Verdict in Sikh Roit case likely Today

A CITY court is likely to pronounce its verdict tomorrow in a 22-year-old anti-Sikh riots case in which three members of a family were lynched in east Delhi. Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri, on completion of arguments on March 16, had reserved the verdict in the case in which five persons, including a woman, were charged under various sections, including 302 (murder) 395 (dacoity), 436 (burning houses) and 147 (rioting), of the IPC. The trial which began in 1996 involves accused — Harprasad Bharadwaj, RR.P Tiwari, Suraj . Giri, Jagdish Giri and a lone woman Kamlesh — who on November 1 and 2 in 1984 had allegedly led a mob and killed three relatives of complainant Harminder Kaur. As per the prosecution, Kaur’s husband Niranjan Singh, a Head Constable who was stationed at Shahdara railway station, was lynched and set ablaze by the rioters on November 1, 1984, a day after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Her 17-yearold son Gurpal Singh and sonin-law Mahender Singh were killed a day after. The FIR in the case was lodged in 1996 when Kaur, who survived the riot, filed an affidavit with the Jain and Banerjee Committee constituted to look into the antiSikh riot cases. Former Union minister H.K.L. Bhagat, who was also named an accused in the case, was later discharged as the evidence against him was found to be insufficient.

êÅÇÕ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆ ÃÇÔï¯× ç¶ä ñÂÆ ÇåÁÅð : Çìôé ÇóØ

ÁÜÆå é×ð,  ×¹ðèÅî» å¶ ê³æ çÆ Úó·çÆ ÕñÅ ñÂÆ ÕÆå¶ ÜÅä òÅñ¶ À°êðÅÇñÁ» òÅÃå¶ êÅÇÕ ô¯ÌîäÆ ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆ ÃçÅ ÔÆ ô¯ÌîäÆ ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆ Á³ÇîÌåÃð 鱿 êÈðÅ ÃÇÔï¯× ç¶ò¶×ÆÍ ÇÂà ׼ñ çÅ êÌ×àÅòÅ êÅÇÕÃåÅé ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆ ç¶ êÌèÅé Çìôé ÇÃ³Ø é¶ ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ Á³ì ÃÅÇÔì ÇòÖ¶ î¼æÅ à¶Õä À°êð¿å ÕÆåÅÍ À°é·» ÇÕÔÅ ÇÕ Üæ¶çÅð ÁòåÅð ÇÃ³Ø ç¶ êÌèÅé ìäé 寺 ìÅÁç íÅðå-êÅÇÕ ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆÁ» çÆ é¶ó·åÅ Ô¯ð òèÆ ÔË Í À°é·» ÇÕÔÅ ÇÕ êÅÇÕ ×¹ðç¹ÁÅðÅ êÌì¿èÕ Õî¶àÆ ò¼ñ¯º ÃÅñ B@@F-@G ñÂÆ BF Õð¯ó ð¹ê¶ ×¹ðèÅî» Óå¶ ÖðÚ ÕÆå¶ ÜÅ ðÔ¶ Ôé Í À°é·» ÇÕÔÅ ÇÕ Ü¯ BF Õð¯ó çÆ ðÅôÆ ÖðÚ ÕÆåÆ ÔË, À°Ô êÅÇÕÃåÅé ç¶ êÌèÅé î³åðÆ ò¼ñ¯º ë¿â Çç¼å¶ ÔéÍ ÕðåÅðê¹ð ÃÅÇÔì ç¶ ñ»Ø¶ ù Ö¯ñ·ä Ãì¿èÆ À°é·» ÇÕÔÅ ÇÕ À°Ô ÇÂà Ãì¿èÆ î¹¼Ö î³åðÆ Ã. êÌÕÅà ÇÃ³Ø ìÅçñ éÅñ ×¼ñìÅå Õð ðÔ¶ ÃéÍ

Ççòï Üï¯åÆ ÃîÅ×î ç¶ Çòð¯è ÓÚ ÇÃ¼Ö Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» ò¼ñ¯º ÜÆ. àÆ. ð¯â Óå¶ ÜÅî

