June 2011 Archive

Sikh Coalition Attends White House Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

Washington, DC (June 28, 2011): Last week the Sikh Coalition, along with several Sikh leaders from across the country, attended a White House reception celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. President Obama addressed the attendees and applauded the efforts of local grassroots leaders within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

SJF to file criminal case against Indian home minister for 1984 related controversial statement

Amritsar (June 27, 2011): AISSF and SFJ announced after the July 15 “Justice Rally” at Jantar Mantar, a criminal complaint will be filed against Home Minister P. Chidambaram for urging the Sikhs to “forgive” and “move on” from the November 1984 events in which thousands of Sikhs were killed. As of today, not a single leader has been sentenced for organizing these attacks.

Open Letter to P. Chidambaram , Home Minister of India on his claim about blacklist review

You have attempted to misguide Sikhs on blacklist issue, and more unfortunate thing is that you went on to justify the denial of justice to Sikhs, who fell victims of November 1984 genocide, because asking someone to forget or forgive the excesses without delivering or secure justice, clearly means to justify the excesses.

Not even blacklisted, Canadian Sikh not permitted to attend Father’s funeral

Patiala (24 June, 201): Despite the Central Government of India's claim to shorten the so-called blacklist of Sikhs living abroad, in order to restore their ability to visit Punjab, the controversy surrounding the issue does not seem to halt. The list is a cause of concern for Sikhs as it prevents many from the Sikh diaspora from visiting their families in Punjab.

Sikhs for Justice calls for Economic Boycott of India to save Professor DPS Bhulaar’s life

New York (June 23, 2011): To secure the release of Professor Bhullar from the illegal detention of the Indian Government and to demand Bhullar’s return to Germany who has already agreed to take him back, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) launched “Economic Boycott” of India.

Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar May Get German Help To Fight Death Row

Berlin/Germany (June 20, 2011): The German government is “actively considering” to take up the issue of death row convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar with India through diplomatic channels, whose review petition was rejected by President Pratibha Patil last month.

Professor DPS Bhullar’s death sentence violates UN’s meratorium on Death Penalty

New York (June 17, 2011): Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) announced that it will approach the United Nations to act on UN General Assembly Resolution 62-149 of 2008 calling for abolition and moratorium on the use of death penalty by intervening to save Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar who has been sentenced to death in India.

European Union opposes execution of Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar

New Delhi (June 17, 2011): The German Ambassador to India Thomas Matussek has said that Germany will appeal to India not to execute Professor Devender Pal Bhullar. He said the German court which extradited him to India, did so erroneously, and without the full facts of the case before it.

Amnesty International issues worldwide urgent action appeal for Prof. Bhullar

London, UK (June 16, 2011): The Sikh Federation (UK) has announced that following discussions and written exchanges with the Amnesty International Secretariat in London in early June that Amnesty International agreed to run a worldwide Urgent Action Appeal for Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. Amnesty International normally takes up about 400 cases a year.

WSO’s Annual June Human Rights Events Concludes

Surrey (June 19, 2011): The World Sikh Organization of Canada’s series of June human rights events concluded with the WSO’s Surrey Inter-community dinner at the Punjab Banquet Hall last Sunday in Surrey. Earlier events had taken place in Ottawa, Brampton and Edmonton.

Canada opposition leader seeks review of Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar’s death sentence

Toronto (June 15, 2011): As per media reports Canada’s opposition party has asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to urge India to review the death penalty ...

American Sikh Diaspora demands Prof. Bhullar’s unconditional release

Sacramento (June 14, 2011): An American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (AGPC) delegation met with Congresswoman Doris Matsui on Thursday at the West Sacramento Sikh Gurdwara to ask that she do everything possible to secure Davinderpal Singh Bhullar’s unconditional release.

Demanding Clemency for Prof. Bhullar, EU Sikh Diaspora to hold demonstration outside Indian Embassy in Berlin

Berlin, Germany (June 14, 2011): The activists of Sikh social, religious and political outfits from across the European Union (EU) are likely to participate in a protest planned outside Indian Embassy here on June 20 to demand condoning death sentence of Davinderpal Singh Bhullar into life imprisonment.

Tamil Party, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, seeks clemency for Prof. DPS Bhullar

New Delhi (June 13, 2011): Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, a Tamil Nadu based Political party, has severely condemned the rejection of the clemency petition of Punjab Professor Davindar Pal Singh Bhullar by President Pratiba Patil on May 25th. The Chidambaram home ministry has given recommendation for this move.

EcoSikh President to visit Punjab

Ludhiana (June 11, 2011): Dr. Rajwant Singh, President of EcoSikh, from Washington will be visiting Punjab and other states in India from 16th June – 12th July, 2011. During these four weeks he plans to meet with prominent Sikh political and religious leaders and conducting several consultative sessions with various grass roots organizations to bring major changes in Punjab’s current environmental issues.

Hundreds of Canadian Sikhs rall to sace Professor DPS Bhullar from Death row

Toronto (June 10, 2011): On a call given by “Sikhs For Justice” a human rights advocacy group, during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention (PBD Canada 2011), Several hundred Canadians including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians gathered in downtown Toronto to voice their support for Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who has been unjustly sentenced to death in India.

Delhi Tamil Students Union (DTSU) seeks clemency for Professor DPS Bhullar

New Delhi (June 09, 2011): We strongly condemn President Pratiba Patil's rejection of the mercy petition of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar. Prof. Bhullar was sentenced to death by a trial court in Delhi on 25th August 2001 under the infamous draconian Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) act, which has been consistently used as a tool of the Indian state and its ruling parties to harass activists who are working for the people, oppressed sections and minorities.

Capt. Amrinder Singh ingeminate stand on clemency for Prof. DPS Bhullar

Amritsar/Ludhiana (June 09, 2011): As per media reports former chief minister and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday reiterated his stand on clemency for Sikh militant Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, who is on death row in Tihar Jail.

Airport Authority lifts Kirpan Ban

Amritsar, Punjab (June 07, 2011): The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has today lifted the ban it had imposed in April on the wearing of a Kirpan by employees working on the airside at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, Amritsar, following a campaign by the UNITED SIKHS and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Save Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar from Judicial Murder: Sikhs for Justice

Toronto (June 7, 2011): On Friday, June 10, 2011, the Sikh community of Toronto will hold a Justice Rally to save the life of Professor Davinder Pal Bhullar from the death sentence issued to him in India for a crime that he was unjustly convicted of. During the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD Canada 2011) convention in downtown Toronto, Sikh community members will converge from the GTA to highlight this grave injustice.

Next Page »