In Year 2000 When then US President visited India 36 Sikhs were massacred by men in Indian Army Uniforms

Srinagar, Kashmir (February 02, 2012): The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), a Sikh organization of Sikhs living in Kashmir, on  January 31, 2012 sought intervention of the Supreme Court of India for conducting a time-bound inquiry into the killing of 36 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora in south Kashmir in 2000. They welcomed the observations of the Supreme Court in Pathribal killings issue, which is in a way connected with the Chittisinghpura Massacre.

“We have written letters to Chief Justice, Justice B S Chauhan and Justice Swatantra Kumar, hearing Pathribal case, and urged them to direct authorities to conduct a time-bound inquiry into the killing of 36 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora few days before the fake encounter of Pathribal,” APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina is reported to have media persons.

“We welcome the Supreme Court’s condemnation of the Pathribal incident (killing of five civilians) in March 2000 and terming it as a skeptical encounter. All those responsible for it should be brought to book,” Raina added.

In March 2000, 36 Sikhs were massacred in Chattisinghpora village on the eve of the arrival of then US President Bill Clinton in India for an official visit. They were massacred by persons in Indian Army Uniforms.

Some days after the massacre the Indian Army claimed to have killed the “five militants involved in the massacre” a CBI probe has concluded that the deceased were innocent Kashmiri civilians.

The premier investigating agency of India (CBI) filed a charge-sheet against five army men including a Brigadier in a civil court, but Army challenged the move in higher courts on the grounds that sanction for prosecution has not been sought as required under notorious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The matter is pending before the Supreme Court as Army has got no relief from the sub-ordinate courts.

The APSCC chairman said inquiries ordered by the Government and security agencies in the past have failed to unmask the persons responsible for the massacre.

“So far the committees formed by the Government have failed to produce any results. Now we urge the Supreme Court of India to give directions for a fresh probe in the killings of the 36 innocent Sikhs. If they fail to do so, it will be injustice with the Sikhs of Kashmir,” he said, adding, “If Chattisinghpora case is solved, the other cases related with it will be automatically solved. Chattisingpora is the base case for all inquiries including the Brakpora killings.”

Referring to the Pathribal killings, he said, “The bodies of the five persons were burnt and hastily buried in a nearby village and their innocence was proved by Justice Pandian Commission. The inquiry report also revealed that their bodies were charred beyond recognition.”

The decision to write letters to SC Judges was taken at a meeting in which heads of various Sikh organizations including Ajit Singh Mastana, Daleep Singh Deepak, Sant Singh, Niranjan Singh, Dr. Joginder Singh Shan, Dr. J.S. Bali, Harjit Singh, Devinder Singh and several other leaders participated.

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EcoSikh has set the goal of enrolling more than 700 Sikh institutions and Gurdwaras all over the world to celebrate this day in March up from 450 who celebrated last year. EcoSikh is urging them to start the signing up on January 31, the birth date of Guru Har Rai. This year it also plans to approach Sikh-owned businesses to join in this endeavor.
According to Dr. Rajwant Singh, President of EcoSikh: “This will be perhaps the largest direct action event by the Sikhs worldwide to help preserve the natural environment of Mother Earth. It’s great to start this campaign on the auspicious day of Guru Har Rai’s birthday. Last year over 450 Sikh bodies all over the world marked the day with various thoughtful actions and celebrations and this year we are audaciously setting the goal of 700.”

EcoSikh has already received confirmation of participation from many Sikh institutions, gurdwaras and Sikh-run schools and colleges in India and abroad. EcoSikh has a website for gurdwaras and Sikh institutions to register their participation internationally.

Last year participants included the highest Sikh institutions. Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and Takhat Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharasthra, the SGPC, Gurdwaras, Khalsa schools, youth groups from India, USA, Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Argentina, Nigeria, Kenya, UK etc celebrated the first Sikh Environment Day as a tribute to Guru Har Rai ji.