ë×òÅóÅ, Ççòï Üï¯åÆ ÜÅÇ×ÌåÆ Ã¿ÃæÅé (éÈðîÇÔñ) ò¼ñ¯º ÃæÅéÕ ÔùîÅé×ó·Æ ÇòÚ Á¼Ü ô¹ðÈ Ô¯Â¶¶ C-ÇçéÅ èÅðÇîÕ ÃîÅ×î ç¶ Çòð¯è ÇòÚ ÇÃ¼Ö Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» ç¶ Ã˺Õó¶ é½ÜòÅé» é¶ ÜÆ. àÆ. ð¯â Óå¶ ôÈ×ð Çî¼ñ Ú½Õ ÇòÚ ÷¯ðçÅð ð¯Ã î¹÷ÅÔðÅ ÕðÕ¶ B ؿචå¼Õ àðËÇëÕ ÜÅî ð¼ÇÖÁÅ Áå¶ ÁÅôÈå¯ô ç¶ ÇÖñÅø ÷¯ðçÅð éÅÁð¶ìÅ÷Æ ÕÆåÆÍ ÇÂö ç½ðÅé Õ¹Þ î¹÷ÅÔðÅÕÅðÆÁ» é¶ D ì¼Ã» çÆ í¿éå¯ó ÕÆåÆÍ çÈܶ êÅö ÿÃæÅé çÅ ÃîÅ×î ÇéðÇòØé ÜÅðÆ ÇðÔÅÍ ïÅç ðÔ¶ ÇÕ ë×òÅóÅ çÆÁ» ÇÃ¼Ö Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» é¶ êÌôÅÃé ù ÇÂÔ ÃîÅ×î ð¯Õä ñÂÆ êÇÔñ» ÔÆ ÁñàÆî¶àî Çç¼åÅ Ô¯ÇÂÁÅ ÃÆÍ ÇÃ¼Ö Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» ÇòÚ  ùÖîéÆ ÃÅÇÔì öòŠùÃÅÇÂàÆ, ÁÖ¿â ÕÆðåéÆ ÜæÅ, ô̯îäÆ ÁÕÅñÆ çñ (Á) Ãî¶å Ô¯ð òÆ Áé¶Õ Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» ç¶ ÁÅ×È ôÅÇîñ ÃéÍ î¹÷ÅÔðÅÕÅðÆÁ» ÇòÚ ðÇÜ¿çð ÇÃ¿Ø ë½ÜÆ, îéÜÆå ÇÃ¿Ø ÖÅñÃÅ, îñÕÆå ÇÿØ, ùÖÇò¿çð ÇÿØ, ÔðÇò¿çð ÇÃ¿Ø ÖÅñÃÅ, ùÖìÆð ÇÃ¿Ø ÇÕ¿éóÅ å¶ ×¹ðî¹Ö ÇÃ¿Ø ìÅÔóÅ Ãî¶å Ã˺Õó¶ é½ÜòÅé ôÅÇîñ ÃéÍ î¹÷ÅÔðÅÕÅðÆÁ» é¶ ÁÅôÈå¯ô ìÅì¶ Çòð¹¼è ÷¯ðçÅð éÅÁð¶ìÅ÷Æ ÕÆåÆ Áå¶ ÃîÅ×î ì¿ç ÕðòÅÀ¹ä çÆ î¿× Õðç¶ ðÔ¶ êð ÃîÅ×î Çéð¿åð ÜÅðÆ ÇðÔÅÍ Ü篺 ôÈ×ð Çî¼ñ Ú½Õ ÇòÚ î¹÷ÅÔðÅ Ú¼ñ ÇðÔÅ ÃÆ å» Õ¹Þ é½ÜòÅé» é¶ ÜÆ. àÆ. ð¯â Óå¶ ÜÅî ÇòÚ Öó·ÆÁ» ê³ÜÅì ð¯âò¶÷ êéìà çÆÁ» ì¼Ã» é¿ìð êÆ.