Sikh Identity

Sikh thinker & author S. Ajmer Singh on Wisconsin Gurudwara Tragedy

“Na ko Hindu, na Musalman” was widely referred by media to highlight distinctiveness of Sikh identity, S. Ajmer Singh told Sikh Siyasat.

Sikh Family denied entry to London Olympic games 2012 for carrying Kirpan

Ludhiana/London (August 02, 2012): As per news reports, members of a Sikh family were denied entry to an Olympic football game in Coventry because the father was carrying a small Kirpan. A Kirpan is a cermonail sword that is an integral part of Sikh religion's practise and is also considered to be vital part of Sikh identity.

London Olympic Games – Sikhs with Kirpans are not to be stopped

London, (July 27, 2012): The London Olympic Games 2012 opening cerimony is scheduled to be held few hours after the publication of this news. Sikhs have a good news in this regard that London Committee for Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has ordered security guards not to stop Sikhs carrying religious sword named Kirpan from entry.

Why Italy refuses to recognize the world’s fifth-largest religion

ROME - Should a boy scout walking around with a Swiss-army knife be considered dangerous? Should Swiss-army knives be banned altogether? Well, for the Italian interior minister, if the small knife is carried for religious reasons, then the answer is yes.

Truth about amendment to Anand Marriage Act – Achievement for Sikhs or fraud with Sikhs

Since Baisakhi Day i.e. April 13, 2012, the newspapers headlines have triggered a major debate on the Anand Marriage Act. There had been a rigorous issuance of statements from all around on the subject but most of the utterances are without the proper knowledge of the law relating the crucial subject. It seems that majority of the statements are laced in political colour. As there is a saying `little knowledge is dangerous thing’, similarly without the proper knowledge of the law, big statements have been issued that 'with implementation of Anand Marriage Act', `Sikhs has won a major victory’.

Recent amendment to Anand Marriage Act – achievement for the Sikhs or fraud with the Sikhs?

Ludhiana, Punjab (May 28, 2012): Whereas, many circles of Sikh diaspora and Badal Dal leaders are busy in hailing the "success" in getting Anand Marriage Act, 1909 amended in the Indian Parliament, Sikh academicians and scholars have taken strong exception to the generalized view in this matter and have termed the recent amendment as a “fraud” with the Sikhs.

India – Sikh Identity Issue: Rights Group to Launch “Amend Article 25” Campaign

New York, USA (May 24, 2012): Reacting to the recent amendment to Anand Marriage Act, Sikh organizations and Gurudwara Management Committees across North America came together declaring that amendment to Anand Marriage Act is not sufficient to restore the separate status and identity of Sikhism. Sikh bodies demanded amendment to article 25 of the Constitution of India to restore the separate status of Sikhism.

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.

UK Sikh Lobby: Denial of Justice to 1984 Victims, death sentence of Prof. Bhullar and detention of Daljit Singh Bittu figured as major issues related to India

London, England (December 13, 2011): Around one hundred and fifty Sikh representatives from across the United Kingdom took part in a lobby at the UK Parliament organised by the Sikh Federation (UK). Several human rights issues were raised at the lobby, which lasted for two hours, including the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and the continued detention of (Bhai) Daljit Singh Bittu, chairman of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) since August 2009 and the denial of justice for the Sikh Genocide 1984.

‘Indian leadership united in denying Sikhs of their separate identity and fundamental rights’

We, the Sikhs, over the years, have been facing the challenges posed by the strident anti-Sikh lobby and more specifically by the Hindutva elements questioning our unique and distinct identity. The Sikhs have expressed their concern and agony on the issue to all successive governments in the past but none has come forward to correct the constitutional wrong.

AISSF asks Sikhs to say “No to Hindu Marriage Act”

Amritsar (August 30, 2011): All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) accused the Government of India of usurping the identity of Sikhs by denying their demand for Anand Marriage Act. The Government’s action of forcing Sikhs to register their marriages under Hindu Marriage Act is in violation of “equal rights” provided under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India. AISSF announced that it will file a constitutional petition before the Supreme Court of India challenging the Government’s refusal to pass Anand Marriage Act.

Rejection of Anand Marriage Act: The constitutional discrimination against Sikhs continues

Amritsar (August 30, 2011): Dal Khalsa slams the Union government for rejecting the proposal to implement the provisions of Anand Marriage Act, lying defunct since the India adopted the present Constitution in 1950.

Federal Criminal Charges against Sikh for carrying Kirpal, Dropped After Sikh Coalition Intervenes

California, USA (July 5, 2011): A U.S. federal prosecutor dropped criminal charges against a Sikh for wearing his kirpan into a federal facility. To the Sikh Coalition’s knowledge, this is the first time that a federal prosecutor has ever dropped criminal charges against a Sikh for carrying a kirpan.

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.

Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference discusses how Sikhs can protect their Identity

LAST week marked the International Day for Human Rights, a theme that will continue throughout this weekend in Surrey at the third Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference organized by the United Sikhs organization.

Dastar Issue in NZ: Club should move into the 21st century

Ludhiana (December 21, 2009): Recently a Club in New Zealand refused enterance to a Sikh Karnail Singh in Club premises, as he was wearing a Dastar (Turban).

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