The Sikhs remember Guru Har Rai ji for his sensitivity to nature and his passion for preserving it. The Seventh Guru was instrumental in developing Kiratpur Sahib on the banks of tributary of the river Sutlej in Punjab as a town of parks and gardens: he planted flowers and fruit bearing trees all over the area, as well as medicinal herbs and wildlife sanctuaries for the benefit of the masses in the 17th century making him perhaps the earliest environmentalist in the Indian Subcontinent. According to Sikh history this created a salubrious environment, attracting birds and animals to the town and turning it into an idyllic place to live.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Washington based Sikh Council on Religion and Education and President of EcoSikh, said: “Guru Har Rai ji inspired Sikhs to care for nature and his life lifts us towards ecological consciousness precisely when earth is facing dire circumstances due to human carelessness. We have no choice but to walk on the footsteps of this great man and leave minimum footprints.”

Bandana Kaur, New York based Program Director of EcoSikh in North America, said: This is a positive way to connect Sikhs in the diaspora to be aware of environmental issues facing in their own localities but also be conscious of challenging state of ecology in their own spiritual homeland.”

Ravneet Singh, Indian Project Manager in Ludhiana, Punjab, said, “Our message is simple: wherever you are, plan to inspire others with what Guruji taught us. Whatever you do, plan to plant a tree and save water, clear up rubbish in your neighbourhood and talk to a child about nature preservation.”

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“About a dozen violent clashes were also recorded during night and some persons were severely injured” report adds.

Election process for all 117 constituencies of Punjab is complete now. Recent reports shows that around 70% overall polling is recorded in Punjab.

As per information made available by Election commission (Punjab) at 21:00 hrs, Dharamkot constituency recorded maximum poll turnover of 85% whereas Fatehgarh Churian recorded lowest turnover of 24%.

Malwa region of Punjab has recorded comparatively high turnover than rest of Punjab while Majha region has recorded comparatively much less turnover.

This is the percentage turnover voter chart made available by election commission (Punjab) on its’ website which is based on the data available at 30/01/2012 at 21:00 hrs.

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“Out of that, nearly Rs 30 crore has been seized from Punjab only. But it’s not just cash, which is the king during elections. In the state with the maximum number of crorepati candidates in the fray, everything is flowing freely, from liquor to drugs to money” reports IBNlive.

Special news report published by the IBNlive on it’s website reveals that “[I]n Punjab, it is turning out to be a deadly concoction to win votes. Sources in the Election Commission say that money is just the tip of the iceberg to buy votes in Punjab. Candidates have been distributing liquor freely, 11,206 litres of illicit liquor and 1,43,070 country liquor bottles have been confiscated”.

The biggest and the more unique lure in Punjab is drugs. Two weeks back, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi had summoned the Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau OPS Malik. The biggest problem discussed was the addiction of poppy husk in the Majha belt, from Ferozepur to Amritsar. Since then, 2,300 kg poppy husk, 7 kg of heroin worth nearly Rs 65 crore in the international market, 10 kg opium and hundreds of kilograms of other drugs have been seized.

All this has been happening in the state with the highest number of crorepati candidates in fray.

In 2012, 266 candidates are crorepatis, while in the 2007 Assembly elections, only 184 candidates were crorepatis.

Karan Kaur of Congress (Muktasar) has the maximum assets worth Rs 128.4 crore, followed by Shirmani Akali Dal’s prince-in-waiting Sukhbir Singh Badal (Jalalabad), posting assets of Rs 90.8 crore.

Kewal Singh Dhillon of Congress (Barnala) has assets worth Rs 78.5 crore and Captain Amrinder Singh has assets worth Rs 45 crore. The source of the above data is National Election Watch.

Clearly, in Punjab, money flows as freely as drugs and liquor. Over and above, in a state which has the highest number of immigration agencies, accounted foreign exchange is in abundance and the hawala operators are having a field day. It is not an easy task for the Election Commission.

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Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi, India (January 24, 2012): The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on Indian politician Sajjan Kumar’s plea challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in one of the cases related to 1984 brutal massacres of Sikhs in Delhi.

It is notable that Sikhs in India were subjected to genocidal violance during first week of November 1984 after the assasination of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October, 1984. The violance was prepetrated by the State and high ranks of the Indian government and the ruling congress party, therefore the prepetrators have enjoyed the impunity to a large extent. It took more than 25 years for the Indian system to charge Sajjan Kumar.

