The Tribune – Leno sued over ‘racist’ Golden Temple remark

New York, January 25. US talk show host Jay Leno has been sued by an Indian-American in California for his “racist” comments on the Golden Temple and ridiculing the entire Sikh community by portraying the holy shrine as a vacation home.

According to court papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Randeep Dhillon claims that Leno “hurt the sentiments of all Sikh people in addition to those of the plaintiff” with his joke that the Golden Temple could be a possible summer home of Mitt Romney, a leading Republican presidential hopeful.

The celebrity website TMZ said Dhillon has filed a libel suit and is seeking unspecified damages.

The suit adds that Leno’s joke “clearly exposes plaintiff, other Sikhs and their religion to hatred, contempt, ridicule and obloquy because it falsely portrays the holiest place in the Sikh religion as a vacation resort owned by a non-Sikh.”

It said this is not the first time that Leno has ridiculed the Sikh community.

“Previously, in 2007 he called Sikhs ‘diaper heads.’ Clearly, Jay Leno’s racist comments need to be stopped right here,” the suit added.

In more trouble for the TV host, a Sikh rights group here has lodged a complaint with a federal agency demanding action be taken against Leno and NBC channel for airing the “racist and derogatory” depiction of the Golden Temple.

Sikhs for Justice has filed its complaint with regulator Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Leno and NBC.

The FCC is tasked with regulating the broadcast of television programmes, analysing complaints and conducting investigations. (PTI)

SAD (Delhi) seeks action against Leno

New Delhi: The Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal has shot off a protest letter to US President Barack Obama, about a controversial television show which degraded the Golden Temple. “We are quite displeased and hurt with the remarks on the Golden Temple by a television show hosted by Jay Leno,” SAD’s Delhi unit President Manjit Singh GK said. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120126/main5.htm

The Tribune – Rahul clears air, says Captain Cong’s choice for CM post

Rahul Gandhi

Perneet Singh & Kulwinder Sandhu, Tribune News Service

Chhabal (Tarn Taran)/ Ferozepur, January 25. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, addressing his first poll rally in the state, today made it clear that Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh would be the Chief Minister if the party comes back to power in the state.

Addressing an impressive gathering at Chhabal in Tarn Taran district, Rahul said, “There is no doubt that the Congress will win the Assembly elections in Punjab and Captain Amarinder Singh will be your next Chief Minister. What remains to be seen is how big will be the Congress victory. Our leaders talk of wave but I say that a storm is blowing in the favour of the Congress in the entire state.”

He launched a scathing attack on the SAD-BJP government and said it was “taking people for a ride” by resorting to false claims.

Rahul said the ruling alliance is talking about ‘Punjab Shining’ and promises to make the state like California. “They (SAD-BJP) talk big but are not interacting with farmers, the common man, labourers and the poor”, he said. “If Punjab is shining as per Akalis, then I want to ask them why the common man, labourers and farmers are not shinning in the state,” he said.

He appealed to the electorate to give the SAD-BJP regime a befitting reply by throwing it out of power this time.

Rahul also attacked BJP stalwart LK Advani for his ‘yatra’ against corruption by saying, “Doesn’t he see corruption in Punjab where private channels are being run with government money?”

He said the UPA government has treated all states equally and helped Punjab as much as it could despite the fact that there was not a Congress-ruled government in the state.

“We gave Punjab Rs 18,000 crore worth refinery in Bathinda, Indian Institute of Science and Education Research in Mohali, Central University in Bathinda and Rs 3,400 crore for education,” claimed Rahul.

“On the contrary, the SAD-BJP government didn’t help poor and only made speeches, boasting to have turned the state into California,” he added.

Rahul also tried to connect to the youth by raising the issue of drug addiction which is rampant in the border area.

“Punjab plays a key role in the country’s economy. However, my heart pains to see its youth falling prey to drug addiction,” he said. He urged Amarinder to initiate urgent measures to curb the menace.

Later, at a rally in Ferozepur, Rahul alleged that the SAD-BJP government had promoted corruption and scuttled various projects through which the Central Government wanted development funds to reach Punjab. “We are helping Punjab through various schemes. But the central funds are not being properly utilised by the SAD-BJP alliance,” claimed Rahul.

Addressing the rally, Amarinder claimed that the public is in a mood to overthrow the SAD-BJP government and ensure a big win for the Congress. “The SAD is facing rough weather in the state which explains why Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal have remained pinned down in their respective constituencies for the past two weeks,” he said.

