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Naqvi said, the government has so far notified six communities — Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
The government has no plan to accord minority status to more communities at present, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.”No madam,” Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in a written reply. He was asked whether government proposes to accord the status of minority to some other communities also.Naqvi said, the government has so far notified six communities — Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>He said there is no specific function conferred under Section 9 of NCM Act to identify any community as a minority.
Kaur said the family didn’t learn of Armaan’s arrest until hours after it happened.
Armaan Singh, left, the 12 year old boy arrested by police in Arlington for allegedly making a bomb threat
Image Source: Facebook
The mother of a Sikh middle school student accused of threatening to detonate a bomb at his Texas school is asking police to drop charges, saying that her son never made such a threat. Armaan Singh, 12, was arrested on December 11 after police said he admitted to making the threat while they were questioning him without his parents present. He spent three days in juvenile detention before being released and placed under house arrest with ankle monitor. He also was suspended from school. His mother, Gurdeep Kaur, said a classmate asked whether a battery in Armaan’s backpack was a bomb, and that he said it wasn’t, but the classmate told the teacher he said it was. There was no bomb in the backpack.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> Kaur said the family didn’t learn of Armaan’s arrest until hours after it happened. She told The Associated Press that she panicked when he didn’t come home from school, and after searching the apartment complex, they went to the school to look for him. She said they called the principal, who told them Armaan had been taken into custody. “She told them that he was with the police but she didn’t know which facility,” said Arlington schools spokeswoman Leslie Johnston. Kaur said the family finally learned Armaan was in the detention center four hours after his arrest when they called police. She said when they arrived at the detention center late on Friday, Armaan, who has had three open-heart surgeries, asked to be taken home. But she said there was no judge available to arrange his probation. Police have rejected allegations that the boy’s Sikh religion played a part in his arrest. Sikhism, a monotheistic faith, was founded more than 500 years ago in Southeast Asia and has roughly 27 million followers worldwide, most of them in India. Even though Sikhs aren’t Muslim, reports of Sikhs being harassed have increased with the recent rise in anti-Islamic sentiment. Even though all four of her children were born in the US, Kaur said she wonders if Armaan’s background factored into his arrest. “I know they’re taking it very seriously, but is this thing what they do with a 12-year-old because his parents are not from here? My husband and I are from India,” Kaur said.
Badal said besides “planning this genocide”, Congress has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikhs by “shielding and honoring” the perpetrators of this barbaric incident with coveted positions.
RNA
The Sikh community will never forgive the Congress for “hatching” the conspiracy of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said.”The wounds of 1984 Sikh carnage will remain afresh in the psyche of every Sikh, and the Sikh community will never forgive Congress for hatching the conspiracy of this dastardly act,” Badal said.After laying the foundation stone of a new police station building here, the Chief Minister said it was a well-known fact that the “heinous crime”, in which hundreds of innocent Sikhs were massacred, was “planned and executed” by the then Congress government at the Centre.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Badal said besides “planning this genocide”, Congress has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikhs by “shielding and honoring” the perpetrators of this barbaric incident with coveted positions.The Chief Minister said Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), being the sole custodian of rights of Sikhs, had raised the issue of justice for victims of this genocide with the Government of India time and again, and this crusade will continue till exemplary punishment is not ensured to the guilty.Badal said he had also taken up this issue with the NDA government at the Centre, which has assured to give justice to the victims of this genocide”This issue has bruised the psyche of every Sikh and SAD is duty-bound to ensure that its perpetrators were brought to the book,” Badal said.Refuting the charges of political vendetta leveled by the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said not even a single case has been registered by police out of vendetta and such allegations are totally baseless.However, Badal said if anybody has any grievance regarding it, then they could directly approach him with facts.The Chief Minister said the state government was examining the allegations regarding fake encounters leveled by a former cop Parminder Singh Pinky.However, he said that the person who was levying these allegations was not having any credibility.The Chief Minister further said that the state government was laying special focus on maintaining law and order in the state for which special thrust was being laid on construction of police stations and modernization of police.He said under this scheme, new buildings of police station at Chohla Sahib would come up at a cost of Rs 1.56 crore and that at Tarn Taran would be constructed at cost of Rs 2 crore.Earlier, addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan at village Tur, Khan Chabri and Kahlwan, the Chief Minister said the massive response to ‘Sadbhawna’ rallies in various districts of state have proved that the people of Punjab want peace and progress in the state and there was no space for divisive agenda in the state.He said peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity of any country.He said peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity of any country.Recalling the turbulent times of militancy, Badal said more than 21,000 innocent people lost their lives during those times and Punjabis paid a heavy price of that period as due to it, the state lagged behind in development.He said ‘Sadbhawna’ rallies were being organized not for any political purpose, but for promoting ethos of peace and communal harmony in the state.
Stating that development is Narendra Modi Government’s lone agenda, Union Minister and BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said those attacking it in the name of “intolerance” were actually hurting the image of the country.”Those attacking the NDA Government in the name of “intolerance” are actually hurting the image and standing of the country,” he said here. Speaking at a foundation stone laying ceremony for a fly-over, Naidu attacked Congress over some important events of the past.Recalling the imposition of Emergency (1975-77) in the country and massacre of Sikhs in Delhi in 1984, the former BJP President said those who were at the helm of affairs then, are now preaching morals. The agenda of the Modi Government is development alone, the Union Minister maintained. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
Describing the sacrilege incidents in the state as “unfortunate”, he said they had bruised the psyche of every human being in general and that of Sikhs in particular.
Accusing Congress of trying to push Punjab back into the black days of militancy, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday made a scathing attack on the party and Amarinder Singh as he exhorted people of the state to become “ambassadors of peace and progress”.Addressing SAD-BJP’s fourth ‘Sadbhavana rally’ here, Badal urged the citizens to take pledge for making Punjab a “peaceful and prosperous” state saying that some forces were hell bent upon pushing the state back into the black days. “We are organising these Sadbhavana rallies not for any political purpose but for promoting ethos of peace and communal harmony,” he said, adding that peace and harmony were the basic ingredients of progress and prosperity.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Describing the sacrilege incidents in the state as “unfortunate”, he said they had bruised the psyche of every human being in general and that of Sikhs in particular. Recalling the times of militancy, Badal said more than 21,000 innocent people lost their lives during those difficult times and Punjabis had to pay a heavy price as the state lagged behind in development due to it. Attacking Congress and its state chief Amarinder Singh, Badal alleged that the party and separatist leaders were hand in glove with each other, and both had the single point agenda to divide Punjab on sectarian lines.”Captain (Amarinder) and separatist leader Simaranjit Singh Mann, who had attended the Chaba congregation at Amritsar on November 10, were relatives and they together hatch the conspiracies to derail Punjab’s peace and progress. Captain and Mann meet every evening to draw strategies for pushing the state in black days,” he alleged.
She also hit out the at Award Wapasi trend and slammed the protesting writers, asking where were they during the massacre of the Sikhs in 1980 in New Delhi and across the nation.
File Photo
Lashing out at the UPA regime over intolerance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirron Kher on Tuesday said India had been tolerating misrule and corruption for 65 years under the regime of the grand old party.”You can’t tolerate any one here. 65 years this country has tolerated misrule and corruption. Intellectuals tolerated 65 years of intolerance in India. Rahul Gandhi said let’s work with love. My request is don’t hate us so much, don’t make us hate you,” Kher told the Lok Sabha.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>She also hit out the at Award Wapasi trend and slammed the protesting writers, asking where were they during the massacre of the Sikhs in 1980 in New Delhi and across the nation.”Indian film industry has faced a lot of intolerance from the Congress Party. They sell victimhood to Muslims so that they can use them as a vote bank,” Kher added.Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had earlier said that his party was very tolerant in discussing the ‘fabricated propaganda of intolerance’. Hitting out at the opposition for creating an illusion of intolerance in the country, Naqvi said the BJP is satisfied that the wrongly portrayed issue of intolerance in the country is now being understood.
