April 2011 Archive

Dal Khalsa delivers message on 25th anniversary of Khalistan Declaration Day

Amritsar (April 29, 2011): Today is Khalistan Day. The Panthic Committee constituted by the Damdami Taksal this day 25 years ago this day declared Khalistan as a goal of the Sikh Nation from the Akal Takht Sahib. Earlier organizations like the Dal Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa and the Council of Khalistan had adopted Khalistan as their agenda.

Jathedar want to baptise Rajoana but official clearance is the hurdle

Amritsar (April 27, 2011): A day after the letter issued by Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, re-arguing Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib to secure necessary Jathedar arrangement to get him baptised as per Sikh rituals, Giani Gurbachan Singh is reported to have taken the state's jail department to task for not allowing Balwant Singh to get baptized before he is hanged to death. Balwant Singh was convicted for the assassination of Beant Singh, former CM of Punjab, and is on death row.

Bring Charges for Newly Discovered Massacre of Sikhs: Human rights watch

New York (April 25, 2011): In a statement issued by Human Rights Watch, an international human rights body, it is said that the Indian government should ensure that those responsible for newly discovered massacres of Sikhs in 1984 are brought to justice, Human Rights Watch said today.

Dal Khalsa equates Rajiv Gandhi and Narindra Modi for their opression against minorities

Amritsar (April 24, 2011): Citing Gujarat’s chief minister’s comments that Muslims need to be taught a lesson in the wake of Godhra killings, the Dal ...

PUCL to hold two days seminar on misuse of Sedition and other laws in India

Chandigarh (April 22, 2011): The People's Union for Civil Liberties is organising an all India seminar on the 7th and 8th of May, 2011 in Delhi on the "Attack by the State on the Life and Personal liberty of its people in Democratic India: Examining the Law on Sedition, other Draconian Laws and Human Rights Violations of Citizens under Ordinary Laws."

Criminally charge Hanspal, cancel bail of Sajjan Kumar: Sikh Bodies

Fatehgarh Sahib (April 16, 2011): Sikh bodies have demanded immediate removal of senior Congress leader H. S. Hanspal from the membership of India's National Commission for Minorities; as he is accused by a witness for attempting to lure her to turn hostile in a criminal case against another senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar.

Congress “Killer of Sikhs” – SAD (Badal) “Using Blood of Sikhs for Political Gains” : SJF

Chandigarh (April 16, 2011): All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) demanded that criminal case should be registered against HS Hanspal and Sajjan Kumar for pressuring witnesses in November 1984 Sikh Genocide case. AISSF President Karnail Singh Peermohammad stated that Congress is responsible for organized killing of Sikhs in November 1984 and shielding the leaders leading the active congress workers who killed Sikhs with impunity.

SGPC Elections: Irregularities in voter lists, Complainants term probe an eyewash

Amritsar (April 16, 2011): Even as an inquiry conducted by Deputy Commissioner KS Pannu into alleged irregularities in the registration of voters for the upcoming Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections has indicted junior officials for laxity, complainants have termed the probe an eyewash. They say the probe was conducted half-heartedly and all allegations were not probed; besides, they say, senior officials were spared the blame.

Desecration of Turban: Statements of Jagjeet Singh (Victim), Pritam Singh (S.P.-D.) and Kulbhushan Sharma (S.H.O.)

Chandigarh, PUNJAB (April 13, 2011): Advocate Navkiran Singh has provided English translation of Statements of Mohali (28 March, 2011) incident victim S. Jagjeet Singh and both accused police officers. (Download a copy of F.I.R.)

Enforced Disappearance of Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaonke- PIL seeks independent probe

Chandigarh (April 12, 2011): Nearly two decades after enforced disappearance of Akal Takht’s former Jathedar Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaunke a Public Interest Litigation seeks an independent inquiry into the incident.

Mass Grave of 65 and ruins of Gurudwaras burnt in November 1984 discovered

Chandigarh, PUNJAB (April 12, 2011): In a communique jointly issued by Navkiran Singh (Cheif Legal Council, INDIA), Karnail Singh Primohammad (President, AISSF) and Babu Singh Dukhiya (President, 1984 Victims Justice and Welfare Society) it is maintained that "a mass Grave of Sikhs killed in November 1984 has been discovered after 26 years at Gurudwara in 22 Block, Nagloi, No.1, Delhi where more than sixty five (65) Sikhs were burnt alive November 1984. The site where Sikhs were burnt alive killed is located in front of Gurudwara Udaseen Taran Ashram".

Canadian Sikhs to push genocide motion in Parliament  

Toronto, CANADA (April 11, 2011): Sikh votes shouldn’t be taken for granted was the message that was delivered loud and clear at a conference held this weekend by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a human rights group, backed by the Ontario Gurudwaras Committee and Ontario Sikhs and Gurudwaras Committee. Together, the three organizations agreed to pursue a Parliamentary motion to have the attacks carried out against Sikhs in November 1984 recognized as Genocide.

YouTube video is “exaggerated” version of incident, claim accused police officers

Chandigarh, PUNJAB (April 10, 2011): Punjab Police has registered F.I.R No. 26 (dated April 06, 2011) at police station SAS Nagar, Phase 8 regarding an incident (dated: March 28, 2011), in which Dastar (turban) of a Sikh was deliberately removed by SHO Kulbhushan Sharma, at the instance of his senior S.P. (D) Pritam Singh. Both accused police officers are charged with blasphemy (Section 295A of Indian Penal Code, 1860), and the matter has been referred to P. S. Gill, I.G. (Patiala range). I.G. is to complete investigations and submit the report with in three months.

Panch Pardhani support APSCC over reinvestigation of Chittisinghpura Sikh Massacre

Fatehgarh Sahib (April 06, 2011): Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) has extended its support to All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), which has demanded full scale reinvestigation into Chittisinghpura massacre.

Congress using State authority and resources to defend itself

New York: (April 01, 2011): On the Summons issued on March 1, 2011 by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for conspiring, aiding, abetting and carrying out organized attacks on Sikh population of India in November 1984, Congress (I) has now hired Law Firm of Wiggin and Dana LLP in addition to the law firm of Sabharwal, Nordin and Finkel.

Turban santching by Police infringes religious rights: Canadian Sikh Coalition

Vancouver, CANADA (March 31, 2011): Two police officers who tore off a Sikh’s turban on Monday during a peaceful rally by pharmacy students in Mohali, Punjab were suspended with pay. They should be fired, say leaders of the Canadian Sikh Coalition.

Desecration of Turban: Suspension is not enough, they must be criminally prosecuted

Chandigarh (March 31, 2011): Various Sikh bodies slammed Punjab police officers who committed blasphemy by removing the turban of a Sikh youth Jagjit Singh of Verka in full public view at Mohali.

SJF’s Open Letter to Punjab CM

On March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light their demands.