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ABC Documentary Sikhs, Spies and Murder Blocked on Govt. Orders in India

March 28, 2024

Chandigarh- Two days ago, India ordered YouTube to block access to a documentary by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) entitled Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil, in a sinister move that highlights India’s mounting frustration with the allegations that its government was behind the high-profile killing.

The video-sharing platform said “the content has now been blocked from view” on the YouTube India country site, but it is still available outside India.

YouTube displays the following message : This content is currently unavailable in this (India) country because of an order from the (Indian) government related to national security or public order.

The request marks the third time in just over a year that India has sought to block a documentary, first by BBC critical of the Indian government or its leader, Narendra Modi. Last week, India blocked access to documentary by Canadian national broadcaster’s investigative unit CBC’s Fifth Estate: Contract to Kill, a 43-minute documentary about the shooting death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

ABC stands by its journalism on this story. The documentary is available on its website. To ensure fairness and balance, the documentary included a wide range of voices, stakeholders and subject matter experts.

ABC team members visited Punjab and met the family member of the man murdered in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and also gained rare access to the movement’s leaders including Dal Khalsa office bearers, viewed as extremists by Indian officials, who are in no doubt that the Modi government is targeting Sikh separatists around the world including in Australia.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh who has been extensively interviewed by ABC correspondent Ms. Avani Dias on the relevant questions on the Khalistan movement and the killing of Nijjar condemned Indian government for banning the documentary in India. Calling the Indian state as fascist in nature, he termed it a frustrated step by the Modi government feared of getting exposed before the world.

Modi govt can’t silence our voices. Trampling on our rights is a cheap tactic being adopted by the arrogant rulers. They tried in the past too but failed to deter our resolve and determination. No government can stop us in exposing their misdeeds, designs and wrongful acts against the Sikhs and our just cause, said Kanwar Pal Singh.

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Sikh News

SGPC Expresses Concerns Over Reports of Blast Outside Poonch Gurdwara

March 27, 2024

Chandigarh: As per media reports, an explosion occurred in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district late on Tuesday night (March 26) but there was no report of any injury. 

The blast was reported in a lane adjacent to a religious place in the vicinity of the district hospital in Poonch town at around 11.15 pm, causing panic among the locals, local officials reportedly said.

Visuals show that, due to the blast, a wall was damaged.

The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has expressed concern over the issue. In a statement SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami urged the investigative agencies to conduct a thorough and in-depth probe into this incident, to arrest and punish the perpetrators. 

“As per the information received from S. Anmol Singh, President of this Gurdwara Sahib, the incident appears to be a conspiracy to disturb communal harmony among Hindu-Muslim-Sikh communities, to spread hatred and discord. Luckily, nobody is hurt”, SGPC’s statement reads.

The SGPC President has asked SGPC’s Sikh Mission in J&K to submit a report and stay in touch with the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in Poonch. The Sikh body SGPC stands firmly with Sikhs of J&K.

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Over Seas » Sikh News

US Justice Department Joins the Sikh Coalition’s Fight Against Workplace Discrimination in California

March 27, 2024

Sacramento, California: On March 25, 2024, US Justice Department (DOJ) challenged the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on its denial of religious accommodations for correctional officers of various faiths, including Sikhs and Muslims, who wear facial hair as an expression of their faith. 

“This announcement builds on Sikh Coalition’sown campaign against CDCR’s workplace discrimination since 2023, and is the result of close collaboration between the Sikh Coalition, our legal partners, and the DOJ”, reads a statement issued by the Sikh Coalition. 

“We are pleased to see the Justice Department recognize this flagrant discrimination from CDCR,” said Sikh Coalition Staff Attorney Amreen Partap Singh Bhasin. 

“The Sikh Coalition is committed to fight against these violations both in court and through legislation. We continue to believe that employees of all communities have the right to maintain both their faith and health while working in any career field”, he added. 