Asserting that the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was a religious congregation, he said, Sukhbir by trying to accuse all those who attended it as ‘Khalistanis’ (people demanding separate Sikh homeland) was hurting the religious sentiments of people and trying to project an entire community as anti-national.
Amarinder Singh
Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday snubbed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and rejected his demand for action against Congress leaders attending ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of sikhs) at Amritsar on November 10.”You better mind your own business than meddle in our party affairs”. “It is like devil quoting scriptures”, he remarked. The PCC President asked Sukhbir and his father (Parkash Singh Badal) that before raising an accusing finger on the Congress leaders, who attended the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ purely as true Sikhs, they should better take action against SAD sitting MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha who boasts himself as a “terrorist”.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Before resorting to such neurotic breast beating about threat to peace in Punjab and trying to blame Congress for it, why don t you ask your father Parkash Singh Badal as what made him to pronounce the then chief minister Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana as ‘Zinda Shaheed’ (living martyr) and bring back another life convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar to Amritsar and treat him as a state guest”, Capt Amarinder asked Sukhbir.Ridiculing Sukhbir s “day dreaming” of ruling for next 15 years, the PCC president asked him, “forget about next 15 years, better start worrying as what will happen after 15 months from now when you will be running for cover and you will no longer have hundreds of security personnel to protect you”.Asserting that the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ was a religious congregation, he said, Sukhbir by trying to accuse all those who attended it as ‘Khalistanis’ (people demanding separate Sikh homeland) was hurting the religious sentiments of people and trying to project an entire community as anti-national. “Do you mean that those who had come there to protest against the desecration of Holy Guru Granth Sahab were all Khalistanis?” he asked Sukhbir to clarify while adding, “and do you mean that every Sikh who raised his voice against desecration and rightly blamed you for it, is a Khalistani?”
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”.
Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh (above) assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht
File Photo
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh’s customary address on the occasion of Diwali drowned in the din on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by Sikh hardliners, even as parallely “appointed” jathedar of Akal Takht also managed to address the gathering but was arrested soon after. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said,”Dhian Singh Mand, a former MP of SAD(A), was arrested this evening from inside the Golden Temple.”Yesterday, Sikh hardliners had convened ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, a grand assembly of Sikhs, here and appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht. Since Hawara is in prison, Mand was to take charge as jathedar of Akal Takht, as per the hardliners. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh in his address asked Sikhs to remain vigilant against “anti-panthic forces”. On the other hand, Mand sought Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s social boycott. Mand delivered his address in front of the Darshani Deodi (entrance of the Golden Temple). He gave an appeal for social boycott of Badals.Meanwhile, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar appealed to people to maintain peace. Sikh protesters brandished swords and waved black flags in Golden Temple complex. However, no one was hurt in the melee.Gurbachan in his address said that “what the Sikh gathering did yesterday at Chhaba village has hurt the sentiments of the community and shaken it deeply.” “These forces have created an unrest among the community,” the Akal Takht head said.Speaking on the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, Gurbachan said that the state government must ensure round the clock surveillance of Sikh shrines. “Sikh warriors imprisoned since long must be released forthwith,” he demanded while asking the Centre to take a decision on the issue at the earliest.Mand, however, asserted that Badals’ political influence over Sikh institutions must be ended. He alleged that Badals have eroded the sanctity of Sikh institutions. Earlier, several leaders of hardline Sikh groups were detained here ahead of their proposed march to Golden Temple to address Sikhs on Diwali, a day after they had “appointed” Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht.Apart from Akal Takht, which is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, the yesterday’s congregation (Sarbat Khalsa) also “removed” jathedars of two other Takhts– Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib. In a preemptive move, police took into custody Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and United Akali Dal leader Bhai Mokham Singh. Both of them were the key organisers of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’.
The appointment comes in the background of repeated incidents of desecration of holy books in Punjab and the calls by radicals for the removal of Sikh high priests.
Former Punjab CM Beant Singh
The Sarbat Khalsa (assembly of Sikhs) — called by radical outfits, the Simranjit Singh Mann-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the United Akali Dal led by Mohkam Singh — have on Tuesday ‘appointed’ Jagtar Singh Hawara, the assassin of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, as the jathedar (chief priest) of Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of Sikhs.An Indian Express report says that in the absence of Hawara, currently imprisoned in Tihar jail, former MP and SAD(A) leader Dhian Singh Mand was named as ‘acting’ chief priest of Akal Takht, moments after he resigned from the party on stage.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The appointment comes in the background of repeated incidents of desecration of holy books in Punjab and the calls by radicals for the removal of Sikh high priests over pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insaan.Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal have slammed the Sarbat Khalsa’s decision, claiming only the Akal Takht has the right to appoint the chief priest.A decision to revoke the titles of Fakhr-e-Qaum and Panth Rattan awarded to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was also passed at the event. They had been conferred on Badal by Akal Takht. It was also decided to take back the title of Shiromani Sewak awarded to SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar.Former Punjab DGP KPS Gill and Lt General KS Brar, who were involved in the infamous Operation Bluestar in 1984, were declared as ‘guilty of religious misconduct’ at the event. The resolution directed the duo to appear before the Akal Takht and clarify their positions by November 30, said the Indian Express.
Human rights activists and several socio-religious forums are campaigning to stage huge protests at Downing Street and Wembley to mar the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A massive projection of Narendra Modi holding a sword in one hand and a shield with the ‘Om’ symbol with a swastika superimposed appeared on the Houses of Parliament next to the iconic Big Ben
The Awaaz Network is spearheading the protest. Others joining the ‘Modi Not Welcome’ team are South Asia Solidarity Group, Sikh Federation UK, Southall Black Sisters, Dalit Solidarity Network UK, Indian Muslim Federation, Indian Workers Association, Muslim Parliament, and Voice of Dalit International.
The c
What the protesters projected onto the houses of Parliament in London. Image courttesy: Twitter
ds “Modi not welcome” onto the Houses of Parliament building on Sunday in a bold show of protest against Modi. The projection showed Modi wielding a sword in front of “an OM sign that is tragically being transferred to a swastika.”
“[Narendra Modi] wants to sell the idea of a ‘Digital India’, a ‘clean India’ and a developed and self-sufficient India,” a spokesperson for the Awaaz Network said. “The reality is the unleashing of a violence packed authoritarian agenda that seeks to undermine India’s democratic and secular fabric.”
The visit is seen as an opportunity to help “break down the wall between the Indian state and many Sikhs outside India”, the Sikh Human Rights Group said.
It has sent five proposals to New Delhi, including abolishing ‘blacklists’ of Sikhs living abroad who cannot travel to India, release of prisoners held for political reasons, and a dialogue between the Indian government and Sikhs based abroad.
Scotland Yard was meanwhile placing a ‘policing plan’ to deal with protests. There is some concern in official circles about the security aspect of Modi’s visit, after a Sikh demonstration at the Indian high commission last week led to some violence and traffic jams in central London for some hours.
At the same time Nobel laureate Amartya Sen wants Britain to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week, but also to use the occasion to question him on recent events in India that have caused some concern about tolerance.
Speaking at the London School of Economics at a launch event for his book, ‘The Country of First Boys’, Sen said he voted against Modi but he did not expect the situation to take “such naked a form as it has taken” under his government,
High profile Indians were diverting from the planning for the visit by the death of Lord Swaraj Paul’s son from a mysterious fall from his penthouse in central London. Angad Paul fell eight storeys, landing on the roof of a building below where his body was spotted by horrified onlookers. Paul was educated at MIT, where he gained degrees in Economics and Media Arts and Sciences. Firefighters were called to lead the operation to get him down and paramedics pronounced the 45-year-old dead at the scene in central London.