ìÆ.@B-òÅÂÆ-IIF@, êÆ. ìÆ.FE-ÂÆ-BC@B, êÆ. ìÆ-@B-òÅÂÆ-IIHI Áå¶ ñòñÆ Ç¿ÃàÆÇÚÀÈà çÆ ì¼Ã é¿ìð êÆ.ìÆ-@I-HHHA ç¶ ì¹ðÆ åð·» ôÆô¶ å¯ó Çç¼å¶Í ÇÂà î¹÷ÅÔð¶ ÕÅðé òÅÔé» çÆÁ» ÜÆ. àÆ. ð¯¯â Óå¶ ñ¿ìÆÁ» ÕåÅð» ñ¼× ×ÂÆÁ» å¶ ñ¯Õ ìÔ¹å Ö¼Üñ-Ö¹ÁÅð Ô¯Â¶Í ê¹Çñà ò¼ñ¯º ÔùîÅé×ó·Æ ç¶ ìÅÔð Ãõå ùð¼ÇÖÁÅ êÌì¿è ÕÆå¶ Ô¯Â¶ ÃéÍ î¹÷ÅÔð¶ òÅñÆ æ» Óå¶ ÁËÃ. êÆ (âÆ) ìÚé ÇÃ¿Ø ð¿èÅòÅ, ÁËÃ. âÆ. ÁËî. ìñÇò¿çð ÇÃ¿Ø èÅñÆòÅñ, åÇÔÃÆñçÅð ÁðÇò¿ç êÌÕÅô òðîÅ, éÅÇÂì åÇÔÃÆñçÅð ÁÅð. Õ¶. é¿çÅ, âÆ. ÁËÃ. êÆ. ìÔÅçð ÇÃ¿Ø å¶ èðî ÇÃ¿Ø À¹µêñ íÅðÆ ê¹Çñà ë¯ðà Ãî¶å î½ÜÈç ÃéÍ Ã: èðî ÇÃ¿Ø Àµ¹êñ é¶ ç¼ÇÃÁÅ Õ¶ ì¼Ã» çÆ í¿éå¯ó Õðé ç¶ îÅîñ¶ ÇòÚ ÇëñÔÅñ ÁäêÛÅå¶ é½ÜòÅé» Çòð¹¼è նà çðÜ Õð ÇñÁÅ þÍ ÁËÃ. ô̯îäÆ Õî¶àÆ î˺ìð Áå¶ ÃÆéÆÁð ÁÕÅñÆ ÁÅ×È Ã: ÜðéËñ ÇÃ¿Ø òÅÔç é¶ ç¼ÇÃÁÅ Õ¶ À¹Õå ÃîÅ×î ù ì¿ç ÕðòÅÀ¹ä Ãì¿èÆ BF îÅðÚ ù Ãò¶ð¶ AA òܶ î¿Ççð Õî¶àÆ éÅñ îÆÇà¿× ÕÆåÆ ÜÅ ðÔÆ þÍ ÇÃ¼Ö Üæ¶ì¿çÆÁ» é¶ C Ççé Ú¼ñä òÅñ¶ ÃîÅ×î ç¶ Çòð¯è ÇòÚ BF îÅðÚ ù ë×òÅóÅ ì¿ç çŠüçÅ Çç¼åÅ þÍ ÇÂà ç½ðÅé ç¶ð ðÅå âÆ. ÁÅÂÆ. ܦèð ð¶ºÜ éÇð³çð êÅñ ÇÃ³Ø é¶ ë×òÅóÅ êÔ¹¿Ú Õ¶ î½Õ¶ çÆ ÃÇæåÆ çÅ ÜÅÇÂÜÅ ÇñÁÅÍ