The DOJ’s action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, where they are seeking a preliminary injunction in order to stop CDCR’s discriminatory behavior and eliminate the conflict between individuals’ religious beliefs and their job duties. While we will remain in collaboration with the DOJ on their efforts, the Sikh Coalition and our partners will also continue to pursue legal work on behalf of our seven retained CDCR clients: The CDCR’s discriminatory policy must change, but those individuals who have suffered for more than a year under that policy also deserve justice. 

“The DOJ’s engagement comes the week after bill AB 2321 passed unanimously through its first committee. As a reminder, AB 2321 was developed by California Assemblymember Liz Ortega and the Sikh Coalition to require CDCR to adhere to its obligation to provide employees with reasonable and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the employee’s individual needs”, the statement reads further.

In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to continuing our engagement with the DOJ and our legal partners, as well as working with the California sangat to move AB 2321 forward through the California Assembly and Senate; stay tuned for further updates. We firmly believe that ending this kind of discrimination—against Sikhs and others—by the state’s largest public employer will have positive effects for Sikhs across all professions in the Golden State, reads the Sikh Coalition’s statement.

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Videos

British Behavior with Gurmukhi Lipi | Dr Sikander Singh

March 27, 2024

A seminar on Gurmukhi Lipi on 20th March 2024 at University Collage Chunni Kalan, Fatehgarh Sahib. This is video recording of lecture delivered by Dr.Sikander Singh

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Over Seas » Sikh News

Oasis CEO Apologises to Sikh community for Causing Offence

March 23, 2024

London: John Barneby, the Chief Executive Officer of the Oasis Community Learning Multi Academy Trust has apologised for offence caused to the Sikh community for including slides about a Sikh youth organisation in slides about religion, extremism and terrorism.

“A number of Sikh organisations and members of the community were outraged by the inclusion of an image of Sikh Youth UK alongside that of the Ku Klux Klan and the Taliban and challenged the Oasis Community Learning Multi Academy Trust”, Jaspal Singh, National Press Secretary of the Sikh Federation UK said.

“The Chief Executive Officer of the Oasis Community Learning Trust has confirmed in a letter to the Sikh Council UK that the offensive slides have now been removed”, he added.

Oasis Community Learning Multi Academy Trust is generally held in very high regard and runs 53 academies.

Dabinderjit Singh, the Principal Adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:

“It is not enough for the CEO of Oasis to apologise and remove the slides. This targeting of a reputable Sikh organisation and its founder who is pictured in the slides is blatant and should never have taken place.”

“Sikh Youth UK and its founder deal with very challenging subjects like bullying and sexual grooming and this sort of misrepresentation makes their job that much more difficult,” Dabinderjit Singh said.

“Oasis should immediately write and apologise to Sikh Youth UK and its founder.  Showing his image puts him at risk from criminal gangs and could also have serious legal and other consequences for the Trust,” he added.

Dabinderjit Singh further said “This grave misrepresentation by the Trust however needs to be fully investigated as it could be argued Oasis has been spreading racial hatred.”

“They must establish how this was allowed to happen, what due diligence took place and take action against those that allowed this serious mistake to occur so it never happens again”, he added.  

He said: “We have written to the CEO today about these matters following the apology and copied Ofsted and the Department for Education.” 

“Unfortunately, it is mistakes like this that could be incorrectly used by lazy civil servants in weeks to come to falsely label one or two Sikh groups as ‘extremist’ under the government’s new extremist definition”, he added.

“We will not allow Sikh groups to be falsely labelled extremist for reasons of political correctness as politicians do not want to be seen and accused of picking only on Muslim and right wing groups”, said Principal Advisor of the Sikh Federation UK.

Copy of Apology Issued by Oasis CEO:

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Sikh News

Dal Khalsa’s Satement on India’s Findings on Foiled Plot of Killing Sikh Activist on US Soil

March 23, 2024

Amritsar: Dal Khalsa, a pro-Sikh freedom group, has issued a written statement after media reports made certain revelations about India’s findings on involvement of Indian officials in a plot to kill a Sikh activist on US soil. The plot was foiled by US agencies.

