Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singhji

54th death anniversary of Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singhji is being observed with great devotion on Friday, 10th June, 2011, from 10.00 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. in Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan. Prominent Ragi Jathas including Anhand group will perform Shabad Kirtan followed by release of Sadan's publications by Prof. A.S. Brar, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, wife of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, and other prominent citizens will be joining .

Dr. Mohinder Singh (Hony. Director, BVSSS ) requests all to join with their family at the function and Langar thereafter.

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib Beautification Project !

Baptised Sikhs staff allowed to carry kripan at A''sar airport

Amritsar, Jun 7 (PTI) Baptised Sikh employees and security personnel at the Rajasansi Airport here were today allowed to carry kripan, after Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee threatened to hold protest against the ban on the ceremonial daggers. "Baptised Sikhs were allowed to perform their duty at the airport while wearing kripan, even at sensitive zone," Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner-Amritsar, said. Many employees also confirmed that Sikhs were allowed to carry six-inch daggers.

with thanks : IBNLive : link above for detailed news.

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KIRPAN BAN LIFTED AT AMRITSAR AIRPORT

Amritsar, Panjab, 7th June, 2011 – The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has today lifted the ban it had imposed in April on the wearing of a Kirpan by employees working on the airside at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, Amritsar, following a campaign by the UNITED SIKHS and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)

 “The ban has been lifted so that Sikh employees working on the airside at Amritsar airport may wear a Kirpan on the same terms as passengers are allowed to wear it on domestic flights. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by the recent ban,” Mr Sharad Kumar, the Commandant of CISF who initially announced the ban, told UNITED SIKHS by telephone.

“A right accorded under the constitution cannot be taken away by any law or order or rule by any agancy. Hence the Kirpan ban imposed by CISF on April 25th was illegal,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS Legal Director.

“We are pleased that good sense has prevailed and that the CISF and the Civil Aviation Bureau has responded by upholding the constitutional rights of Sikhs to wear a Kirpan at all times in India.

 “UNITED SIKHS would like the Government to take measures to ensure that all their ministries and agencies are familiar with people’s constitutional rights so that no one would have to suffer the arbitrary withdrawal of his/her constitutional rights, as Nirmal Singh and 18 other Sikhs suffered when they were not allowed to wear their kirpan on the airside at Amritsar airport since Apr 25th to date,” she added.

“I am very grateful to God that I will now be able to continue working at the airside whilst wearing the Kirpan, which I haven’t been able to do since April 25th, “ said Nirmal Singh, 37 years old, Air India security staff who was affected by the ban.

Following the imposition of the ban, UNITED SIKHS had written to the Director General of CISF, N.R. Dass asking him to revoke the ban that was enforced on 25th April 2011, because it was unconstitutional as it contravened article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which specifically allows Sikhs to wear a  Kirpan at all times.

UNITED SIKHS had also filed a Right To Information application to the Prime Minister’s office, Home Affairs Ministry and the CISF seeking information to establish the grounds and lawfulness of the ban.

You may read our previous press release on UNITED SIKHS’ campaign to revoke the ban on wearing the Kirpan at Amritsar airport at http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-14-05-2011-00.html

KIRPAN BAN LIFTED AT AMRITSAR AIRPORT

Amritsar, 7th June, 2011 – The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has today lifted the ban it had imposed in April on the wearing of a Kirpan by employees working on the airside at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, Amritsar.

Confirmation of news awaited.

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bhallaforassembly.com/

Welcome to the official website of the Bhalla for Assembly 2011 campaign. My name is Ravi S.Bhalla and I am running as an “independent” Democrat to provide voters in the 33rd Legislative District an alternative to establishment candidates that represent entrenched interests of political machines, but not the voices of average citizens.

