The Tribune – Milan Turban Issue; SAD moves adjournment motion in Lok Sabha

Aditi Tandon, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 1 The Shiromani Akali Dal today lodged a strong protest with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over a Sikh pilot having been asked to remove his turban for security reasons at the Milan airport recently.

Taking up the case of Ravijodh Singh Dhupia, commander of Jet Airways flight 9W-141 from Milan to Delhi, who was made to remove his turban by airport officials, the SAD today gave a notice for adjournment of question hour in the Lok Sabha to discuss the matter. The party shot off a letter to the PM, reminding him of his failure to convey to the Italian authorities the significance of the turban in Sikh faith.

The party’s Bathinda member Harsimrat Kaur Badal gave the notice to Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn all proceedings “over the incident involving the Jet Airways commander, hurting his and the entire Sikh community’s sentiments and the utter failure of the government to ensure the dignity of Sikhs.”

Earlier, too, cases of Sikhs being asked to remove turbans had come to light. One such instance, which was raised in the Lok Sabha involved Amritinder Singh (coach of golfer Jeev Milkha Singh), who was also asked to remove his turban by the airport security staff at the Milan airport.

“As per the settled international law, turban can’t be removed but Italian security officials continue to do so despite repeated assurances given to us in the Parliament by the External Affairs Minister,” Harsimrat said.

Such instances were now coming to light from the US, France and Australia as well, the party added.

In her letter to the PM, Harsimrat Badal said: “We urge the government to bring to the notice of the Italian Government and other countries that turban is the most recognisable feature of a Sikh. Unlike a head covering, it is an inextricable part of the Sikh identity and is worn at all times as an essential article of the community’s faith.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111202/punjab.htm#1

The Tribune – ’84 riots: Amitabh pleads innocence before Akal Takht

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 1 Taking a note of allegations of provoking anti-Sikh riots in 1984 levelled against him, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has written a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar, pleading his innocence in the matter.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh revealed this while addressing a press conference at the Akal Takht Secretariat here today.

The Jathedar said Amitabh’s letter would come up for discussion at a meeting of Sikh high priests on December 5.

Amitabh had handed over his letter, addressed to the Jathedar, to Gurinder Singh Bawa who is an SGPC member from Mumbai at the latter’s residence on November 28.

Along with the letter, the megastar has enclosed some photographs to highlight his family’s Sikh background. Sharing the contents of the letter, the Jathedar said Amitabh had written that he too was associated with Sikhism as his mother, Teji Bachchan, belonged to a Sikh family.

To corroborate his point, the actor has also attached the photograph of his mother Teji Bachchan and maternal grandfather Saudagar Singh, who was a “keshdhari” Sikh. Amitabh said his family also believed in Sikhism. He dubbed the allegations of provoking anti-Sikh riots in 1984 against him as “baseless”, adding that such charges have hurt his sentiments. He admitted he had been close to the Gandhi family and had been sharing their joys and sorrows. He, however, clarified that he was in no way involved in any activity like inciting riots against the Sikhs.

The issue regarding Amitabh’s alleged role in provoking anti-Sikh riots had come to the fore prior to the recent inauguration of “Virasat-e-Khalsa” at Anandpur Sahib. Various Sikh organisations had lodged a protest against the state government’s plan to invite the superstar to the event. Later, the Akal Takht Jathedar doused the protests by stating that no film star had been invited to the inaugural ceremony.

Meanwhile, in view of today’s developments, the Jathedar said they would also give a chance to the Sikh organisations, which were levelling charges against Amitabh, to present their case before reaching a decision in that regard.

On the controversy surrounding “Panth Rattan Faqr-e-Quam” award to CM Parkash Singh Badal, he denied comment on the issue. On PPP chief Manpreet Badal’s visit to Dera Sacha Sauda, he said the matter was pending with the Sikh high priests.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111202/main7.htm

The Asian Age – Indian cabbie attacked in Australia

Melbourne, 2 December 2011. A 22-year-old Indian taxi driver in Australia was attacked by four men who ripped off his turban and repeatedly punched him during the assault.

The men attacked Ravisher Singh yesterday in the city’s southeastern suburb after an argument with him. Three men have been arrested on the charges of assault, according to ‘The Age’ newspaper.

Singh said he had picked up the group from the Mentone Hotel and was driving them to the Chelsea Heights Hotel.

An argument started with the men when they arrived at a pub on the corner of Springvale and Wells roads and Singh got out of his taxi. The men ripped off his turban from his head and repeatedly punched him, the report quoted Singh as saying.

He said the men knocked him to the ground and left his face bloodied and bruised before fleeing. “Indians have had this for five or six years and it will happen again unless something is done to stop it,” Singh was quoted as saying by the report.

“We are just working hard trying to make a living. We don’t deserve this,” he added. Victoria police were currently investigating the case, the spokesperson said. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/indian-cabbie-attacked-australia-695

Sint-Truiden Guru Nanak Nagar Kirtan 23 October 2011

Halmaalweg, Nishan Sahib, Panj Piare

Halmaalweg, Mohinder Singh, Amrik Singh

Halmaalweg

Halmaalweg

To see more Sint-Truiden Gurdwara related pictures go to :

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157624495772533/  

More Nagar Kirtan pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Kalam’s frisking: US sacks 2 security officials

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 1 The services of two officials of the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), involved in the screening of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in New York on September 29, have been terminated, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said TSA officials had also informed the Indian Embassy in Washington that they would review screening procedure for Kalam.

TSA chief John S Pistole, in a letter to Kalam on October 20, extended his “sincere apology” for the incident and admitted that TSA personnel did not follow appropriate procedure for expedited screening of dignitaries. The US Embassy here also issued a release on November 13 stating that America “deeply regrets” inconvenience caused to the former President, Krishna added.

The incident occurred at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport while Kalam was returning to India after delivering a lecture at Harvard University. The External Affairs Ministry immediately lodged a protest with the US Government.

Krishna said Kalam did not fall in the category of persons exempted from security screening at US airports. However, in keeping with his stature, the US authorities extended him courtesies at US airports, including escort and private screening.

The MEA and the Indian Embassy in Washington provided advance information on the former President’s travel schedule to the US authorities so that airport procedures were completed smoothly and with due courtesies.The minister said India accorded diplomatic privileges and courtesies to all foreign diplomats in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with regard to the visitors from the US.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111202/main5.htm

Dawn – Al Qaeda says it is holding US hostage in Pakistan

2 December 2011

Islamabad: Al Qaeda claimed responsibility Thursday for the kidnapping of a 70-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan in August, and issued a series of demands for his release.

In a video message posted on militant websites, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said Warren Weinstein would be released if the United States stopped airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He also demanded the release of all al-Qaida and Taliban suspects around the world.

”Just as the Americans detain all whom they suspect of links to al Qaeda and the Taliban, even remotely, we detained this man who is neck-deep in American aid to Pakistan since the 1970s,” al-Zawahri said, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant messages.

Weinstein was abducted by armed men from his house in the eastern city of Lahore on 13 August.

Police and US officials have not publicly said who they believed was holding him, but Islamist militant groups were the main suspects.

Weinstein, who has a home in Rockville, Maryland, worked in Pakistan for several years and spoke Urdu.

He was the country director in Pakistan for J.E. Austin Associates, a US-based firm that advises a range of Pakistani business and government sectors.

The company has said Weinstein is in poor health and provided a detailed list of medications, many of them for heart problems, that it implored the kidnappers to give him.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/02/al-qaeda-says-it-is-holding-us-hostage-in-pakistan.html