Full text of statement released by the Dal Khalsa reads as follows:

Hand over former RAW official to US authorities for criminal proceedings if India wants world and Sikhs to believe in his findings: Dal Khalsa

Dal Khalsa trashed the findings of a probe carried out by the Union Government in which it has exonerated itself from the allegations of its role in foiled plot to kill US-based Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

It’s preposterous to think that New Delhi will admit its direct role, said party leaders at a press conference held at the party office here today. 

We request the US authorities to hold an independent probe into the matter and not to believe in India’s so-called investigation, said party leaders. The perpetrators must be brought to justice within the United States, said Kanwar Pal Singh. He further added that theirs organisation will write a letter to US administration in this regard. 

In its findings the Modi dispensation has already admitted that a person who was directly involved in the alleged unauthorised plot was no longer working for RAW: its external intelligence agency. 

If India wants that the world and the aggrieved Sikh community trust its words, the New Delhi should hand over that former RAW official to US authorities for criminal proceedings against him in the US court of law, he said and added that short of that would be construed as India’s deep state involvement in transnational repression on Sikhs since May last year. 

He said the Indian govt has blamed rogue elements for hatching up plot against Pannu on the foreign soil. 

He said the Modi government must come clean as to who they are, when did they turn rogue and what did the government do, if anything, before the exposure by Canadian and US governments.

Hitting on the govt, he said India used to accuse rogue elements or non state actors in Pakistan for carrying terror acts on its soil in the past. Now, India’s admittance that its rouge elements are committing terror acts extrajudicially on foreign soil is a matter of grave concern. 

US policymakers must not trust India’s authoritarian regime, especially after attempts to harm Sikh Americans on US soil by accepting India’s findings, said Paramjit Singh Mand working president of the organisation. 

On the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Kanwar Pal Singh said it has proven beyond doubt that India’s political system is deeply plagued with corruption. The bureaucrat who became politician on anti-corruption plank to cleanse political system from deep rooted corruption has ended up in jail under corruption charges. 

Referring to the wrongful detentions of Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Dibrugarh detainees under NSA and furthering their detention for one year term and creating hurdles in the release of life convict Prof Devinder Singh Bhullar, Paramjit said Kejriwal and his party led govt has committed excesses and repression on the people of Punjab.

To drive his point home, he quoted from the Gurbani, ‘as you sow so shall you reap’. Prof

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General News

Gaon Savera Trust Knocks on High Court’s Door Against Social Media Blockings by GoI

March 22, 2024

Chandigarh: Haryana based media house Gaon Savera Trust has reportedly challenged Government of India’s move to invoke section 69-A of Information Technology Act 2000 to block social media handles of Gaon Savera and its’ editor. 

Talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone, Gaon Savera editor Mandeep Punia confirmed the move.

A petition has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the withholding of ‘X’ and ‘Youtube’ accounts of a Trust and its journalist-Editor, for covering Farmers’ Protest. 

As per the plea, the accounts were blocked on Centre’s request citing “national security and public order concerns”.

The petitioners submitted that on February 16, their X and Youtube accounts were withheld for disseminating information on ongoing Farmers’ Protest. A notice was sent by X stating that the accounts have been withheld on “legal removal demand” from the Government of India claiming the content violates Information Technology Act, 2000.

Similarly, a notice was issued to block the Youtube Channel stating that an order was received from the government related to “national security or public order”, the plea stated.

The plea states that action is “illegal” as there is no compliance of section 69A of the IT Act and the power to issue blocking orders vested with the Designated Officer of Ministry of Electronics and IT is content-specific and the accounts or channels cannot be blocked.

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Sikh News

WPD Chief Amritpal Singh and Others NSA Detainees End Hunger Stike

March 22, 2024

Amritsar: ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh and his companions have reportedly ended their hunger strike. 

