April 2012 Archive

Event report: Fourth Annual Global Sikh Civil and Human Rights Conference 2012 organized by United Sikhs

New York, USA (April 28, 2012): It is learnt from a release issued by Mejindarpal Kaur, Legal Director,International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA), that the United Sikhs' Fourth Annual Global Sikh Civil and Human Rights Conference held at the United Nations Church Center, this Tuesday on the 24th of April. The delegates from around the globe raised and discussed pressing issues facing the Sikh community.

Sikh Genocide 1984: Sikh Rights Group demand a “UN Special Commission” to investigate the killing Of Sikhs

New York/New Delhi (April 28, 2012): Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), an international human rights organization, striving to disseminate true and correct information, statistics, figures and data regarding the November 1984 Genocide of Sikhs called upon United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a “UN Special Commission” to investigate the systematic and organized killing of Sikhs during November 1984 to reveal the true nature, scope and scale of massacre. A memorandum was submitted to UN Secretary General on behalf of widows, victims, and survivors of November 1984 Sikh Genocide urging him to raise the issue of “denial of justice” to the thousands of innocent Sikhs who were ruthlessly murdered in the streets of Delhi and other cities of India in November 1984.

Sikh Genocide 1984: SJF want CBI to charge Sajjan Kumar seperately for murder in wake of fresh evidence

Chandigarh, Punjab (April 26, 2012): All India Sikh Students Federation (Peer Mohammad) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) demanded that CBI should file additional criminal case against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for his role in the killings of Gurcharan Singh Rishi, Santokh Singh and Sohan Singh Kohli. On November 01, 1984, Rishi a resident of , Gulab Bagh Colony, village Nawada Nazafgarh Road, New Delhi was thrown into a burning truck by the mob incited by Congress Leaders Sajjan Kumar. Rishi remained bed ridden for 25 years due to burn injuries before succumbing in February 2009. During the attack on Rishi’s home, his uncle Santokh Singh, who was visiting from Bulandshehar, UP was also killed.

Sikh body writes to visiting UN chief to influence India to address contentious issues

Amritsar, Punjab (April 25, 2012): A Sikh body, the Dal Khalsa, has sent a fresh memo addressed to Mr Baan ki-moon urging the Secretary General of the United Nation to influence the so-called ‘world’s largest democracy’ to bring the culprits of November 1984 genocide to book and abolish capital punishment from the Indian laws.

1984 Case: CBI recalls Nirpreet Kaur’s statement identifying Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi (April 23, 2012): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is reported to have argued (on April 21, 2012) before a Delhi court that a woman witness in the Delhi 1984 Sikh massacre, Nirpreet Kaur had deposed that she had seen senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar addressing a mob and provoking to attack and kill the Sikhs.

Desire to re-connect with roots: Sikhs living in Assam feel neglected; expressed concerns about preservation of Sikh culture

Itanagar/Ludhiana (April 23, 2012): As per a news report by “Press Trust of India - PTI” the over 50,000-strong Sikh population in Assam feel they are a neglected lot with neither the Assam nor the Punjab governments giving them due recognition. Mostly scattered in Nagaon and Sonitpur districts, the Assamese Sikhs, as they have come to be known, trace their origin to 1820 when Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent 500 Sikh soldiers to the region to fight Myanmarese invaders.

United Sikhs want UK Govt to call India to abolish death penalty

London, UK (April 21, 2012: United Sikhs handed the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, a letter on Monday asking him to call on India to abolish the death penalty and to free Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is facing the death penalty.

Thapar University quashed Punjab students quota; SYP and students bodies oppose the move

atiala/Amritsar, Punjab (April 21, 2012): Raising its voice against Thapar University (TU)  for abolishing the Punjab quota, the ‘Sikh Youth of Punjab’ (SYP) on  Friday slammed TU and said that this decision of the university was  biased and contrary to the ‘son of the soil’ theory. In a statement here today, youth body’s chief Ranbir Singh and spokesperson Prabhjot Singh said, "The University is located on land belonging to Punjab. The management, under no pretext, can refuse to give quota to the sons of the soil."

US Congress members demand FBI to track Anti-Sikh hate crimes

Washington, DC (April 20, 2012): Over 90 members of the United States Congress, led by New York Congressman Joseph Crowley, issued a letter to the Justice Department this week, demanding that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) track anti-Sikh hate crimes.

Sikh genocide 1984: US Court reserves decision regarding plea to re-instate case against Indian minister Kamal Nath

New York, USA (April 18, 2012): On April 18, US Federal Judge Robert Sweet heard on submission a motion filed by November 1984 Victims’ requesting the court to vacate its earlier order dismissing the case against Kamal Nath and re-instating the same. The victims motion to reinstate the case argues that survivors of November 1984 Sikh Genocide, as a matter of law, has a right to conduct jurisdictional discovery to uncover Kamal Nath’s contacts with New York to establish court’s personal jurisdiction in this class action lawsuit filed under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA). The case against Minister Nath was filed by "Sikhs For Justice" (SFJ) a US based human rights group for his role in leading an armed mob which attacked Gurdawara Rakab Ganj Delhi on November 01, 1984 in which many Sikhs were burnt alive.