According to advisory sent to the director generals of police of all states, instead of carrying out terror strikes the ISI this time plans to carry out vandalism at religious places to stoke communal passion and divide the society.
dna Research & Archives
Pakistan’s Inter-State Intelligence (ISI) is again trying to foment trouble in India during the festive season.According to advisory sent to the director generals of police of all states, instead of carrying out terror strikes the ISI this time plans to carry out vandalism at religious places to stoke communal passion and divide the society.The states have been advised to be particularly more vigilant for sensitive religious places in old heritage cities and make extra deployment of police personnel in plain clothes near such spots to stop any trouble before it starts and becomes communal.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Sources in the intelligence agencies said they have got intercepts and human intelligence regarding the plans of the ISI for which it wants to use sleeper cells of various outfits including Indian Mujahideen and Khalistani outfits.”Perhaps the ISI is of the view that in the given situation the time is ripe to foment trouble by doing the acts of vandalism like desecration and sacrilege at religious places. It has done so with some success in Punjab by desecrating the holy book of the Sikhs,” said sources.The ISI, sources said, has chosen this novel way as acts of vandalism does not require money and can be done in a discreet manner without arousing the suspicion of security agencies.
The protesters were also demanding recovery of stolen ‘bir’ (religious scripture) of Guru Granth Sahib from village Burj Jawahar Singhwala on June 1 at Faridkot, arrest of real desecrators and of those cops who had fired at protesters killing two Sikh activists and injuring several others at Behbal Kalan village last month and making their names public.
Sikh community people take out a march with black flags to protest against the desecration of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Punjab firing incident in Amritsar on Tuesday.
PTI
Carrying black flags and placards, Sikh activists of various outfits, including radical groups, on Tuesday staged peaceful protests at various places in Punjab against the desecration of holy book last month, with demands for time-bound probe by CBI.The protesters were also demanding recovery of stolen ‘bir’ (religious scripture) of Guru Granth Sahib from village Burj Jawahar Singhwala on June 1 at Faridkot, arrest of real desecrators and of those cops who had fired at protesters killing two Sikh activists and injuring several others at Behbal Kalan village last month and making their names public. They also demanded scrapping permanently the case registered against two brothers Rupinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh, who were arrested earlier but released yesterday with police saying there was not sufficient evidence.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>The protesters, including women, formed a human chain adjacent to roads, including National Highways and state highways criss-crossing the state without disturbing traffic, police said. Chanting ‘Satnam Waheguru’, the protesters were supported by representatives of dalit and muslim communities at various places in the state.Both the India-Pakistan cross-border Sada-e-Sarhad buses, plying to and fro New Delhi and Lahore, passed through Phagwara normally, police said. The protesters were agitating against sacrilege incidents of Holy Guru Granth Sahib at different places in the state last month. Some of the placards propagated the November 10 ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of Sikhs) convened by radical Sikh outfits at Amritsar, police said.Apprehending that the CBI probe into the desecration incidents could meet the fate of 1984 riots, the protesters demanded a time-bound probe by the investigating agency.”If the CBI probe into the desecration cases is to go the anti-Sikh riots way where nothing came out even after 31 years, then the inquiry into incidents of desecration should be handed over to United Nations(UN)”, demanded the protesting Sikh Sangat, Sikh bodies, Gurdwara committees, Women Wing Societies, Dalit and Muslim representatives.
NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi, battling to win power in the heartland state of Bihar and revive stalled economic reforms, hit back at critics on Monday for painting a picture of intolerance in the country.
Rivals say the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is whipping up religious tensions to win the election in Bihar, the country’s third most populous state and critical to Modi’s plans to improve his party’s strength in the upper house of parliament.
Modi’s administration has faced a rising tide of criticism for failing to rein in hardline Hindu groups that are campaigning for issues such as cow worship in a multi-faith country.
Modi, addressing a political rally in Purnea, sidestepped the criticism and accused his long-time foe, the Congress party, of playing partisan politics.
Re-opening a sensitive chapter in recent history, Modi said hundreds of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi by supporters of the Congress soon after the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in November 1984.
“Should the Congress be giving lessons in tolerance?” he said to thunderous applause from supporters wearing saffron headbands. “Sikh families in Delhi are still grieving. Have you tried to wipe their tears?”
Modi himself has faced allegations that he looked the other way or was complicit in attacks on Muslims in Gujarat state, which he governed, after a mob set a train carrying Hindu pilgrims on fire. He has denied the charges and a Supreme Court ordered- investigation absolved him of any wrongdoing.
Hindus make up around 80 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population, followed by Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.
Members of the Modi government have expressed concern about the rising number of Muslims and want policies to control it.
“Growing Muslim population is a big threat and people must realise that fast,” said Giriraj Singh, a federal minister, in an interview with a news channel on Monday.
“We have to protect Hindu religion, Hindu temples and food habits.”
Since the BJP swept to power, Hindu groups have stepped up a campaign against intermarriage with Muslims, describing it as “love jihad”, have begun rewriting school textbooks to reflect a nationalist view and are demanding a ban on cow slaughter.
Last month a Muslim man was beaten to death by a mob for eating beef and another was murdered for espousing atheism.
“There is extreme intolerance,” Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan told India Today television channel. A string of writers have returned awards given by the government in protest against attacks on religious minorities.
Central Bank governor Raghuram Rajan also called for greater tolerance.
Modi promised voters that he would lift Bihar out of poverty. Control of Bihar is key to Modi’s ambition to secure a majority in Rajya Sabha.
(Additional reporting by Rupam Jain Nair; Editing by Nick Macfie)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
According to a secret note prepared by agencies, Resham Singh Babbar of Babbar Khalsa – Germany has mobilised Sikhs from over 20 countries, including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.
Sikh community protests against the alleged desecration
PTI
Sikh separatist groups will raise the bogey of ‘Khalistan’ in a big way to radicalise youths during a two-day convention in UK starting from Saturday, central security agencies have warned the government suggesting that it take effective counter measures at a diplomatic level. According to a secret note prepared by agencies, Resham Singh Babbar of Babbar Khalsa – Germany has mobilised Sikhs from over 20 countries, including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> What has left the security agencies more worried is that the secret note claims that the convention will raise the issue of alleged ‘desecration of Guru Granth Sahib’ in a big way and use it to push the agenda of a ‘Sikh nation’.”This can be really dangerous as Punjab has not yet got over the episode and the Sikh diaspora is very concerned about the incidents and has a direct connect with Punjab,” sources said adding that a meeting by these outfits was organised in Birmingham, UK on October 18 with the similar aim to radicalise people and create anti-India propaganda on international platform.”The gathering was coordinated by Joga Singh, Kuldeep Singh Chaheru and Lavshinder Singh Dalwal. Invitation for the convention were sent to different separatists groups in 27 countries,” the official added. “Resham Singh and various other Sikh groups from different countries are making efforts to mobilise Sikhs in their respective countries to attend the proposed convention. Efforts are also being made to garner maximum support for the proposed anti-India demonstration in front of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva,” the detailed note says.For its nefarious designs, Resham Singh, also the chief of operations of Babbar Khalsa in India, is closely working with Pakistan-based terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Khalistan Zindabad force and getting financial and logistical support from Pakistan’s ISI. As early as in late September, agencies had informed Centre that the ISI in first week of September held a meeting with Pakistan-based terrorist groups including LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Zindabad Force. Khalistan Zindabad Force chief Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta said to be working closely with Pak ISI to carry out terror attacks in Punjab. Neeta, Intelligence input had said, provided two months of language training to LeT’s Fidayeens near Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
Harvinder Chowdhury argued that people from her community are needlessly ridiculed for these jokes.