In a written release issued yesterday, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) stated that on the “directions” (adesh) of Giani Raghbir Singh (SGPC appointed Jathedar of Akal Takht) five Singhs went to Digrugarh jail in Assam to end the hunger stike of Amritpal Singh other detained there under NSA.

As per the release, Giani Malkeet Singh (Head Granthi of Akal Takht Sahib), Giani Prem Singh (Mukh Ardasiye of Sri Harmandar Sahib), Bhai Nishan Singh, Bhai Balwinder Singh and Bhai Bikranjit Singh met Amritpal Singh, Harjit Singh, Pappalpreet Singh, Bhagwant Singh Bajeke and Varinder Singh Fauji and told them to end their hunger strike. 

Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, who was also accompanying five Singhs, said that Amritpal Singh and his companions have ended their hunger strike. 

Notably, there are ten Sikh detainees at Dibrugarh jail who had started a hunger strike demanding their transfer from Dibrugarh to Punjab. Five detainees had ended their hunger strike earlier. 

It is learnt that Kulwant Singh Raoke had ended his hunger strike on 9 March while Basant Singh had started taking meals from 11 March. The report adds that Sarabjit Singh Kalsi, Gurinderpal Singh Aujala and Gurpreet Singh Gill ended their hunger strike on March 14.

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Political News » Sikh News

SAD Occupied by Corporate Family; We Shall Liberate and Revive It: Misl Satluj

March 21, 2024

Chandigarh: Misl Satluj, a socio-political organization, said on March 20, 2024 that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has lost its relevance and that Misl Satluj endeavours to revive Akali movement’s principles, advocate for Punjab’s rights, and tackle socio-economic challenges with a comprehensive agenda.

“Since 1947, Punjab has endured persecution and discrimination at the hands of the central govt, with the SAD initially championing Punjab’s rights but losing relevance due to personal greed and subsequent decline in the moral fabric of its leadership over time,” said Misl Satluj’s head Ajaypal Singh Brar, interacting with mediapersons at Chandigarh Press Club on March 20, 2024.

Brar further added that there’s a glaring absence of political representation for Sikhs and Punjab’s interests and therefore Misl Satluj aims to reclaim the original ethos of the Akali movement by liberating SAD from clutches of private corporate stranglehold and rejuvenating it. The political body claims that the SAD should return to its old self wherein it was known for advocating for Punjab’s rights nationally and was pride of the community.

Devinder Singh Sekhon, senior leader of Misl Satluj, told Sikh Siyasat News that another aim of the organisation is to push for the realisation of aims and objectives unanimously adopted by SAD in 1974. 

“We propose redefining Punjab’s relationship with the central govt, advocating for special provisions and more rights under Article 371 of the Constitution”, he added.

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Documents » Political News » Sikh News

Misl Satluj Releases Draft of Aims and Objective; Seeks Suggestions from Sikhs & People of Panjab

March 21, 2024

Chandigarh: A sociopolitical organization Misl Satluj held a press conference at Chandigarh on March 20, 2024 and released a document titled “Teeche ate Manorath Pattar 2024” (Aims and Objectives 2024).

Speaking to media persons on this occasion Ajaypal Singh Brar said that Misl Satluj has vowed to revive the “political movement” which had led to formation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as a regional party with aims of projecting Panjab and Sikh interests in India.

Watch Full Video:

 

 

Copy of Document Released by Misl Satluj:-

Download from Misl Satluj’s Facebook Page

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Sikh News

Kins of Dibrugarh Sikh NSA Detainees End Hunger Strike; Sit-in Protest to Continue 

March 19, 2024

Amritsar: The family members of Waris Punjab De president Amritpal Singh and other Sikh detainees lodged at Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam under the National Security Act have ended their hunger strike. They announced an end to their hunger strike yesterday, but said that their sit-in protest would continue on a street leading to Darbar Sahib in Amritsar.

