Sikh Channel Live Phone-In On Satkaar Issues

[Satkaar]

Press Release

Birmingham, UK - 3 December 2010

Sikh Channel live phone-in on Satkaar issues

Saturday 4 December from 7pm

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

In a further boost 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, Sikh Channel (Sky Channel 840) will host a live two hour show on this issue from 7pm on Saturday 4 December. Satkaar Sevadaars understand that viewers will have the opportunity to participate in the show by calling in on the following number: 0121 380 1050. The UK Sangat is respectfully requested to take part in the show and make the point that the UK Sangat will no longer tolerate the sacrilege of Gurdwara committees allowing meat, alcohol, tobacco and parties on our Gurdwara premises.

Satkaar Sevadaars would also like to thank Sikh TV (Sky Channel 848) for providing in their scroll a continuous message congratulating the Grays and Edinburgh Gurdwara committees for complying with Akaal Takhat Sahib's 2006 Sandesh, and a further humble request to those Gurdwaras that are not yet doing so, to abide by such Sandesh.

Satkaar Sevadaars also understand that Sunrise TV (Sky Channel 830) will be running a piece about the Satkaar campaign on Sunday 5 December from 9.30am.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[GurSa Singh]

Please raise awareness in the community. Call 0121 380 1050 to speak on air in tonights Sikh Channel LIVE show.

Any Committee members who allow parties, alcohol and meat on the Gurdwara properties can call in to explain their "viewpoint". Families who use the Gurdwara facilities for parties distributing sharab etc can also call in to explain their reasoning.

See tonights special show as an open forum to get your views through.

[Bundha]

Brilliant discussion going on at this moment about party halls and gurughars.

Great response from the Sikh youth who went to Greys Gurdwara.

Really good discussion, even musallman and hindu Sharma have come on and given positive views.

[Aman0001]

Great discussion. It was good that everybody had the chance to give their opinion and that the chair remained impartial. I think that the show came accross as a well balanced and impartial debate which was important. As oppossed to a bias towards the Saatkar guys on a panthic channel. The way it was carried out will surely help to convince and educate the wider sangat that the Satkaar guys are bang on with their views.

[Guroo Guroo Jaap]

It was great to finally have a panel of Gursikhs who stood up for Gurmat. Shame about the other guy trying to turn it into a caste issue.

[SinghWarrior]

An excellent show - Akal Takht Jathedaar Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji's live call in made it completely clear that meat and alcohol on Gurdwara property is completely forbidden in Sikhi/gurmat maryada. I was extremely disappointed to see Dr Bhogal try to make the allegation that the Sangat is targeting the "Ramgarhia" community. As Navreet Singh said, this is about beadbi, not caste.

[Bundha]

One thing that i noticed was that a musallman and a hindu phoned in. This has happened before on other discussions. So no t only do Sikhs watch the Sikh channels but Hindu and Musallmans do also.

This could be due to Punjabi culture as many musalman speak Punjabi fluently. Also I would guess that many hindu/musalmans quite like Classical raags and on all three channels there is much kirtan in raag, so they must enjoy this. Looking at the musallman channels there is not much music culture and most Hindu channels are total bakwaas, so for them this must be a welcome change to listen to raag kirtan and most phone in’s by them are of a positive nature.

On the negative side it must be said that forces opposed to Sikhi – RSS / GOI etc must also be watching the channels very closely and highly likely trying to hatch plots to either to derail the channels or to somehow divide the Sikhs.

So we must be very careful and vigilant of these types of people.