File Photo
A petitioner has asked the Supreme Court to ban websites that run jokes about the Sikh community. “We are being ridiculed by these jokes. We have sacrificed a lot but when we go abroad we are ridiculed. I myself have suffered it. We want these to be stopped,” the petitioner, Harvinder Chowdhury said.Harvinder Chowdhury argued that people from her community are needlessly ridiculed for these jokes. Meanwhile the court said that the ‘Sikh community is known for its great sense of humour’ and asked: “Even Sikhs may object to your petition. Fortunately we have a Sikh judge in the Supreme Court. Can we post this case before the judge?” However, the petitioner said that the jokes ‘affect the dignity’ of her community, and the court admitted the PIL and gave Ms Chowdhury a month’s time to prepare.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
A faltering government, declining economy and controversial religious institutions are at the heart of the conflict in India’s Punjab state, reports BBC Hindi’s Zubair Ahmed.
As a percentage, there are more Sikhs in prison than followers of any other faith in India.
Representational Image
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Sikhs and Christians are more likely to be undertrials, detenues and convicts than Hindus and Muslims in India, says a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.According to an article in IndiaSpend, Hindus are least likely to be undertrials and convicts. Christians are most likely to be detained and imprisoned. The NCRB released this data in the Prison Statistics India 2014 report, in September.As a percentage, there are more Sikhs in prison than followers of any other faith in India. 840 Sikhs per million are in prison followed by Christians (601), Muslims (477) and Hindus (305). Sikhs make up just 4% of India’s population according to the 2011 Census.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>In India there are a total of 4,18,536 prisoners, of which 282,879 are undertrials followed by convicts (131,517), detenues (3,237) and other prisoners (903). 346 Indians per million are prisoners. The proportion of Sikh and Christian undertrials in Indian prisons is two times their proportion in the general population, says the NCRB report.The proportion of Sikh convicts is three times their proportion in the general population For Christians, the figure is two times.State wise, Punjab seems to harbour the greatest Sikh undertrials. The second and third highest are Haryana and Rajasthan. The 3 states together account for 83% of all Sikh undertrials in the country. The highest number of Christian undertrials comes from Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Orissa. These three states account for 46% of undertrials.A total of 282,879 people are undertrials in Indian jails. 70% of these undertrials are Hindu, 21% Muslim, 4% Christian and 4% Sikh. Of 131,157 convicts, 72% of convicts (95,348) are Hindus, 16% (21,550) are Muslim, 4% Christian and 6% Sikh, says the report.The proportion of undertrials who are Hindus (70%) is 9.7% less than their proportion in the general population (79.7%). The proportion of Muslim undertrials is 7% more than their proportion in the general population.Furthermore, 490 per million Sikhs are undertrials, the highest for any faith. The overall figure for India is 234 undertrials per million people. 397 per million Christians, 346 per million Muslims and 204 per million Hindus are undertrials.The proportion of Hindu convicts (72%) is almost 8% less than their proportion in the general population (79.7%). The proportion of Muslim convicts is 2% more than their proportion in the general population.350 per million Sikhs are convicts, the highest for any faith. The national figure is 109 convicts per million people. 185 per million Christians are convicts, compared to 125 per million Muslims and 99 per million Hindus.The report also adds that there was an 18% increase in undertrial prisoners across India over the past five years.Among these, Christian undertrials increased the most – 53% – from 7,198 in 2010 to 11,048 in 2014; however, there was a decline of 11% in 2014 over 2013. There was also an increase of 5% in convicts over the past five years, in India.State wise, Uttar Pradesh ranks highest in terms of total number of undertrials. UP has 200 million people. Next is Bihar, with 26,800 undertrials. Maharashtra comes third with 19,895 undertrials. Madhya Pradesh and Punjab follow.Delhi’s poor reputation continues as it has the highest number of undertrials per million people – 606. Dadra and Nagar Haveli come second with 579, followed by Mizoram and Haryana. Lastly, the NCRB report says that there are 3,237 detenues in jails across India. Of these 63% (2,030) are Hindu, 20% (658) are Muslim and 16% (505) are Christians.
Another article in the ‘Organiser’ said, “Dadri killing is not something unprecedented, unheard of in the history of Independent Bharat. So about Kalburgi murder. The conscience of over two dozen eminent persons of literature got so severely pricked by these two incidents that they returned their awards in protest.”
Taunting ‘liberals’ for using cow slaughter as a “protein for their secular politics”, RSS organ ‘Organiser’ has accused them of using the Dadri lynching as an opportunity to attack Hindu beliefs as it termed the killing as “not something unprecedented” or “unheard of”.Citing the “killings” of Sikhs and kar sevaks in Godhra, it questioned those protesting against the Dadri incident saying why those incidents did not evoke their conscience earlier. “One fails to understand how a ban on slaughter of cows and calves would deprive people of a cheap source of protein. Were Constitution makers less protein-conscious than present liberals who of-late have shown almost athletic interest in the matters of Hindu sentiments. “But, as usual, liberals have got this one wrong as well. Beef is not the cheapest source of protein,” an article in the ‘Organiser’ said sarcastically to those protesting the Dadri incident.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Related Read: RSS mouthpiece defends Dadri lynching, calls it a ‘natural reaction’ to ‘sin’ of cow slaughterWhile ruing that the body of Dadri victim had become a site of politics, it said, “Dadri’s incident is a cruel reminder of how a dead body can become a site of political maneuvering and out maneuvering.””Every murder is unfortunate, and cruel… and calls for strict action by law enforcing agencies. But what is different about Dadri’s case is that here a murder is being used by the media and self-proclaimed seculars and liberals as an opportunity to put the beliefs of Hinduism in dock,” it added.Another article in the ‘Organiser’ said, “Dadri killing is not something unprecedented, unheard of in the history of Independent Bharat. So about Kalburgi murder. The conscience of over two dozen eminent persons of literature got so severely pricked by these two incidents that they returned their awards in protest.”It, however, cited incidents when thousands of Sikhs were killed in 1984, 59 kar sevaks were burnt alive at Godhra railway station sparking the Gujarat riots and 16 policemen involved in killing of 42 innocent Muslims acquitted after 28 years a few months ago. The article while taking on RJD chief Lalu Yadav for saying Hindus also eat beef and used to eat it in Vedic times, remarks, “This is bogus.” On SP leader Azam Khan’s comparison of Indian Muslims with those in Iraq, the article says, “Azam Khan, a secular leader of a secular outfit, compared Muslims’ situation in Bharat to that of Muslims in Iraq. Phonetic similarity between Dadri and Babri provided him a poetic concern over their impact. Azam Khan, in past, has justified the acts of terrorism.” “I wonder, why no one has ever asked him and other liberals with same views why Hindus have not become terrorists in Pakistan and Bangladesh where their temples are demolished almost every month and why they haven’t become suicide bombers?” the article in RSS organ said.It goes on to question former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks that while Islam prohibited pork eating, he wouldn’t beat up anyone eating pork, and asks, “Does he (Omar) wish to suggest that pigs have the same holy significance for him as cows have for Hindus?” Calling for a probe into Dadri death, it taunts “liberals” protesting the incident, asking what exactly is their idea of India.”So, what exactly is liberals’ idea of Bharat? Is it the idea of a Bharat, where cows are slaughtered publicly, beef festivals are organized regularly, Mahisasur Day is celebrated with fanfare and concepts like ‘Qaafir’, Dar-ul-ulum and Dar-ul-harb are ingrained in the minds of adolescent, on state subsidy.Related Read: Writers renouncing honours suffer from ‘disease of secularism’, says RSS”Is this their vision of a liberal Bharat, where terrorists like Yakub Memon’s cremation is attended by hundreds and books in favour of Afzal Guru are sold in the heart of the capital? And where beef becomes the singular source of protein?” the article questions.It accuses protesters of Dadri incident of creating a false sense of growing intolerance in India and says, “Ever since the unfortunate killing of Mohammad Akhlaq at Dadri, propaganda has preponderated policies and unsubstantiated allegations have replaced reasoning. And in the eye of storm lies once again the Hindus and their core beliefs. Self proclaimed seculars are worried that the idea of Bharat is under threat from fascists.” Another article in the RSS organ said the writers and protesters are trying to create a fear psychosis and do not mind presenting India in poor light across the world.”They will create a fear psychosis and frighten minorities and others to claim that nothing is going right. They will not mind Bharat being seen in poor light across the globe. It seems they are winning the propaganda battle for now, but they will lose the ideological war, no doubt,” it said.Yet another article said, “The present award returning spree in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘secularism’ depict the symptoms of selective amnesia of Left liberal intellectuals and literary figures. These double standards demean the individuals, awards and the institutions they represent.” It also said, “Left secular lobby with the help of electronic media has succeeded in creating an atmosphere in the country and also outside since last a few weeks as if all the Hindus are out on the street killing ‘minorities’ read Muslims to save ‘mother cow’ and stop beef eating. It seems Bharat is in a time warp for more than 15 days.”All TV channels seem to have plumbed to pessimistic depth. There has been outrage all round as if Bharat is up in flames with one person’s reprehensible killing; as if before that Bharat was living in blissful harmony for earlier 67 years. ‘Sahitya Akademi’ awardees’ drama has added fuel to fire.”
