again to the relevant Committee members.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[Southall Youth]

The so called Sikh woman makes me PHYSICALLY SICK! Shes saying we should have meat and alcohol inside a Gurdwara!!!!

ABSOLUTLEY SICKENING STATE OUR COMMUNITY IS IN WORLDWIDE - How the hell can people even try to justify this - this is just sickening .

[Southall Youth]

The 2nd caller is the one who insulted Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale in the last weeks show on the Gravesend Gurdwara naming a Diwan Hall after Sant Ji ,now this Fanatical Hindu - so called Sikh comes on as if hes a scholar on our Panth,hes nothing but a Hindustani terrorist - hes trying to confuse everyone on the show, this comes after he spewed venom to Sant Ji and Sikh Shaheeds and said a diwan hall should be named after Gen Brar

the same caller can be heard here - one thinks the BBC have him for all Sikh shows

[Pyara]

Just seen this on todays BBC news alerts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11886253

Temples 'breaking the Sikh code' on meat and alcohol

Some gurdwaras in the UK are going against their religion by serving meat and alcohol on their premises, according to an association of Sikh followers.

The UK Sangat, an association of Sikh followers, has started a national campaign to stop what it says is the violation of the basic principles of Sikhism.

Some Sikhs have protested, stopping one gurdwara in Edinburgh and one in Essex from going against the teachings.

UK Sangat said there were at least another 15 temples in Britain flouting the rules, which they planned to approach.

The Sikh religion forbids the use of alcohol and other intoxicants.

Sikhs are also not allowed eat meat - the principle is to keep the body pure.

All gurdwaras are supposed to follow the Sikh code, known as the Akal Takht Sandesh, which comes from the highest Sikh authority in India.

'Worldwide disrespect'

No alcohol, meat, fish or eggs are permitted on gurdwara property.

BBC Asian Network has seen video footage on video-sharing websites showing scenes inside British gurdwaras that have shocked some Sikhs.

The footage shows meat being served, bottles of alcohol and young people dancing and partying.

The UK Sangat said this was happening on the sacred ground of the temple, which was totally against the Sikh religion.

Hardip Singh is one the Sikhs leading the national campaign to stop what is described as "disrespect for Sikhs worldwide".

He said of gurdwaras violating the basic principles of Sikhism: "We can't tolerate it happening on our holy places.

"If you want to do it privately, we are not going to fight or argue with you, that's your business.

"But to tolerate it on holy places - we can't accept that."

In the past few weeks, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Edinburgh and Grays temple in Essex have apologised for breaking the Sikh code.

The UK Sangat organised a protest at Grays temple and 250 protesters demonstrated to stop a wedding party.

The religious wedding ceremony did take place but the wedding party did not.

'Immoral income'

BBC Asian Network has contacted the both gurdwaras but they declined to comment.

The UK Sangat said the parties where alcohol and meat were being served might be happening in halls next to the gurdwara, but they were still on property owned by the temple and therefore in breach of the Sikh code.

It also fears that some of that so-called "immoral income" could then be used for the lunger - the free meals provided around the clock at the gurdwara.

The gurdwaras are run with the help of donations, but also by generating their own income, and the UK Sangat believes the code is being broken mainly to raise money. Mr Singh, a devout Sikh, has been put forward by the congregation of protesters to talk to the temple committees.

"Greed has overtaken religious values and this is about money," he said.

"It's the mentality of making money rather than teaching spirituality, which is the job of a house of religion."

The issue has split communities, with some Sikh committee leaders wanting to continue breaking the code.

There has been some physical and verbal abuse as emotions have run high.

Kohinoor Singh from the UK-based television station the Sikh Channel said it had been broadcasting the protests.

He said: "It is at the moment one of the biggest issues for Sikhs in this country.

"It doesn't matter whether the hall is far away from the gurdwara or next door, as long as it contains meat and alcohol - that's not going to happen any more."

According to the UK Sangat, there are at least 15 other gurdwaras believed to be flouting the rules.

In the next year, the Sikh group said it would approach the temples peacefully and ask them to stop "anti-Sikh activities".

[punjab5]

This should be an internal issue for the Sikhs, not one to be played in the Media. The principle at stake here is a fundamental one, in that Money collected at the Gurdwara from the Sangat via the Golak, cannot be used for anti-Gurmat purposes. That's it, there should be no discussion on this in the Media. Otherwies we will get into a debate about moderate and fundamental Sikhs, the latter will then be portrayed as 'Taliban style' Sikhs, which in essence would mean most Gursikhs.

So please do not comment or take to mainstream media, its an internal issue (one for all Sikh media).

Ask the question, would the BBC, discuss why women are not allowed to pray alongside men, in their respective Mosques and should Mandirs and Mosques allow Alcohol.

[Pyara]

Well...In a way I agree with Punjab5...but I suppose now the mainstream media have found a story whilst watching our backs we need capitalise on the attention.

There's now a window of opportunity to put some pressure on the anti Sikh Committees who are allowing party halls, meat and sharab on the Gurdwara site via this media coverage. I personally am going to distribute the article amongst my local Gurdwara committee and hopefully use the article to persuade them to take some action against the manmat committees.

I have jpeg'd and pdf'd the BBC article below. Leave it up to the sangat to decide what to do with it.