The protesters said that they have ended their hunger strike in order to abide by a directive issued by SGPC appointed Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.

Notably, family members of Sikh detainees led by Amritpal Singh’s parents are staging a protest seeking jail transfer of their detained family members to Punjab from Assam.

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Over Seas » World News

Pakistan Conducts Air-strikes in Afghanistan; Taliban Claim to Have Conducted Retaliatory Hits

March 19, 2024

Chandigarh: Pakistan has reportedly launched overnight air attacks inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban claimed hours later to have fired across the border.

“Tensions flared on Monday between Islamabad and Kabul following the overnight raids. Pakistan said the attack had targeted armed groups hiding out in border regions. The Taliban said eight women and children were killed”, notes a report by AlJazeera. 

In a statement released today, the Taliban defence ministry said Afghan border forces targeted Pakistani military positions along with heavy artillery in response to alleged Pakistani bombings of civilian homes in districts of Khost, Barmal, Paktika.

Tension has risen between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Islamabad claims that hostile armed groups carry out regular attacks from across the border, notes AlJazeera.

Analysts suggest that today’s strike can be linked to the suicide attack two days ago, which was claimed by a newly formed group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad, which is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, leader of a Pakistani Taliban faction based in North Waziristan.

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General News

Dal Khalsa to Punjab Govt: Arrest and Bring Ram Rahim to Punjab for Interrogation

March 18, 2024

Hoshiarpur: In the wake of names of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is already serving life sentence in a rape and murder case, and his girl friend Honeypreet came into limelight in a sacrilege case of 2015, the Dal Khalsa has asked the Punjab government to immediately bring both the criminals to Punjab on police remand for interrogation.

 The recently appointed working president of Dal Khalsa, Paramjit Singh Mand, said that from the day the sacrilege was committed till today, it was clear to every conscious Sikh that heretical Sirsa Dera was behind the sacrilege. Unfortunately during the last 9 years, the successive governments did not allowed the law to catch the real culprits, rather protected the Dera chief from the cases of sacrilege.

He said that the governments of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal and the Congress government were in power for five years but both of them failed to interrogate Ram Rahim. He said that if the AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann fails to bring Ram Rahim and Honeypreet to Punjab for interrogation and bring the accused to justice, then it would be proven beyond doubt that Ram Rahim was a stooge of India’s deep state and that no pro-Indian party can dare to touch him.

It is pertinent to be mentioned that Dera Sacha Sauda’s important functionary Pradeep Keller after his recent arrest has spilled the beans that the mastermind behind the desecration was Dera chief Ram Rahim himself and Honeypreet.

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Sikh News

Police Crackdown on Sikh Activists Across Punjab Ahead of Gathering in Amritsar

March 17, 2024

Amritsar/Chandigarh: Punjab police have launched a massive crackdown on Sikh activists ahead of Pathic Ekatarta (gathering) at Sri Amritsar today (17th of March).

The gathering was called by Waris Punjab De, an activists’ group launched by slain actor turned activist Deep Sidhu. The group is presently headed by Amritpal Singh, who is detained at Dibrugarh jail in Assam under National Security Act (NSA).

Central Jail, Dibrugarh [File Photo]

Activists Detained Across Punjab:

Acting on the directions of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government, the Punjab police began its crackdown yesterday and raided the houses of various Panthic personalities, Sikh activists, leaders of Sikh groups. Those who were found in their houses were put under house detention.

As per reports emanating from across the Punjab, dozens of Sikh leaders have been put under house detention.

Bhai Daljit Singh (File Photo)

Panjaab Lawyers’ chief Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that the Ludhiana police detained Panth Sewak personality Bhai Daljit Singh inside his house last afternoon.

A team of six police officials raided Bhai Daljit Singh house and informed him about government’s directions to put him under house arrest, Manjhpur told SSN.

Faridkot police raided the house of All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) leader Daler Singh Doad and put him under arrest.