“They will create a fear psychosis and frighten minorities and others to claim that nothing is going right. They will not mind Bharat being seen in poor light across the globe. It seems they are winning the propaganda battle for now, but they will lose the ideological war, no doubt,” it said.
RSS cadre
Taunting ‘liberals’ for using cow slaughter as a “protein for their secular politics”, RSS organ ‘Organiser’ has accused them of using the Dadri lynching as an opportunity to attack Hindu beliefs as it termed the killing as “not something unprecedented” or “unheard of”.Citing the “killings” of Sikhs and kar sevaks in Godhra, it questioned those protesting against the Dadri incident saying why those incidents did not evoke their conscience earlier. “One fails to understand how a ban on slaughter of cows and calves would deprive people of a cheap source of protein. Were Constitution makers less protein-conscious than present liberals who of-late have shown almost athletic interest in the matters of Hindu sentiments. “But, as usual, liberals have got this one wrong as well. Beef is not the cheapest source of protein,” an article in the ‘Organiser’ said sarcastically to those protesting the Dadri incident.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Related Read: RSS mouthpiece defends Dadri lynching, calls it a ‘natural reaction’ to ‘sin’ of cow slaughterWhile ruing that the body of Dadri victim had become a site of politics, it said, “Dadri’s incident is a cruel reminder of how a dead body can become a site of political maneuvering and out maneuvering.””Every murder is unfortunate, and cruel… and calls for strict action by law enforcing agencies. But what is different about Dadri’s case is that here a murder is being used by the media and self-proclaimed seculars and liberals as an opportunity to put the beliefs of Hinduism in dock,” it added.Another article in the ‘Organiser’ said, “Dadri killing is not something unprecedented, unheard of in the history of Independent Bharat. So about Kalburgi murder. The conscience of over two dozen eminent persons of literature got so severely pricked by these two incidents that they returned their awards in protest.”It, however, cited incidents when thousands of Sikhs were killed in 1984, 59 kar sevaks were burnt alive at Godhra railway station sparking the Gujarat riots and 16 policemen involved in killing of 42 innocent Muslims acquitted after 28 years a few months ago. The article while taking on RJD chief Lalu Yadav for saying Hindus also eat beef and used to eat it in Vedic times, remarks, “This is bogus.” On SP leader Azam Khan’s comparison of Indian Muslims with those in Iraq, the article says, “Azam Khan, a secular leader of a secular outfit, compared Muslims’ situation in Bharat to that of Muslims in Iraq. Phonetic similarity between Dadri and Babri provided him a poetic concern over their impact. Azam Khan, in past, has justified the acts of terrorism.” “I wonder, why no one has ever asked him and other liberals with same views why Hindus have not become terrorists in Pakistan and Bangladesh where their temples are demolished almost every month and why they haven’t become suicide bombers?” the article in RSS organ said.It goes on to question former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks that while Islam prohibited pork eating, he wouldn’t beat up anyone eating pork, and asks, “Does he (Omar) wish to suggest that pigs have the same holy significance for him as cows have for Hindus?” Calling for a probe into Dadri death, it taunts “liberals” protesting the incident, asking what exactly is their idea of India.”So, what exactly is liberals’ idea of Bharat? Is it the idea of a Bharat, where cows are slaughtered publicly, beef festivals are organized regularly, Mahisasur Day is celebrated with fanfare and concepts like ‘Qaafir’, Dar-ul-ulum and Dar-ul-harb are ingrained in the minds of adolescent, on state subsidy.Related Read: Writers renouncing honours suffer from ‘disease of secularism’, says RSS”Is this their vision of a liberal Bharat, where terrorists like Yakub Memon’s cremation is attended by hundreds and books in favour of Afzal Guru are sold in the heart of the capital? And where beef becomes the singular source of protein?” the article questions.It accuses protesters of Dadri incident of creating a false sense of growing intolerance in India and says, “Ever since the unfortunate killing of Mohammad Akhlaq at Dadri, propaganda has preponderated policies and unsubstantiated allegations have replaced reasoning. And in the eye of storm lies once again the Hindus and their core beliefs. Self proclaimed seculars are worried that the idea of Bharat is under threat from fascists.” Another article in the RSS organ said the writers and protesters are trying to create a fear psychosis and do not mind presenting India in poor light across the world.”They will create a fear psychosis and frighten minorities and others to claim that nothing is going right. They will not mind Bharat being seen in poor light across the globe. It seems they are winning the propaganda battle for now, but they will lose the ideological war, no doubt,” it said.Yet another article said, “The present award returning spree in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘secularism’ depict the symptoms of selective amnesia of Left liberal intellectuals and literary figures. These double standards demean the individuals, awards and the institutions they represent.” It also said, “Left secular lobby with the help of electronic media has succeeded in creating an atmosphere in the country and also outside since last a few weeks as if all the Hindus are out on the street killing ‘minorities’ read Muslims to save ‘mother cow’ and stop beef eating. It seems Bharat is in a time warp for more than 15 days.”All TV channels seem to have plumbed to pessimistic depth. There has been outrage all round as if Bharat is up in flames with one person’s reprehensible killing; as if before that Bharat was living in blissful harmony for earlier 67 years. ‘Sahitya Akademi’ awardees’ drama has added fuel to fire.”
Concerned over desecration of Sikh holy books, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and assured him “all possible help” from the centre to meet the situation that has arisen because of these incidents.
Sikh community staging protest for alleged desecration of Sri Gurugranth Saheb in Punjab, at TT Nagar Gurudwara in Bhopal on Monday.
PTI
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has convened a Cabinet meeting of ruling Akali Dal while its ally BJP will hold a core committee meeting of the party on Tuesday, as protests continued in various parts of the state against the alleged incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib today.Chief Minister Badal has convened an emergency meeting of the state cabinet here tomorrow, an official said.Concerned over desecration of Sikh holy books, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and assured him “all possible help” from the centre to meet the situation that has arisen because of these incidents.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Spoke to CM Shri Prakash Singh Badal who apprised me of the prevailing situation in Punjab. Assured him of all possible help from the Centre,” Rajnath tweeted.Meanwhile, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma summoned an urgent “core group meet” of the party here tomorrow to take stock of the ongoing situation in Punjab, a party spokesperson said.Sharma said that the incident of the sacrilege of the Guru Grant Sahib was unfortunate and has appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony and peace in the state.”BJP has already conveyed to the Chief Minister to take strongest action against the culprits,” he said.However, Congress demanded imposition of President’s rule in Punjab contending that law and order has completely broken down in the wake of recent incident of desecration of the holy book of the Sikhs.State PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa said at the AICC briefing that the Centre should also constitute a time-bound inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge to identify and bring to book the culprits in one month.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal over “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state.