.pdf

[SinghWarrior]

It's an internal issue, but the Press are looking for stories/hysteria. Rather than allowing the media to brand GurSikhs working for Satkaar of Guru Jee as extremists (as has happened in the past), given that they will be running the story anyways, it's better for us to engage with the media, give our side of the story and explain the sacrilege that is taking place (which Navreet Singh and Popsy did very well) --> and then leverage off this to target the real culprits --> the Committees that are disrespecting Maryada and doing Beadbi.

[Guest Bloom]

In My Opinion,

DO NOT KEEP IT AN ‘INTERNAL’ MATTER! HELL NO! THAT’S HOW THEY KEEP YOU ‘AFRAID’! WHEN IT IS THEM WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID OF BEING EXPOSED TO THE WORLD !!!!!

IN FACT I THINK THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO KEEP IT AN INTERNAL MATTER ARE ‘TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING’.

Sikhi has TRUTH on side! Why hide! It is the alcoholic demons who will be shamed! The world will love the principles of Sikh Dharma! The more people (non Sikhs) know! THE BETTER! They will say ‘WOW! Sikhi teaches not to Drink Alcohol! Not to do Adultry! Not to Smoke! They Love All Beings! WHAT AN AWESOME DHARMA!’ Then they will say ‘THOSE PEOPLE WHO USE THE NAME OF SIKHI TO DO EVIL ARE SICK DEMONS !!!’

TAKE IT TO MEDIA !!!!! TAKE EVERYTHING TO MEDIA !!!!! TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO HIDE !!!!!

The PAAPEE COMMITTEES AND THEIR FOLLOWERS are the TERRORIST TALIBANS! They Terrorize Truth! They terrorize Guroo Jees Beautiful teachings! They terrorize those innocent Sikhs who love Guroo Jees BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGS that Guroo Jee sacrificed EVERYTHING for to share beauty and love with the WORLD !!!!!

Also see if they also use the charity status to laundry money so not to pay their personal taxes! They ‘Donate’; Get Receipts! And then take the money in Ca$h back! Take that to the agencies as well! These committees are corrupt in MANY MANY WAYS! They use the charity status of GUROO JEES BEAUTIFUL NAMES to do MAHAA PAAPS !!! THEY USE GUROO JEES BEAUTIFUL NAMES TO STEAL, CHEAT, LIE, ATTACK GUROO JEES TEACHINGS, PROMOTE THINGS LIKE ALCOHOL AND OTHER VICES WHICH GUROO JEE SAVED US FROM !!! THEY USE GUROO JEES NAME TO DO THAT WHICH GUROO JEE SAID NOT TO DO !!! WHAT DEMONS !!! THE DEMONS WILL BE DESTROYED BY THE POWER OF TRUTH !!!!!

When these corrupt committees challenge! ACCEPT THEIR CHALLENGE! These committees KNOW they are paapees! SHOWS HOW BIG DEMONS THEY ARE! EXPOSE THEM TO THE WORLD !!!!!

BE CAREFUL THOUGH! THESE CORRUPT COMMITTEES ARE AUTHENTIC GANGSTERS !!! THEY ARE LIKE TALIBAN TERRORISTS !!!

TAKE EVERYTHING TO MEDIA! EXPOSE BADALS! EXPOSE SARNAS! EXPOSE THE GOI CONGRSS WHO DID GENOCIDES! EXPOSE THESE CORRUPT COMMITTEES! A LOT OF TRUTH LOVERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WILL BE INSPIRED !!!!! THE WHOLE WORLD WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH KHALSA DHARMA !!!!!

LET THEM CALL TRUTH BY WHATEVER EVIL NAMES THEY WISH! THE MORE THEY ATTACK; THE MORE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WILL FIND OUT WHO THE EVIL IS!. THEM !!! TELL THE WORLD TO GO TO INTERNET AND LEARN OF SIKHI !!! TO SEE WHAT SIKHI TEACHES !!!!! THESE PEOPLE WILL SEE WHO THE DEMON TERRORISTS ARE !!!, THE CORRUPT COMMITTEES !!!

THE DEMONS WILL BE DESTROYED BY THE POWER OF TRUTH ALL OVER THE WORLD !!!!!

TRUE KHALSA DHARMA WILL BE LOVED BY THE WHOLE WORLD !!!!!

CHARDHI KALA !!!

KEEP SAFE !!!!!

[GurSa Singh]

It's an internal issue, but the Press are looking for stories/hysteria. Rather than allowing the media to brand GurSikhs working for Satkaar of Guru Jee as extremists (as has happened in the past), given that they will be running the story anyways, it's better for us to engage with the media, give our side of the story and explain the sacrilege that is taking place (which Navreet Singh and Popsy did very well) --> and then leverage off this to target the real culprits --> the Committees that are disrespecting Maryada and doing Beadbi.

Agree 100%. There's no point burying our heads in the sand (like we normally do) and ignoring what's being said about us. We need to engage with the mainstream media if they decide to pick on a Sikh story.

Yes, it's an internal issue, but ironically the Sikh media (except for some footage on Sikh Channel) haven't been interested in picking it up. So along come the non-Sikh media like BBC and Sunrise TV who have run news stories on the issue. I see it as a wake up call to the Sikh media to stop crawling up prabhandaks bottoms and to step up their real time news reporting of Sikh issues.

[amritaa]

remember press are double edged so use very carefully. these besharam committees that allow sharaab and that set such a bad example. lets see what the new sikh council does about this issue.