For too long, our leaders in Trenton have been chosen by party bosses in backroom deals with no input from the voters they claim to represent. Decisions affecting your future are made behind closed doors and no one has the guts to challenge them. As a Councilman in Hoboken and Chairman of the local Democratic Party in Hoboken, I have seen firsthand the corrupting influence machine politics has on the democratic process. I am running because it is time to give residents a real choice, an alternative to candidates that are pre-selected to represent you by the Hudson County party machine.

So, if you want someone who is truly independent, who will uphold and support core Democratic values in the General Assembly, and who will not be beholden to Hudson County’s party bosses, please consider voting for me on June 7th to represent you in Trenton as your next Assemblyman.

There are many ways to get involved. Please enjoy this this website and learn about ways to sign up to volunteer, make a contribution, pick up a window sign, get news updates, or contact me personally. I may be reached via email at bhalla@bhallaforassembly.com or at the office at 201-706-8080.

I look forward to your support in bringing real change to our communities on June 7th!

Sincerely,

Ravi S. Bhalla

Candidate

General Assembly

33rd Legislative District

Sikh airport staff may be allowed to wear symbolic Kirpan

AMRITSAR: Sikh employees of international airports in India may not get the concession to wear kirpan while working airside. Sikh's single largest representative body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), is all set to lay seize to Sri Guru Ramdas International airport on June 8th , demanding revoking of kirpan ban. 

However, sources informed TOI on Monday that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security could suggest some measures including wearing of miniature kirpan at airside by baptized Sikh airport employees to sooth the hurt religious feelings of Sikhs and to diffuse the situation. 

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told TOI that they would stage a dharna at Sri Guru Ramdas International airport as per their scheduled programme. He also appealed to Sikhs to reach at airport to join the movement. 

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detaioled news.

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KAURS CONTINUE TO EXCEL

Harsimran KAUR Bhatia ,daughter of doctor couple( Harinder and A.Bhatia )scored 2nd rank in CET-medical 2011. She said “I knew getting a top rank in an entrance exam is difficult but not an impossible task. ...The level of coaching being given in Chandigarh is extremely good and I had all facilities that helped me do well.”For Harsimran Kaur,her mother is the biggest source of inspiration and motivation.

Harsimran Kaur is an alumnus of St Anne’s Convent School,Sector 32,Chandigarh. She does not restrict herself to academics only but also participates in extracurricular activities.

With thanks: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110604/cth1.htm#17

Sikhs will no longer have to remove turbans in Italy

NEW DELHI: Sikhs travelling to Italy will no longer have to remove their turbans at the airport during security screening. This was officially announced by the Italian interior ministry after bilateral discussions between foreign minister SM Krishna and his Italian counterpart, Franco Frattini, in Rome on Friday. 

The turban will be accepted as a symbol of religion when Sikhs are photographed for identification cards at local police stations in Italy. Official sources said this was a "big achievement" for Indian diplomacy. 

Krishna, who is in Rome to participate in the 150-year celebrations of Italian unification, made a strong case for Sikhs to be treated more respectfully. He told Frattini that even theEuropean Union accepts Sikh turbans as a religious symbol, so Italy should not discriminate against them either. He pointed out better practices in the UK which had started a more equitable system -- let a man touch his own turban and run it through an explosives check. 

A decree by the Italian interior ministry later said there would be no more checks of Sikh turbans at airports, except if they set off any "alarms". The decree said there would be "respect of privacy protection and fundamental freedoms including those related to the expression of religious beliefs''. The new instructions have been issued after the talks with Krishna.

with thanks : Times of India : Link above for detailed news. MUST READ

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Blood Donation Camp by Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha

Rare Indian artefacts are sold in UK auction

Key historical documents from India, including an illustrated history of Kashmir, have been sold in the UK.

The Kashmir manuscript contains nine paintings, including that of the famous Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and sold for £11,700 ($19,000) at auction.

Other items included original paintings, miniatures on ivory, historical documents and statues.

A portrait of Maharajah Rajinder Singh of Patalia - an honorary general in the British army - was also for sale.

with thanks : BBC News : link above for detailed news.SikhsIndia