Boy figures in sleaze CD; family goes in hiding
 

Tarn Taran,
Even as a sleaze CD, in which a baptised boy figured with a married woman of the town, has been in circulation, the entire family of the alleged accused has disappeared, following police raids. The accused boy had acted the role of a Nihang in a religious Punjabi film, which recently hit the theatre screens. The CD, which has already rocked the town, has come as a great shock for the producer of the film, who belongs to Amritsar, since the picture of the alleged accused was displayed on the film posters. It has also been sent to Jathedar, Akal Takht, for taking appropriate action. The members of the family, parents (both baptised), their three sons, have gone underground. One of the brothers of the boy is a journalist with a Hindi newspaper. The family claimed that the police was unnecessarily harassing them though they had already disowned the boy. “Let the residents of Tarn Taran resort to social boycott of my brother for the shameful act he committed but the police should not harass us,” the family said. Though the police had registered an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 292 of the Indian Penal Code and 67 of the Information Technology at the city police station, the police identified the “poster boy” later.

Keeping Sikh faith Punjab-centric not wise step’
 

Ludhiana
The Akalis now are holding reins of government in Punjab. But there is no denying the fact the akali dal, despite its secular pretensions still remains rooted in the Sikh psyche and politics of the Sikh mainstream. The recent talk about the enactment of a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Act has disturbed waters of the sikh mainstream politics. The SGPC has always been claiming that they are the sole elected body representing the Sikhs all over the globe. This claim stems from the fact that originally Akali Dal even in 1925 demanded the enactment of the All India Gurdwara Act. The then British Government conceded the demand for the enactment of Punjab Gurdwara act. When the akalis insisted on the all India Gurdwara Act, the British took the stand that initially the legislative experience should be tried in Punjab only where most of the historical Sikh shrines were located.The jurisdiction of the act extended to areas then forming the Punjab province which included the Pakistan Punjab, the Indian Punjab and territories now in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Chandigarh.The important shrines which are situated in other states of India are Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Delhi. In Delhi, a typical situation came when a large section of the sikh community migrated from Pakistan to settle in Delhi. Since they had known democratic control of the gurdwaras under the state regulations, they agitated to dislodge the nominated or Government controlled administration. In this, they were supported by the SGPC and the akali dal. It was then that the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee came into being under the parliament’s Act.The claim of the SGPC to be representative of all sikhs is provision contained in the Gurdwara act 1925 regarding the cooption of the members from outside Punjab and even outside India.There was a time when even members drawn from South East countries like Singapore and Thailand or from the rest of India including Delhi, Patna, Kolkatta (Calcutta), Nanded and Bombay (Mumbai). But since quite a few decades these cooptions have been used as a tool for political expediency to accommodate some people, curtailing the representation for the rest of India and abroad. At present, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta a senior rebel akali leader represents Kolkatta as a coopted member. when separate acts were enacted for Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, the Government gave representation to the SGPC as apex body for the Sikh Gurdwaras administration. It was sequel to this that late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra remained President of the Nanded. The SGPC sends one representative to Delhi and one to Patna Sahib Board in Bihar as well.The demand for the separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, originated with political considerations. The SGPC has setup a Haryana Sikh Mission at Kurukshetra. The SGPC is also supporting a college at Panjokra in Ambala District. The Sikh Educational Institution at Karnal as well as Yamunanagar have also been receiving grants from the SGPC in the past. It was when the Akali Dal in Punjab started issuing writs to the Sikhs in Haryana to support particular parties in the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections that a section of the Sikhs thought of having a separate Haryana Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. The Haryana Akali Dal which was quite active about a quarter century ago with Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar and Jathedar Avtar Singh Khalsa as its leaders, is no longer active. Perhaps, the Akali Dal has shed its All India character after they have engaged themselves in Punjab affairs.Another irritant is the sharing of river waters and even Chandigarh and some Punjabi speaking areas on the borders of the two states. The Sikhs in Haryana at onetime were not prepared to snap ties with their brethern in Punjab. But the political overtones compelled them to think otherwise. Jathedar Tohra tried to retrieve the position by taking a decision to raise a medical college and a big hospital at Shahbad Markanda where the Sikh population is settled in quite a good number. But the project has been delayed and building has since come up. The starting of the medical college is still not in sight.Mr Parkash Singh Badal finds himself in a difficult situation. He has ties in Haryana and has to take a position regarding the waters issue and Chandigarh. But he made a shrewed move to give representation to Haryana Sikhs in the SGPC in a significant way. He has picked up one of his relations Mr Raghujit Singh Virk and made him the senior vice- president of the SGPC. To placate the Sikhs of Haryana, there is a serious move to make Mr Virk as the acting president of the SGPC.One of the major demands of the Akali Dal during the Dharam yudh Morcha in 1982 was the enactment of the All-India Gurdwara Act. Justice Harbans Singh, a retired Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana Court and former Chief Gurdwara Commissioner of Punjab was asked to prepare the draft for the proposed act. He came out with a draft which was federal in nature with provisions for representations to the Sikhs settled abroad and regulations for the appointment of the jathedar of Akal Takht and other chiefs of the Sikh takhts. The draft was examined by the Union Home Ministry and sent to the Punjab government and the SGPC. The akalis thought that this was a move to deprive the SGPC of its powers and their status despite the fact that Justice Harbans Singh was careful to make a provision that the region and the state boards will be autonomous in all respects. The move to enact the All India legislation for the gurdwaras was torpedoed by the Akali Dal which brought in some Sikh intellectuals to raise a hue and cry.Response of the All India Parties to the demands of the Sikhs earlier has been negative. But more than 30 lakh Sikhs spread over in other states and exercising political influence in the elections, these parties have now softened stand towards the enactment of the All India Gurdwara Act. The congress party in Haryana made a promise in its election manifesto for the vidhan sabha elections for the enactment of a gurdwara act to have a separate Haryana Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. a committee was also set up under the chairmanship of Mr H.S. Chatha, Agriculture Minister to give its recommendations on the issue. The committee is yet to submit its report. But a non-official resolution to this effect was moved in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha which was talked out.The Sikh leadership in Punjab is peevish on this issue because they find their position challenged as supreme leaders of the faith. But keeping the Sikh faith Punjab-centric cannot be called a wise step because the circumstances have changed and the Sikhs have spread all over the country and abroad. They have brought distinct social versions of the Sikh faith and needless to say that they have developed ties with the lands of their adoption.