In Sultanwind area of Amritsar, Sultanwind police raided the house of Sirlath Khalsa Jatha‘s chief Dilbagh Singh’s house and detained him in his house.

As per reports the Punjab police have also detained sociopolitical activist Lakha Sidhana in order to prevent him from participating in Amritsar Gathering called by WPD.

Gathering at Amritsar:

Despite crackdown, people in considerable numbers have reportedly gathered at Amritsar Panthic Gathering today.

A view of gathering at Amritsar

Notably, the venue of gathering is situated at the main street leading to Darbar Sahib in Amritsar which is the most busiest place in the city and lakhs of people visit this place on weekends.

Appeal from Stage:

While conducting the state of the gathering, Sikh author Sukhpreet Singh Udoke issued and appeal on behalf of the organizers of the gathering, urging people stopped by the police on their way to Amritsar to avoid any kind of confrontation.

“We urge people stopped by the police on their way to Amritsar, to stay calm and lodge peaceful protest at those places where they are stopped. We do not want any kind of clash with the administration today”, he said.

Five NSA Sikh Detainees Have Ended Hunger Strike?

According to a news reported by senior journalist Jaswant Singh Jass, published in Daily Ajit, five of 10 Sikh detainees detained under National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh jail in Assam have ended their hunger strike.

According to Daily Ajit, Kulwant Singh Raoke had ended his hunger strike on 9 March while Basant Singh had started taking meals from 11 March.

The report adds that Sarabjit Singh Kalsi, Gurinderpal Singh Aujala and Gurpreet Singh Gill ended their hunger strike on March 14.

The news report has cited undisclosed sources as the source of information; adding that the information was confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar. Sikh Siyasat News could not independently verify this information till the time of publishing news.

Update – In a written release (copy available with Sikh Siyasat News), ‘Waris Punjab De‘ has confirmed the reports of some Sikh detainees ending up their hunger strike at Dibrugarh jail. In Resolution No 7, moved during Amritsar gathering on 17 March 2024, WPD has alleged that the police officials of Punjab and Indian government kept some detainees in dark while convincing them to end their hunger strike citing a directive of the Akal Takht.

(Last updated on 18 March 2024 at 10:20 am)

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Political News

Misl Satluj’s Instagram Handle Blocked in India

March 16, 2024

Chandigarh: Social and political organization Misl Satluj’s Instagram handle is blocked in India.

Speaking to the Sikh Siyasat News Davinder Singh Sekhon of Misl Satluj said that they have been notified by Instagram that their handle is blocked in India on a legal request made by the government of India.

He said that the Government of India neither issued any notice to the organization nor informed it about the reason behind blocking its Instagram handle.

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Sikh News

Panth Sewak Personality Bhai Diljit Singh House Arrested

March 16, 2024

Ludhiana: Punjab police has put Panth Sewak personality Bhai Diljit Singh under house arrest. A team of six police officials visited Bhai Diljit Singh’s house today and informed him that the state government has decided to put him under house arrest.

Bhai Daljit Singh council advocate Jaspal Singh Manjpur told Sikh Siyasat News that the police officials did not disclose the reason behind this move.

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Sikh News

Sikh Federation UK to Oppose the Classification of any Sikh Organizations as Extremist

March 15, 2024

London: “The new extremism definition about to be unveiled today in Parliament, on the Sikh New Year, will formalise the engagement ban that leading Sikh organisations that are critical of the Indian government have already experienced”, the Sikh Federation UK said in a written release. 

“Sikh organisations that have previously never received government funding, but led engagement with government officials have been unofficially blocked by the Tories from meeting officials and Ministers for the last 5 years at the request of the Indian government”, the release reads. 

“The Sikh Federation (UK) is the leading grassroots organisation that has been politically active for over two decades and often quoted by the mainstream media”.  We have been one of the Sikh organisations who has been critical of  Indian government actions and faced the unofficial ban”, said Dabinderjit Singh, the Principal Adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK). 