Commercial and educational establishments were today shut and transport services disrupted in parts of Punjab in response to a bandh called by Sikh outfits against the killing of two youths and police action during protests over alleged desecration of their holy book.
Image courtesy: ANI’s Twitter handle
Commercial and educational establishments were on Thursday shut and transport services disrupted in parts of Punjab in response to a bandh called by Sikh outfits against the killing of two youths and police action during protests over alleged desecration of their holy book.Officials said an uneasy calm prevailed in parts of the state where activists held protests and blocked roads. 150 protestors were taken into custody when they tried to hold a demonstration in Ludhiana.Heavy police force has been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order, a day after two persons were killed and 75 others, including an IGP, were injured in clashes in Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur districts. To protest the killing and police action, radicals, including Damdami Taksal and Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj had given a ‘Punjab bandh’ call for today.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>In response to the bandh call, commercial and educational institutes at many places in Punjab especially Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, parts of Tarn Taran remained shut. However, banks and pharmacies were open. Kotkapura town – the nerve centre of protest yesterday- also observed a complete bandh.”No incident of violence has been reported from any part of Moga, Faridkot and Muktsar,” police said. Private bus operators kept off the roads today while private educational institution remained closed in many parts of the state, officials said.Sikh activists blocked traffic at Smalsar on Moga-Kotkapura road, at Himmatpura on Moga-Barnala road, at Kotisekhan on Moga-Amritsar road, at Jogewala on Moga-Ferozepur road, at Jalalabad east on Moga-Jalandhar road, at Bughipura on Moga-Barnala road, at Lunggiwind Kotisekhan Zira road, at Gill village on Moga-Kotkapura road and at Ajitwal on Moga-Ludhiana national highway, police said.All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) also joined the protest and criticised the SAD-BJP alliance government for allegedly playing with the sentiments of Sikhs on religious matter. AISSF head Karnail Singh accused the government of interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs.”The government is trying to divert the attention of the people from other important issues including the pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the high priests,” he said. Several hardliners took out a protest march in Moga town demanding immediate action against those responsible for the incident of desecration.As a mark of solidarity with the protestors, volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sported black bands at various places in Hoshiarpur. In the industrial town of Ludhiana, the bandh by Sikh organisations evoked a mixed response.”Around 150 protestors mainly of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) were taken into custody by police when they tried to sit on a dharna at Jodhewal,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narinder Bhargava said. There was a complete bandh in Phagwara, officials said.Activists of Sikh bodies took out a protest rally on scooters and motorcycles in Phagwara city, police said. Sikh organisations are demanding action against those behind the incident of tearing of 150 pages of the holy book. Punjab government has announced a reward of Rs one crore for any person providing information on those who committed the sacrilege.Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had also announced a judicial probe into the violent protest in Faridkot district yesterday.
Due to Sikh organizations’ call for ‘Punjab bandh’, several areas of the state were mostly or partly shut down. Schools and colleges are closed in several districts including Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar, Moga and Faridkot, reported Aaj Tak.
ANI
With Sikh organisations calling for ‘Punjab bandh’, several areas of the state were mostly or partly shut down on Thursday. Schools and colleges are closed in several districts including Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar, Moga and Faridkot, reported Aaj Tak.According to the report, the authorities of these schools and colleges decided to shut down as soon as they heard about the call for ‘Punjab bandh’ early in the morning. Most of the students across the state couldn’t be notified about the same and they only became aware of the situation when they came to their schools; many alone and many with their parents.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A day long bandh has been called for to oppose the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib as well as police-violence like firing and lathicharge on Sikhs.Punjab police has deployed its forces in several areas of the state to ensure law and order during the bandh.Earlier, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal announced a reward of Rs one crore for turning in people who were involved in the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. Badal appealed to the Sikh community to maintain peace and promised to give exemplary punishment to the culprits.Sikh protestors have been agitating against the same for the last four days. It took an ugly turn on Wednesday when two people were killed and 90 injured including several policemen. Also read: Punjab government orders probe into desecration of holy book
New Delhi: Eminent poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday came out in support of noted author Nayantara Sahgal’s decision to return her Sahitya Akademi award, saying the recent incidents of intolerance were not expected from a country like India and that it must have pained the writer.
“I can understand her agony. She comes from a tradition of secularism and better values and when she feels this thing, she must be very pained,” Akhtar told PTI when asked about Sahgal returning her award in protest against rising intolerance in the society.
Javed Akhtar. Agencies.
“I understand… what can one say? It is a protest but I think much more has to be done in the society because whatever is happening now-a-days, is not desirable at all,” he said.
“And one does not expect this from our society at least. I don’t expect such things to happen in India. One used to hear such things happening in some other society; not ours,” the noted poet and successful film script writer said, adding, “One does not feel proud of what is happening here.”
“The writers should actually communicate and write more and they should see to it that writings should reach people. Who am I to say whether she should have done it or not but the fact is that this is also a protest and draws attention and makes people think why she has done it,” he said.
Akhtar spoke to the PTI on occasion of the launch of the book ‘Pigeons of the Domes’ by noted author and translator Rakhshanda Jalil.
The book is a compilation of 19 short stories by various Hindi and Urdu authors and includes stories on Hindu-Muslim relations, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, marginalisation of Hindus in Punjab and the persecution of Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sahgal, who had received the Sahitya Akademi award in 1986 for her English novel ‘Rich Like Us’ (1985), on Tuesday returned her award saying, “The ruling ideology today is a fascist ideology and that is what is worrying me now. We did not have a fascist government until now… I am doing whatever I believe in.”
The annual report of the Protection of Constitution published in June 2015 has made specific reference to ‘Extremist Sikhs’ in the list of extremist organisations of foreigners in Germany.
Certain flights between India and Germany will have armed marshals on board, according to an MoU signed on Monday by the two sides with an aim of preventing any hijacking attempt. The MoU, along with another pact on security cooperation, was signed before the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and exchanged during media interaction of the two leaders. The MoU on “carriage of in-flight security officers within a short time fame” was signed by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and his German counterpart Gunter Krings. <!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Rijiju and Krings discussed the threat posed by ISIS terrorist group and ways to cooperate to counter it. Rijiju also drew attention of Krings about the presence and activities of individuals and organisations that are linked to extremist and terrorist elements operating in India, particularly the Sikh extremists. “Such extremists elements based in Germany often utilise their places of religious worship to support extremist organisations in India by propaganda and financing. The flag of Khalistan and photographs of terrorists bearing weapons are openly displayed in many Sikh religious places in Germany to incite hatred and anger,” the Indian Minister told Krings. The annual report of the Protection of Constitution published in June 2015 has made specific reference to ‘Extremist Sikhs’ in the list of extremist organisations of foreigners in Germany. “I wish to explain that the Sikh community is defined by religion and not ethnicity. The extremist Sikh organisations are trying to agitate religious differences in our country aiming at effecting radical change of the political situation in India by using force and terrorism,” he said.Rijiju said Germany is an important power house and trade partner and signing of the pact will ensure that extremist forces are kept in bay “My counterpart was very positive to the issues raised by us and assured full cooperation to India in this regard,” he told reporters.
Karachi: Pakistan “lost terribly in the 1965 war” with India, a Pakistani historian has admitted.
Representational image. AFP
Historian and political economist Akbar S Zaidi dispelled “the victory myth’, saying that there can be no a bigger lie as Pakistan had lost terribly, Dawn reported on Saturday.