Professor DPS Bhullar Case: Supreme Court (India) reserved final judgement on death sentence execution

New Delhi, India (April 19, 2012): The judgement on Sikh political prisioner Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s plea against execution of death sentence awarded by an Indian court was reserved by the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (April 20, 2012). Bhai Mandhir Singh, youth leader of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani informed Sikh Siyasat that the Indian court may pronounce it's reserved judgement any time with in next 30 days.

Detention of Sikh leaders: Bhai Daljit Singh and other released from Ludhiana Jail; others still behind the bars

Ludhiana, Punjab (April 16, 2012): During the Punjab bandh declared by various Sikh organizations protesting against the execution of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, a Sikh political prisoner at Central Jail Patiala, many Sikh leaders were arrested. Punjab government kept them under so-called "preventive detention".

Detention of Sikh leaders: KAC convener release from prison; others still behind the bars

Amritsar, Punjab (April 15, 2012): After spending 17 days behind bars, hardliner Sikhs Bhai Mohkam Singh along with Bhai Balwant Singh Gopala was released yesterday from Amritsar prison on bail granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Many Sikh leaders including Akali Dal Panch Pardhani leaders Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema and SGPC member Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind are detained in various jails of Punjab under so-called "preventive detention".

On Vasakhi Day- Dal Khalsa urges Sikhs to remain united to foil enemies nefarious designs

Hoshiarpur, Punjab (April 13, 2012): Marking the 313th birth anniversary of the Khalsa Panth on Friday, the Dal Khalsa urged the youth to take up the responsibility of cleansing politics from its current maladies instead of confining themselves to demanding their rights.

Sikh Genocide 1984: Congress (I) takes defenses of “burden on American Tax Payers” and “immunity” in US court

New York, US: (April 11, 2012): Representing Congress (I) a.k.a (INC) in Sikh Genocide Case, lawyers from “Jones Day”, an international law firm specializing in defending claims arising from human rights violations, has opposed the entry of default judgment against Congress (I). The opposition filed in the court states that the 1984 Sikh Genocide case “involves significant issues of public international law that should not be decided by a default judgment.”

Punjab: Some Sikh Leaders released, others still in Detention

Amritsar, Punjab (13 April, 2012): Bhai Mohkam Singh, former Damdami Taksal Spokesperson and Convener of Khalsa Action Committee and #Sikh preacher Baba Baljeet Singh Daduwal were released from different jails of Punjab yesterday. Some other Sikh activists were also released. They were kept under so-called "preventive detention" since 28 and 29 March, 2012.

Indian cabinet clears proposal to introduce ammendment bill just to provide for registration of Sikh marraiges u/1909 Act

New Delhi, India (April 12, 2012): According to a press release issued on the website of Press Information Bureau, Government of India (PIB-GOI) the Cabinet of Government of India has cleared a proposal to introduce an amendment bill in Parliament to amend the Anand marriage Act, 1909.

Professor Bhullar’s death sentence: Hearing to continue in Supreme court of India

New Delhi, India (April 10, 2012): Hearing the plea against execution of death sentence awarded by an Indian court to Sikh activist (Prof.) Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, the Supreme Court of India today asked the Government of India (GOI) to furnish details of the number of constitutional review petitions disposed off by the President in 2011, besides other petitions pending with the government for the past several years. Prof. Bhullar is on death row since 2001 and his review constitutional review petition was dismissed by President of India, as per recommendations by GOI, few months back. It is notable that Prof. Bhullar's death sentence was confirmed by Supreme Court of India in 2002, in a split decision. He was convicted by trial court in the absence of reliable evidence and Presiding Judge of Supreme Court of India acquitted him from the case, but two other judges confirmed his death sentence.

Faridkot police torture shopkeeper to death in custody

Faridkot, Punjab (April 09, 2012): Another case of custodial death and torture is reported in Punjab. "The 35-year-old victim, Chamkaur Singh of Khosa Pando village, who had a 'kirana' shop in the village, was picked up by the police on the charges of drug trafficking on Friday (April 08, 2012) evening. He was allegedly tortured, which led to his death the next morning", reports The Tribune.

Sikh Sangat pay tributes to Shaheed Jaspal Singh Gurdaspur; Sikh leadership remains behind the bars

Gurdaspur, Punjab (April 08, 2012): The last rites, called 'bhog' ceremony, of Bhai Jaspal Singh (18), who was killed by police firing during Gurdaspur incident on March 29, was observed at his native village Jorh Sidhwan, near Gurdaspur on April 07, 2012. Jaspal Singh was shot at while he was participating in peaceful protest opposing hanging of Sikh political prisoner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana.

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