June 2013 Archive

Badal expected to visit US in July; Sikhs for Justice gear up serve court summons this time

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (June 30, 2013): According to a news reported in “The Washington Post”: “[a]n Indian head of state is expected to visit Wisconsin next week, and a Sikh group accusing him of human-rights violations is offering $10,000 to anyone who serves him with a federal summons while he’s here”.

US: Man pleads guilty to Federal Hate Crime in attack on Sikh man

Washington, United States (June 28, 2013): It is learnt that he US Department of Justice (USDJ) announced in a statement released on 27 June, 2013 that Jamie Larson, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to a federal hate crime relating to a racially-motivated assault of a 50-year-old Sikh man who works as a taxi cab driver.

Conference in European Parliament: Sikhs demand release of Prof. Bhullar; Resolve against death penalty in India

Brussels, Belgium (June 28, 2013): A conference on “Human Rights and Death Penalty in India” was held on June 25, 2013 in European Parliament in Brussels, in which various MEPs and Sikh representatives from across the Europe had participated. The conference was reportedly organized at the initiative of Sikh Federation UK.

SGPC constitutes panel to probe incident of thrashing of IAS Kahan Singh Pannu

Amritsar, Punjab (June 26, 2013): It is learnt that on June 26, 2013 the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) announced the formation of a three member panel to investigate the thrashing of IAS officer, Kahan Singh Pannu at Gobind Dham in Uttarakhand. The incident had reportedly taken place on June 22; as some persons beat up IAS Kahan Singh Pannu and removed his turban.

White House holds second briefing on Sikh Civil rights issues

Washington, DC (June 25, 2013): A recent newsletter (dated July 25, 2013) issued by the Sikh Coalition: “Jakaras were heard in the White House this past Friday during a briefing on Sikh civil rights issues in the heart of the federal government. This briefing, the second of its kind, was organized in collaboration with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the White House Office of Public Engagement at the request of the Sikh Coalition”.

Sikh Research Institute Canada to host two educational workshops at Surrey on July 01

Surrey, Canada (June 27, 2013): It is learnt that the Sikh Research Institute Canada (SikhRI-Canada) shall be hosting two educational workshops on July 1, 2013 at Progressive Inter-Cultural Community Services (PICS) in Surrey. The SikhRI-Cananda has invited Sikhs to attend these workshops and get inspired and engaged in Sikhi.

United Sikhs aid team launch efforts in Joshimath

Uttarakhand, India (June 27, 2013): After what seems to be never ending rainfall and the overflow of rivers, thousands of devotees have been left stranded looking for a safe haven to avoid the torrential flow of water. In an instant, hundreds were swept away by the flash floods.

Resolutions passed by Sikhs from across Europe at the 25 June Conference in the European Parliament

Having regard to the European Parliament's July 2011 Resolution on India and the death sentence on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, the EU-India Dialogue on Human Rights, Amnesty International calls on 12 April 2013 for the Professor’s death sentence not to be carried out . . .

Conference in European Parliament exposes continued Human rights abuses in India; Demand release of Prof. Bhullar

Brussels (June 26, 2013): It is learnt that the first ever Sikh conference at the European Parliament was held on 25 June, 2013. The conference was organized at the initiative of the Sikh Federation UK. The Sikh Federation (UK) having previously organised numerous such lobbies and meetings. The subject chosen was Human Rights Abuses and the Death Penalty in India.

Removal of turban of Kahan Singh Pannu, highly condemnable: Dal Khalsa

Amritsar, Punjab (June 26, 2013): Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh has condemned the thrashing of senior Punjab IAS officer Kahan Singh Pannu by some youths in Uthrakand. He had been deputed by the state government for relief operations.

26 June: International Day in support of victims of torture

Ludhiana, India (June 26, 2013): 26 June is observed as "United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture". Torture seeks to annihilate the victim’s personality and denies the inherent dignity of the human being.

EU Parliament conference to discuss Human rights-death penalty in India and Bhullar-Rajoana issue today

Brussels (June 25, 2013): A conference in the European Parliament in Brussels on the Death Penalty and Human Rights abuses in India is schedled to be held today (on June 25, 2013). Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that '[t]he conference is taking place in the Paul Henri Spaak Building in the European Parliament in Brussels. Politicians from across Europe have a crucial role to play in acting as a catalyst for change in the Indian judiciary's use of the death penalty and ensuring human rights are protected.’

UK Sikh girl’s missing organs reportedly traced in lab near Chandigarh

Chandigarh/ Punjab (June 25, 2013): Various media reports have disclosed that the organs of Birmingham-born Gurkiren Kaur Loyal are with the Forensic Chemical Examination Laboratory at Kharar, near Chandigarh. It is learnt that the local councillor Narinder Kaur Kooner has received an email saying the organs are in the laboratory.

Incongruous placing of the Punjab Left with Tribal’s struggle in Sanjay Kak’s film

After much acclaimed film Jashn-e-Azadi (How We Celebrate Freedom-2007) Sanjay Kak has come out with ‘Maati Ke Laal’ (Red Ant Dream) which was screened in Chandigarh on Saturday ( 11 May, 2013) to an audience fairly dotted with left-leaning people.

Sikh Community reaches out to serve in aftermath of Calgary floods

Calgary (June 24, 2013): The Sikh community of Calgary and the World Sikh Organization of Canada have been reaching out to serve in the aftermath of severe flooding in the city. Thousands of Calgary residents were forced to evacuate after rising water levels shut down the city core and left many neighbourhoods flooded.

IAS Kahan Singh Pannu manhandled by pilgrims for alleged use of abusive language

Uttrakhand, India (June 24, 2013): It is learnt that IAS Officer and Director general of school education (DGSE), Punjab, Kahan Singh Pannu, who was reportedly supervising post-flood rescue operations in Uttarakhand, was assaulted by some pilgrims from Punjab on June 23, 2013.

World Sikh Organization (WSO) Condemns Vandalism of Surrey Hindu Temple

Surrey, Canada (June 24, 2013): The World Sikh Organization of Canada condemns the vandalism of a Surrey Hindu temple early Sunday. Video recordings show two men walking up to the Laxmi Narayan Temple on Surrey’s 140th St. and shattering the windows with a bat.

Sacramento Sikh Couple harrased by security of AMC Theatre

Emeryville, California, USA (June 24, 2013): “Harassed. Insulted. Embarrassed and humiliated are just few words to express how a Sikh couple felt after trying to have a fun night out at the movies. Like fellow Americans, a Sikh gentleman, Mr. Manjot Singh, took his wife out to the movies on a Saturday evening” reads a news letter issued by a US based NGO – United Sikhs.

3 days police remand of Amit Sharma, who used abusive language against Sikh Gurus on Facebook

Jalandhar, Punjab ( June 22, 2013): It is learnt that Amit Sharma, an activist of Shiv Sena, who used derogatory words against Tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, over social networking site Facebook has been booked by Jalandhar police under Section 295A of Indian Penal Code and Section 66A of Information Technology Act.

Canada: WSO concludes national annual human rights events in Surrey

Surrey, Canada (June 22, 2013): The World Sikh Organization of Canada concluded its annual series of national human rights events with its annual inter-community dinner in Surrey last Sunday night. Several hundred guests were in attendance including several MLAs and representatives from Simon Fraser University, Fraser Health Authority, RCMP amongst others.

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