Party affairs in charge Gulchain Singh Charak asked the party workers to pull up their socks and work hard in the last leg of campaigning to ensure Congress victory. The district unit of the party presented Rahul a siropa and a sword.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120126/main3.htm

The Asian Age – India offers Pak oil pipeline

Pawan Bali, Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 26 January 2012. In a major peace initiative, India on Wednesday proposed to build pipelines to Pakistan if it provides long-term guarantees on buying petroleum products. India now has excess refining capacity and is exporting petrol and diesel, among other petroleum products, to various parts of the world, including Europe.

“We proposed exporting petroleum products and petrol to Pakistan. They have shown interest. We will work out the details in the next few weeks,” petroleum minister S. Jaipal Reddy said after meeting Pakistan’s oil minister Asim Hussain.

He said India was exporting petroleum products to distant countries, while Pakistan was importing them. Mr Reddy said the Pakistani minister “has kindly agreed to have this proposal considered within the ministry and the government there before responding”.

Dr Hussain said groups from both countries will meet soon to sort out the issue.

India has offered to export petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), polyethylene and polypro-pylene, which Pakistan currently imports.

It was pointed out to Pakistan that it would save a lot in transport costs as several Indian refineries are close to the Pakistan border.

A India-Pakistan joint working group on petroleum and petrochemical products has been constituted recently to go into the specific details of facilitating trade in this sector. Both ministers agreed to advise their respective officials to hold the first meeting of the JWG at the earliest.

India currently has the refining capacity to process 193 million tonnes of crude oil annually, which is expected to rise to 232 million tonnes by 2012. India exports 59 million tonnes of petroleum products worth $43 billion annually.

Pakistan bans the import of petrol from India.

Pakistan had allowed diesel imports from India in 2009, but no Indian supplies were sent in the face of preferential prices offered by Pakistan’s Gulf allies.

On transit fees for the Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India (Tapi) gas pipeline, both sides agreed that negotiations would be held in a transparent manner, keeping in mind the overall economics of the project and in accordance with international practices.

http://www.asianage.com/india/india-offers-pak-oil-pipeline-029

Vilvoorde Gurdwara, Shahidi Smagan, 11 December 2011

 Kavishri jatha signing the praises of the killers of Indira Gandhi
[I do not think murder is part of Sikhi. In the circumstances the killing of Indira Gandhi was understandable, but that does not make it a good deed. HSKh]

 Kavishri Jatha

Sangat 

The banner behind the stage 

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Lange Molenstraat 14
B-1800 Vilvoorde (near Brussel)

To see more Netherlands and Belgium pictures go to:

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622147381380/

More Belgian pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Fight foeticide, Hema tells women voters

Bipin Bhardwaj, Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 25. BJP star campaigner Hema Malini today appealed to the women, hands folded, to fight female foeticide and rescue the girlchild. She was in city to address a rally in favour of BJP candidate from Jalandhar (North) Krishan Dev Bhandari. Hema started her speech with “Jo Bole so Nihal” and claimed that she loved Punjab for its rich food and culture. She highlighted the efforts made by the SAD-BJP government in the power sector and the various schemes for the welfare of women and children.

Appreciating Bhandari for his clean image and development works in his constituency, she appealed to the gathering to give him another chance. Addressing a gathering at Talwara in favour of Amarjit Singh Sahi, BJP candidate from Dasuya, she again raised the issued female foeticide. Hema promised to revisit the area along with her husband Dharmendra if the voters helped Sahi to win with a thumping majority. Avinash Rai Khanna, MP, and Vijay Sampla, Chairman of the Punjab Khadi Board, also spoke.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120126/punjab.htm#13

BBC News – Karachi shooting: Gunmen kill three Shia lawyers

Wednesday, 25 January 2012. Gunmen on motorcycles have shot dead three lawyers and wounded another in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi.

Reports say the lawyers, who belonged to the minority Shia community, were on their way home from the city’s courts when they came under attack.

Police suspect the shooting could be in retaliation for the killing on Tuesday of a legal adviser linked to an anti-Shia extremist group.

The Karachi Bar Association head said the men were all from the same family.

“They were on their way home and the car was fired at. Certainly this killing is the result of a target killing,” Mahmoud ul-Hasan said.

Eyewitnesses say four men on motorcycles blocked the men’s way. Two dismounted and opened fire.

Lawyers in Pakistan are to boycott courts across the country on Thursday in protest at the killings.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16726509