Zaidi said that people are unaware of this fact because the history taught in Pakistan is from an ideological viewpoint.
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Questioning Pakistan’s history’, he said: “Students are not taught the history of the people of Pakistan rather it is focused on the making of Pakistan.”
Zaidi, who teaches history at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, was speaking at the event organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Karachi University.
“With the celebration of the victory in the 1965 war round the corner, there can be no bigger lie that Pakistan won the war. We lost terribly in the 1965 war,” he said.
He asked people to read political and strategic analyst Shuja Nawaz’s book Crossed Swords that exposed the reality of the war.
The remark comes with with Pakistan just two days away from observing Defence Day and marking the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war.
During his lecgture, Zaidi asked: what is Pakistan’s history and is there a need to question Pakistan’s history. And when was Pakistan formed? 14 August, 1947 or 15 August, 1947? For him, the fact we are still talking about historical events 68 years later that are apparently settled is interesting.
On when was Pakistan created, he said one obvious answer is it did so on 14 August, 1947 but he read out an excerpt from a Pakistan Studies textbook in which it was claimed it came into being in 712AD when the Arabs came to Sindh and Multan. “This is utter rubbish!” he said, rejecting the textbook account.
Later while responding to queries, Zaidi explained that Parsis and Hindus contributed hugely in the educational development of Karachi and in a similar manner the Sikhs in Punjab.
“History in Pakistan is taught from an ideological viewpoint. Pakistan needs to be seen as a geographical entity.”
On separate identities, he replied there was no need to do so. “I can be a Sindhi, Hindu and Pakistani simultaneously.”
Raksha Bandhan was celebrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi too as many women and children tied him rakhi.
Women and children tied rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
ANI
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, many women and children tied Rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.This Hindu festival, which celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters, is primarily observed in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan and by some people of Indian origin around the world.On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother’s wrist, which symbolizes the sister’s love and prayers for her brother’s well-being and the brother’s lifelong vow to protect her.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>
New Delhi: The Muslim community has registered a moderate 0.8 percent growth to touch 17.22 crore in the 10-year period between 2001 and 2011, up from 13.8 crore, while Hindu population showed a decline by 0.7 percent at 96.63 crore during the period, according to the latest census data on religion.
Representational image. Agencies
While the census figure on religion was released on Tuesday, more than four years after compilation of the data, the caste data is yet to be made public.
RJD, JD(U), SP, DMK and some other parties have been asking the government to release the caste census figure. The data on socio-economic status of the population was released on 3 July.
As per the religious census data of 2011, released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on Tuesday, the total population in the country in 2011 was 121.09 crore.
Hindu population is 96.63 crore (79.8 percent); Muslim 17.22 crore (14.2 percent); Christian 2.78 crore (2.3 percent); Sikh 2.08 crore (1.7 percent); Buddhist 0.84 crore (0.7 percent); Jain 0.45 crore (0.4 percent), Other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crore (0.7 percent) and religion not stated 0.29 crore (0.2 percent).
The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 percentage point (PP) in 2011, the census data said.
The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 PP; the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011.
There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.
As per 2001 census, India’s total population was 102 crore, of which Hindu population comprised of 82.75 crore (80.45 percent) and Muslims were 13.8 crore (13.4 percent).
The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 percent. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was as Hindus: 16.8 percent; Muslim: 24.6 percent; Christian: 15.5 percent; Sikh: 8.4 percent; Buddhist: 6.1 percent and Jain: 5.4 percent.
The distribution is total population by six major religious communities namely, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain besides ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ and ‘Religion not stated’.
There were no markings on the combat uniforms and even innerwears worn by them, official sources said.
Police personnel during an encounter with the militants who attacked a police station at Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district on Monday.
Reuters
The three suspected Lashkar-e- Taiba militants involved in the Gurdaspur terror attacks made every attempt to hide their identity and had even removed tags on their clothes including underwears.There were no markings on the combat uniforms and even innerwears worn by them, official sources said. The terrorists were not carrying any food items except for some loose dryfruits.However, the two GPS devices recovered from the slain terrorists could give an idea of where they had started their journey from before reaching Gurdaspur, the sources said. The terrorists were carrying three AK 47 rifles, several Chinese-made grenades, besides 10 magazines with more than 200 rounds of ammuntion.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Absence of bullet-proof vehicles with Gurdaspur police delayed the final onslaught against the terrorists which became possible only after help arrived from neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir Police.The militants are believed to have crossed over into India from Hira Chak in Jammu, the sources said and ruled out the possibility of their being Sikhs.Also read- Gurdaspur terror attack: Militants likely part of LeT or Jaish-e-Mohammed, says MHA
“Now, we will file the application in the court seeking the registration of the cases against Tytler on the basis of these two offences,” he added.
Senior lawyer HS Phoolka on Friday said that he would file an application seeking registration of cases against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for money laundering and tampering of witnesses in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case “The CBI informed the court that it has not registered any separate case against Jagdish Tytler on the basis of the two more offences which are made in the chargesheet, the closure report filed by the CBI. In the last date of hearing, we had argued that on the closure report filed by the CBI, two separate offences are made out. The court had asked the CBI to inform as to what action had been taken. So, today the CBI informed that no separate case has been registered on the basis of these two offences,” Phoolka said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Now, we will file the application in the court seeking the registration of the cases against Tytler on the basis of these two offences,” he added.A Delhi Court had earlier directed the CBI to reply on allegations that Tytler tried to influence a witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which the agency has filed a closure report.The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 Sikhs, were triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.
Sri Anandpur Sahib: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was on Friday greeted with slogans of ‘Rajnath Singh Go back’ and ‘Stop discrimination against Sikhs’, while addressing the 350th foundation day of Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh. AFP
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) activists shouted slogans against the Union Minister as soon as the leader stood up to address the function marking the 350th foundation day celebrations of this holy city.
The function was disrupted for a while and police rounded up about 35 persons while many others went out raising the slogans.
The protesters demanded the release of Sikh prisoners lodged in various jails of the country, citing that they had completed their sentences.
Sensing that the situation may turn ugly, Punjab Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, who was managing the stage, asked the crowd to raise ‘Jaikaras’ to drown the protesting slogans.
Singh, however, did not react to the slogans.
Earlier on Friday, the Home Minister along with BJP President Amit Shah paid obeisance at Takht Kesgarh Sahib.
As a first step to grant Indian nationality to nearly two lakh refugees from neighbouring countries, the NDA government has given citizenship to around 4,300 Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan in one year.
During the entire tenure of UPA-II, the figure stood at 1,023.
Representational image. AFP
The citizenship to these refugees have been given at the initiative of Home Minister Rajnath Singh following BJP’s declared policy that India is a “natural home for persecuted Hindus” who will be welcome to seek refuge.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during the Lok Sabha election campaign, said that Pakistani and Bangladeshi Hindu refugees will be treated like any other Indian citizen.
There are around two lakh Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan currently living in India. Ever since the Modi government assumed charge in May 2014, nearly 19,000 refugees have been given long-term visas in Madhya Pradesh. Around 11,000 long-term visas were given in Rajasthan and 4,000 long-term visas were given in Gujarat, official sources said.
In April, the Home Ministry had rolled out an online system for submission of Long Term Visa application and for its processing by various agencies.
The decision has been taken to address the difficulty being faced by Hindu and Sikh minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who come to India with the intention to settle permanently.
There are about 400 Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements in cities like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur. Hindu refugees from Bangladesh mostly live in West Bengal and northeastern states. Sikh refugees mostly live in Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh.
Tension gripped temple city of Jammu on Thursday when police opened fire on the pro-Bhindranwale protesters killing a youth and injuring three others at Gadigarh area in the Jammu city.