Punjab Congress forgets Tohra

PATIALA: There are no takers of the legacy of late Gurcharan Singh Tohra in Congress as no one from the party has attended the third barsi of late great leader of Punjab, Sunday held at Tohra village in this district. Punjab government led by SAD-BJP has organised state level function to remember great leader in Tohra and attended by largely by entire cabinet of state government and senior Akali leaders.  As former chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh was in London for his medical check up and he was now also facing criminal case in Ludhiana city centre has failed to attend the barsi function. Capt. Amarinder Singh has observed the bhog samagam in April 2004 and later barsi samagam as state level functions when he was chief minister of the state. Capt. Singh was criticised within the congress party and from opposition for performing function of late Akali leader. He had however promised to hold Tohra's anniversary function every year.Another Congress leader Jagmit Singh Brar who used to attend every function of GS Tohra was a prominent absentee. Akali Dal (Delhi) unit and Delhi Sikh Gurdawara management committee has also forgot the Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Last year DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna had attended function organised in the house of Tohra. This year Paramjit Singh Sarna was away to Saudi Arabia for business. Another Punjab leader who was not attended the function was Simranjit Singh Mann the president of SAD (Amritsar). Mann had spent few months in Nadampur guest –make shift Jail- with GS Tohra during president rule in the state in mid eighties.

Pak Gurdawara body chief asks Sarna, Makkar to sink differences

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(PSGPC) president Bishan Singh has appealed to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee(DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna to sink their differences and work for the interests of Sikh community.Talking to select media persons at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, where a delegation of 60 Pak visitors led by Bishan Singh was accorded warm welcome by SGPC members Didar Singh Bhatti, Karnail Singh Panjoli, former minister Randhir Singh Cheema and others, PSGPC chief said that SGPC and DSGMC should work in tandem  for propagation if Sikhism.  He appealed the India government to send a Jatha of at least 5,000 devotees to Pakistan on the eve of Baisakhi and all the members of Jatha would be accorded warm welcome as they are highly impressed by their hospitality in India. He said that visa condition should be liberal. Bishan Singh said that some unscrupulous elements through their activities in India try to disturb peace only to spoil relations of India and Pakistan, which will not be successful as both the countries want to improve their relations. He said relations of India and Pak has improved only with the efforts to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and India Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh.  Bishan Singh said that there is no danger to minorities in Pakistan and people of all communities celebrated their festival with fanfare.

Golden Palanquin donated by DSGMC not to be installed at Sanctum Sanctrum: Bishan Singh

PATIALA: The president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbandak Committee (PSGPC) Bishan Singh and acting president of PSGPC Swaran Singh said here Saturday that golden palanquin, donated by Delhi Sikh Gurdawara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Paramjit Singh Sarna at Nankana Sahib, will not be insatalled at Sanctum Sanctrum of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib.  In an informal chat with select scribes the Sikh leaders of Pakistan said that they would not distort the old structure of Gurdawara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib to install it. He said that Palanquin did not have any historic value and if Sangat wanted to replace old structure of Gurdawara Janam Asthan the whole Gurdawara will have golden plates, he added.  Regarding condition of Gurdawaras in Pakistan Bishan Singh said that there were over 150 historic Gurdawaras and only 25 Gurdawaras were open for the public, there was no Sikh population in the areas where the other Gurdawaras were situated, he added.  The Pak Sikh leaders however appealed that all Gurdawara committees should be under one control which will facilitate the Sikhs in abroad to have good signal of unity among the Sikhs, they were commenting on the inconsistency between SGPC and DSGMC.  Regarding free corridor for Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, situated just two km from the international border at Dera Baba Nanak, they alleged that Indian Government was not serioud about it and has been adopting dilly delaying tactics.  They said that Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shakaut Aziz has already given nod for the corridor and it was Indian Government to respond on it.   "The long-cherished dream of Sikhs to cross over the international border on foot to pay obeisance at Gurdawara Kartarpur Sahib would have been fulfilled earlier if Indian Government responded the offer of Pakistan Government. They lamented that even a Sikh prime minister of India had not done any thing about it.  PSGPC president Bishan Singh, who led the jatha 53 Pak visitors from Pakistan said they had taken the nod for the corridor from Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and wanted Punjab chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up the issue with the Indian government.  They were here to pay obeisance at the Gurdawara Dukh Niwaran sahib and visit other historic Gurdawaras in Punjab.