Dabinderjit Singh, said: “We often raise difficult questions on a wide range of issue where officials and Ministers have often struggled to respond.   This announcement may formalise the ban that already exists, but it will not be able to stop our local and national political lobbying that is a cornerstone of our democracy.” 

“This policy of appeasement of the Indian government has seen the UK government shift in the last 5 years to only deal with individuals and organisations that are pro-India who have also been backed with government funding”, he added.

“This discriminatory policy means the UK Government is totally out of touch with the needs of the Sikh community and it often relies on MPs keeping them honest”, he said.

“This approach is a sad indictment of democratic freedoms in Britain and results in poor Sikh community engagement and government policies and practices that will often be criticised and opposed.  This strategy unnecessarily wastes community and government resources”,

Dabinderjit Singh said.
He further added: “We await the publication of a list of organisations in the coming weeks that will be impacted and will oppose the inclusion of any Sikh organisations for reasons of political correctness and to appease the right wing Indian government.”

“We fully expect the opposition parties to oppose the Tories discriminatory strategy as regards classifying any Sikh community organisations as extremist”, he said.

“Politicians when they engage with the Sikh community in General Election year to get our votes will be in for a shock”, Principal Advisor of the Sikh Federation UK said.

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Videos

Politics and Religion: Speech of Bhai Mandhir Singh (Panth Sewak Jatha Doaba) at Ghuman (Punjab)

March 9, 2024

 

Local Sangat held a Samagam at Village Ghuman (Amritsar) on 11 November 2023. Bhai Mandhir Singh shared his views on topics related to Sikhi, Khalsa Panth, Religion and Politics. This is video recording of speech of Bhai Mandhir Singh.

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Videos

Current Situation in Punjab I About Marriage I Punjab I Dr Sewak Singh

March 8, 2024

The Family of Late S. Baljinder Singh, a Resident of Village Talwan, Teh-Phillaur (Jalandhar), on The Occasion of Their Son Kamaldeep Singh Marriage Organized a Discussion on The Current Situation in Punjab on 2 March 2024. Speaking During This Discussion Dr. Sewak Singh Shared his views about Context of The Current Situation in Punjab .This is full video recording of speech of Dr. Sewak Singh

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Sikh News » Special News

Quebec Court of Appeal Decision on Bill 21: WSO Expresses Disappointment

March 1, 2024

Ottawa – The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Court of Appeal of Quebec largely upholding Bill 21, Quebec’s controversial secularism law. The WSO maintains that Bill 21 is a direct attack on religious freedom and will continue to fight this unjust law.

The WSO and Quebec educator Amrit Kaur were appellants in this case. Amrit Kaur, a past WSO Board member who is a practicing Sikh and wears a dastaar (turban) as a part of her beliefs, was forced to leave Quebec in order to pursue her profession. The WSO and Amrit Kaur were represented by Léon Moubayed and Faiz Lalani from Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP.

Bill 21 prohibits public sector workers in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols or articles of faith such as dastaars (turbans) , hijabs, and kippahs. This law disproportionately targets Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and other minorities, effectively excluding them from key professions like teaching, law enforcement, and other public service roles.

The implications of Bill 21 extend far beyond just these professions. Sikh Quebecers who wear dastaars (turbans) have reported increased hostility and discrimination in all facets of their lives. The decision to uphold this legislation not only undermines fundamental human rights and the principle of freedom of religion but also sets a troubling precedent for the treatment of minority communities across the country.

WSO President for Quebec Harginder Kaur said today,

“Today’s decision is deeply disappointing. Bill 21 represents institutionalized discrimination against people who wear articles of faith. The law targets and disproportionately affects visible minority communities such as Sikhs in Quebec, in addition to forcing them to choose between their faith and their livelihood.

The WSO legal team is reviewing the judgment and we are committed to pursuing all avenues to challenge this law including by appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. This is a fight for fundamental human rights and we will continue until all Quebecers are treated equally and free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination.”

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