Curfew in Jammu after clash between pro-Bhindranwale supporters and the police
Image Courtesy: ANI Twitter
Following the clash between the pro-Bhindranwale protestors which lead to the death of a youth, curfew has been imposed in Satvari and Meerasahab Police station areas while Section 144 has been imposed in Jammu city. The army is carrying a flag march in the affected areas. Schools colleges will closed in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch. Tension gripped temple city of Jammu on Thursday when police opened fire on the pro-Bhindranwale protestors killing a youth and injuring three others at Gadigarh area in the Jammu city. Authorities have clamped curfew like restrictions in Satwari and Gadigarh areas as a precautionary measure to prevent the situation from getting out of the control. Eyewitnesses said violent clashes rocked the area after the Sikh youths protested against the removal of the posters eulogising the slain Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, ahead of anniversary Operation Blue Star on June 6.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Police had to open fire when protestors armed with sticks and kirpans pelted stones on the forces. A youth Jagjit Singh suffered bullet wounds and later succumbed in the hospital Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir Koondaveeti Rajendra Kumar told dna that there were clashes between police and protestors over the display of a banner of Bhindranwale. “The protestors turned violent resulting in the injuries to some policemen. To control the situation police had to open fire in which one person died and three others were injured,” he said.The DGP noted that they have imposed the restrictions in Satwari area under section 144 CrPC. “Some police personnel were also injured. An ASI was stabbed on Wednesday. We have imposed restrictions under section 144,” said Kumar. Tension started mounting on Wednesday when the posters of Bhindranwale put by pro Khalistani groups were removed by the police in the area. Protestors assembled in the area and attacked the cops with sticks and kirpans (knives) injuring three policemen.On Thursday the posters of Bhindranwale were again put up in the Sikh neighbourhood in the Gadigarh area. However the posters were again removed triggering a chain reaction with protestors blocking the road and torching the tyres. Protestors later clashed with the police which resorted to lathi-charge and fired smoke shells to disperse the mob. Later police fired on the protestors leaving one youth dead and there others injured. Some people then barged into a neighbouring locality and shot at and injured a barber in a tit for tat action. “Barber is now ok,” said the DGP.The police firing has evoked a sharp reaction from Sikh groups which have demanded a judicial probe into the incident. “We demand a judicial probe into the incident. The probe should also find out on whose orders the police opened fire on the peaceful protestors,” said Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee.Strongly condemning the killing of Jagjit Singh, Dal Khalsa blamed BJP for what they said “playing dangerous game to silence the voices of minorities”.”Removing of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale’s posters was BJP’s design aimed to provoke Sikh youth. Jammu police has unleashed a reign of terror on protesting Sikhs and showed their barbaric face. Police barbarism was the repeat of what they have been doing with the valley Muslims since decades,” said Dal Khalsa leaders Satnam Singh and Kanwar Pal Singh in a joint statement. Safe haven for Khalistani teroristsPro-Khalistani forces have always used Jammu as safe haven after the peace returned to Punjab after violent phase of militancy. For the last two decades several Khalistani militant leaders were arrested from different areas of Jammu which has sizebale population of Sikhs.In September 2010 Punjab police arrested most wanted militant of Khalistan Zindabad Force Balbir Singh alias Pinka from Jammu, 13 years after he triggered a massive bomb blast at Pathanakote in which 10 people were killed and 40 others injured. In April 2008 police foiled a major plan of ultras to assassinate Baba Ram Rahim of Dera Sacha Sauda when they arrested three Khalistani militants from Jammu.With inputs from Raju Kerni
Separatists have no right to tell where Kashmiri Pandits should live in Jammu and Kashmir, VHP said on Thursday asking the Centre and state governments to come out with a time-bound plan to rehabilitate them and ensure their safety.
Separatists have no right to tell where Kashmiri Pandits should live in Jammu and Kashmir, VHP said on Thursday asking the Centre and state governments to come out with a time-bound plan to rehabilitate them and ensure their safety.Reacting strongly to threats by separatists on rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir, international working president of VHP Pravin Togadia also sought immediate arrest of all separatists who opposed the rehabilitation of Pandits and be tried on charges of treason.”Since 1947 and then again since 1980, Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs have been brutally killed and hounded by separatists. The brutality, the attacks on their families and snatching of their shops/land are still fresh in the memory of Bharat.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”…..separatists….have no right to tell Bharat where Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs should stay, live and do business,” he said in a statement.Togadia said pro-Pakistan elements have no right to poke their nose in the matter and demanded that protection of every Hindu in Jammu and Kashmir should be ensured, along with their human rights.”The union government and Jammu and Kashmir government should now come up with a specific and time-bound plan to not just rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley but also ensure total safety of their lives, properties and business,” he said.He said three generations have lost everything in the Valley and since 1990 over 4 lakh Pandits are forced to live like refugees in their own country.”Such separatists should refrain from interfering in the well-being of Kashmiri Hindus, failing which the rest of Bharat will not stay mum. We demand that separatists who oppose the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits should be immediately arrested and tried in a fast track court on charges of treason,” he said.
New Delhi: AAP leader Jarnail Singh on Wednesday demanded that a state-level special investigation team (SIT) be set up to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases.
AAP MLA demanded SIT probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Reuters
The AAP MLA told the Delhi Assembly that a large number of people in his constituency is still waiting for justice. “Residents of many pockets in Tilak Vihar are still waiting for justice. Even during the last term we made an SIT to probe riot cases,” Singh said.
“The central government has also made an independent team so we have to see how we can work together in investigating the cases,” Singh said.
“Around 17 kin of Sikhs killed in the 1984 riots were compensated Rs 5 lakh by the central government. But now other victims of the area have started questioning us about the compensation,” Singh said in the Assembly.
New Delhi: A 70-year-old woman on Wednesday denied in a Delhi court that she was tutored and deposed falsely against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, facing trial in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, at the instance of CBI or his political opponents.
Deposing as a prosecution witness in the case, Prem Kaur told District Judge Rakesh Siddhartha it was wrong to say that she remained silent for a long time as she had no knowledge about the facts of this matter or the alleged riot incident.
Sajjan Kumar. AP
“It is incorrect to suggest that I am making a false and tutored statement before this court at the instance of CBI, Nirpreet Kaur and other political opponent of Sajjan Kumar and others.
“It is incorrect to suggest that I have made a false and wrong statement while naming Sajjan Kumar and others in the court. It is incorrect to suggest that since I knew nothing about the incident I did not give any affidavit or statement before any commission or committee,” Prem Kaur said while being cross-examined by advocate I U Khan appearing for Kumar.
She said it was also incorrect to suggest that nobody talked to her about the incident in the manner as told to the court by her yesterday.
She had yesterday told the court “children were saying that Sajjan Kumar, Jai Kishan, Ratan and Gupta Telwala were in the mob. Some other persons….and many others were saying the same thing in a camp.
“When we came out of our hiding, we were informed by people that our house was looted and burnt by the aforesaid persons named…,” she had alleged.
Kaur’s cross examination concluded and the court fixed March 19 for recording statement of another witness. During the day’s hearing, she said it was “incorrect that a new and false story has been cooked up as tutored to me”.
She had yesterday alleged that Kumar and certain others were part of a mob which had attacked, looted and burnt houses of Sikhs during the riots in 1984.
Sajjan Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta, Peeriya and Ved Prakash are facing trial on charges of murder and rioting in the case of killing of Surjit Singh in Sultanpuri area of West Delhi.
The court had in July 2010 framed various charges, including of murder and rioting, against Kumar, Gupta, Peeriya, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash in connection with killing of the man in Sultanpuri in the riots which had occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October, 1984. Accused Khushal Singh has since died.
The trial court had also framed charges for the offence of spreading enmity between two communities against the accused in the case.