Justice Suresh Kait of Delhi High Court today reserved the order after the counsel for Kumar, CBI and various victims concluded their arguments on Kumar’s plea.

Appearing for Sajjan Kumar, counsel Amrender Sharan submitted before the court that in 2002 his client was acquitted by a special court in the case and CBI had registered another case in 2005 against him and others with an ulterior motive.

He also said the investigating agency has named those persons as prosecution witnesses who had already testified in an earlier case for the alleged killing of 60 persons during the riot, in which he had been acquitted.

Appearing for the victims, senior counsel H S Phoolka contended Delhi Police had deliberately suppressed evidence against Kumar due to his political connections and the probe agency had made faulty investigations in the case so that the accused would get the benefit of law.

The trial court had on July 1, 2010, framed charges against Kumar and Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash for the murder of six persons at Sultanpuri area in North-West Delhi in the riots that had taken place in the wake of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi On October 31, 1984.

CBI had filed two charge-sheets against Kumar and others on January 13 in the riots cases registered in 2005 on the recommendation of Justice G T Nanavati Commission which had inquired into the sequence of events leading to the riots.

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“We have taken notice of the issue and will lodge a protest after gathering the complete facts” he added.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said the comments tantamount to blasphemy. “Dal Khalsa strongly protests against Leno’s remark,” he added. Describing the remarks as a cruel joke against the Sikh faith, Dal Khalsa said Leno should “apologise to the world and Sikhs in particular.”

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“Jay leno’s depiction of Darbar Sahib in his show is in a very poor taste and a lot of Sikhs who have already protested against it, they have already asked for Jay Leno’s apology and I am sure that he will apologizes one he realizes that he has hurt religious sentiments of so many people” Kiranjit Kaur is shown to have said by NewsX channel.

Similarly Sikh Students Federation has also lashed out at NBC comedian for his remarks. “It is unfortunate and hurting. He might be ignorant about the significance of Sri Darbar Sahib but this could not condone his guilt” a SSF representative, Pardeep Singh Poadhi, told Sikh Siyasat over phone. “SSF fully support the efforts of Sikh diaspora members proceeding against Jay Leno to protest against his comment on NBC broadcast on 19th of January” he added.

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Bapu Kashmir Singh Panjwar

Amritsar, Punjab (January 22, 2012): As per information available with Sikh Siyasat, Bapu Kashmir Singh father of underground Sikh militant leader Bhai Paramjeet Singh Panjwar has passed away. Bapu Kashmir Singh breathed last at 3:15 in the morning.

Akali Dal Panch Pardhani youth leader Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur and Dal Khalsa youth leader Sarabjeet Singh Ghumaan have posted their prayers for the departed soul on his Facebook Wall.

Bhai Paramjeet Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force, is underground since the days of militant Sikh struggle for independence.

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Sikhs to observe March 14, 2012 as 2nd annual Sikh Environment Day

Amritsar, Punjab (January 21, 2012): As per information available with Sikh Siyasat, during the week of March 14th, Sikhs across the world will gather to commemorate the Gurgaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji as the 2nd Annual Sikh Environment Day.

 Last year more than 450 Sikh institutions, including Gurdwaras, schools, businesses across the six continents celebrated the day by holding divaans and events that bring us back to our connection with nature. This year it is estimated that more than 700 institutions will join.

We kindly invite your Gurdwara or school to celebrate the Gurpurab of Guru Har Rai Ji by focusing kirtan and katha on the environment. Your Gurdwara is also welcome to plant a tree, hold children’s speeches and art displays, or make its own firm commitment to protecting natural resources and reducing waste. A toolkit of great ideas is available from the EcoSikh website.

Sikh businesses and organizations are also invited to participate by making a commitment through action to reducing their impact on the environment and passing on the message to other organizations and communities.

The seventh Guru Sahib showed us the way to have sensitivity to all living beings and honoring the Divine in all Creation. Sikh Environment Day has been supported by the Akal Takht and Sikh institutions across Punjab and the world. With your participation, we can make the day a truly historic event, again in 2012.

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