The Tribune – Will Bibi Jagir Kaur resign from SGPC? Gurdwara Act silent on convicted members

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 31. Even as various Panthic outfits have been seeking the resignation of former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur from the membership of the SGPC in view of her conviction, legal experts say the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, is silent on the disqualification of an SGPC member who is convicted in any case.

Former Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission chairman KS Patti said the Act did not say anything about the convicted members.

He, however, stated that there had been instances of convicted members holding the office in the past as well. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, who is also a SAD member in the new SGPC House, also said the Act was mum on the fate of a member convicted in a case. However, she felt that if the conviction of Bibi Jagir Kaur was not stayed she should resign from the SGPC.

According to the Article XXIV (q) of the code, “The following individuals shall be liable to chastisement involving automatic
boycott …, killers of female infants.” However, it was a male foetus which was aborted in the case.

DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said she had committed a heinous crime which was against Sikh traditions and therefore
she should resign from the mini-parliament of Sikhs.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120401/punjab.htm#2

The Tribune – Gurdaspur violence; SSP suspended, DC transferred

Ravi Dhaliwal, Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, March 31. The government today transferred Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth and suspended SSP Varinder Pal Singh for negligence of duty due to which an indefinite curfew had to be imposed in the city.

The action is the fallout of the death of 18-year-old engineering student Jaspal Singh in police firing on Thursday following which an indefinite curfew was clamped in the city. A case under section 302 of the IPC has also been registered against DSP Manpreet Singh who had led the police party which resorted to firing.

Another youth Ranjit Singh, who was seriously injured in the firing, is getting treatment at the Civil Hospital, Amritsar.

The action has come in the wake of sustained pressure put up by Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode and other members of the Sikh clergy who had been camping at the deceased’s native village Chour Sidhwan since yesterday.

Gurbachan Singh led the negotiations with the state government on behalf of the deceased’s family. He had threatened that he would resign as Akal Takht chief if no action was taken against the erring officials.

The DC’s transfer has come as a surprise to many as his role did not come under the scanner in the deliberations between the representatives of the Sikh bodies and the government.

Sources reveal that the state government yielded to the pressure built up by members of the clergy. A fax was received in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, who was the main negotiator on behalf of the government, this evening which was brought to Jaspal Singh’s village by Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) Tejinder Pal Singh.

The cremation of Jaspal Singh, which was postponed as negotiations between the Sikh leaders and the DC went on throughout the day, was held this evening after the impasse was broken when the government issued the orders.

The decision to suspend the district police chief has led to resentment among junior officers who, preferring anonymity, claimed that “the SSP had no direct role as far as the imposition of curfew was concerned.”

“The law and order situation deteriorated due to the nefarious designs of some middle-rung politicians and the SSP has been blamed for it,” claimed a senior officer.

Earlier, the curfew was relaxed for two hours from 6.30 am to 8.30 am to enable the locals to buy essential commodities, but a majority of the residents remained unaware about the respite as the district administration failed to timely inform the people about the relaxation.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120401/punjab.htm#8

The Asian Age – UN to seek India AFSPA views

Asian Age Correspondent

New Delhi, 1 April 2012. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which sent special rapporteur Christof Heyns to India, will seek New Delhi’s views on the draft report on AFSPA, after which the matter will be discussed at the council.

The report is expected to come up for discussion before the commission only by 2013, said sources in the ministry of external affairs. Further, the UN special rapporteur is not for India but for a theme, said sources.

Accordingly, the rapporteur visits various countries and prepared theme-based reports after which there is a discussion, again theme-based, at the UNHRC.

Describing the report as both negative and positive, home minister P. Chidambaram said: “The rapporteur has praised the openness and willingness of the government of India to engage, shown also by the fact that there it was willing to host a mission dealing with the right to life, an area in which issues to be tackled are often complex in various countries.”

Regarding the UN rapporteur’s remarks on AFSPA, he said, “Yes, we take note of the view but that’s not a novel view as there are a number of people who have expressed the same view and there are others who have a contrary view which is why the issue remains unresolved.”

He added that his ministry’s views have been shaped after considering the Justice Jeevan Reddy report and all other reports.

Earlier, in his remarks the UN special rapporteur said: “The main finding in my report is that despite constitutional guarantees and a robust human rights jurisprudence, extra judicial killings continue in India and it is a matter of serious concern.”

He also said that India should ratify a number of international treaties, including the Convention Against Torture and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

http://www.asianage.com/india/un-seek-india-afspa-views-115

5 February 2012 – Snowy Sint-Truiden Winter Walk

Sint-Truiden – Speelhof

Sint-Truiden – Speelhof

Sint-Truiden – Speelhof

Sint-Truiden – Speelhof

Sint-Truiden – Begijnhof

To see more Belgium (mostly Limburg) pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622046344528/

More Belgium pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – It’s ‘Bibi Day’ at Kapurthala jail

Deepkamal Kaur, Tribune News Service

Theh Kanjli (Kapurthala), Mar 31. It was a busy day today for staff at the Kapurthala Modern Jail, which saw scores of visitors
pouring in from across the state. Each one of them wanted to meet the VVIP inmate, Bibi Jagir Kaur, sentenced to five years of imprisonment yesterday for plotting the forcible abortion and abduction of her daughter Harpreet Kaur.

In an apparent bid to express solidarity with the former Akali minister, hundreds of SAD leaders, SGPC members and Begowal residents made a beeline at the visitors’ room of the jail. They touched Kaur’s feet and sought her blessings. Minister for Jail, Tourism and Culture Sarwan Singh Phillaur also chose this day to make an official trip to the jail.

Kaur was composed as some visitors tried to console her. “Please, don’t worry about me. All of you remain in good spirits and pray for me. The Almighty is with me. Things will be normal again. I am going to file an appeal in the high court on Monday,” she told them.

Later, interacting with the media, Kaur said: “My opponents are using all their might to spoil my career.” “Before anyone could point a finger at me, I resigned from my post. I am still an MLA and will continue to be an SGPC member,” she said.

Kaur said she had gone through the newspapers this morning to see reports pertaining to her sentence.

Bibi’s younger daughter Rajneet Kaur and son-in-law Yuvraj Singh were with her.

Another convict in the case, Paramjit Singh Raipur, is also lodged in the same jail.

Traffic chaos was witnessed as members of market committees, block samitis and others thronged the jail. Several vehicles were parked outside and many were allowed in.

 
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120401/main2.htm

Dawn – Karachi being targeted to destabilise Pakistan: Malik

Karachi, 1 April 2012. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday said that Karachi is being targeted to destabilise the country.

Speaking to media representatives at Jinnah International airport on his arrival from Islamabad, he said that anti state elements were creating law and order situation in the financial hub of the country.

He said the workers of Muttahida Quami Movements (MQM) were killed under a conspiracy. “Innocent people were also fell victim of the same conspiracy,” he added.

The interior minister said that extortionists, drug dealers and land mafias are also active in the city and have their role in the incidents of violence.

He said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken serious notice of the situation and ordered immediate measures for improving law and order in the metropolis.

Malik hoped that the situation will be improved very soon as strict actions are being taken against the elements involved in the violence.

http://www.dawn.com/2012/03/31/karachi-being-targeted-to-destabilise-pakistan-malik.html