The Tribune – No gurdwaras on caste lines, warns Akal Takht

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15. The Sikh high priests recently directed the community not to raise gurdwaras on the basis of caste as it would create a divide in the Sikh community. They warned that strict action would be initiated against those violating this edict of the Akal Takht.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said: “It has been brought to our notice that the people are not allowed to pay obeisance in a some gurdwaras because of their caste. This is wrong. The gurdwaras belong to all and anyone from any religion or caste can visit a gurdwara. No gurdwara committee can stop anybody from offering reverence at the shrine.”

The Sikh clergy ostracised Bhai Dharam Singh Nihang for posting a video on YouTube questioning the authenticity of Guru Granth Sahib.

The Jathedar said Bhai Dharam Singh had been summoned to clarify on the issue a number of times, but in vain.

“We have decided to ostracise him. The Sikh Sangat should neither keep any contact with him, nor invite him to any religious or social event.”

The Sikh high priests also directed the management committee of Gurdwara Khalsa Prakash, Windsor (Ontario, Canada), to allow all to pay obeisance at the shrine.

Shiromani Panthic Council chairman Manjeet Singh Calcutta hailed the Akal Takht edict directing the Sikhs not to raise gurdwaras on the basis of caste. He said the Takht should ensure that this was implemented at the ground level.

Fears on Bluestar memorial baseless, says Damdami Taksal

Reacting to the recent statements of various political parties over the Operation Bluestar Memorial, Damdami Taksal Chief Baba Harnam Singh today termed their apprehensions regarding it as ‘totally baseless’.

In a statement, Baba Harnam Singh said the gurdwara being raised in the memory of Operation Bluestar would be in consonance of the traditions of Shri Harmandar Sahib and Shri Akal Takht, he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120616/punjab.htm#7

The Tribune – Man held for killing daughter, boyfriend

Tarn Taran, June 15. In an alleged case of honour killing, a girl and her boyfriend were strangled to death by family members of the girl at Booh village and their bodies buried near a bank of the Beas river.

The police has arrested the girl’s father Avtar Singh, while other accused are still at large.

The deceased have been identified as Gurpreet Kaur and Harjit Singh, residents of the same village. Both the victims wanted to marry each other, but the girl’s parents were against the move.

Harjit Singh was living in the heart of the village, while the girl was residing with her parents at a farmhouse on the outskirts of the village.

On June 13 midnight, Harjit went to see Gurpreet Kaur near her house and when both were talking to each other, Avtar Singh saw them. He first thrashed Harjit and then called other family members, who decided to kill both. The accused strangled them to death and buried their bodies under the sand near Deeneke village close to the Beas.

When Harjit’s father Mukhtar Singh learnt about the incident, he informed the Harike police. Harike SHO Sawinder Singh said both the bodies had been exhumed from the spot and sent for post mortem examination at Civil Hospital, Patti.

A case under Sections 302, 201, 120B, 34 of the IPC has been registered against Avtar Singh, Raghbir Singh, girl’s grandfather, Ravel Singh and Surjit Singh (both maternal uncles).

The SHO said main accused Avtar Singh had been taken into custody while the remaining accused were absconding.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120616/punjab.htm#23

The Hindu – We can’t put up with Trinamool any longer, CLP tells Sonia

Now Congress will take on government in Assembly

Shiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata, 16 June 2012. Hardening its stand against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Congress on Friday wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was finding it difficult to continue in the ruling alliance in the State.

“The Congress Legislature Party finds it difficult and uneasy to continue our party’s association with the government led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee. The CLP urges the central leadership … to urgently look into the matter and advise accordingly,” says the letter written by CLP leader Md. Sohrab.

Earlier at a CLP meeting, the MLAs adopted a resolution condemning the “attitude and approach” of Ms. Banerjee in not supporting the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee for President.

“As an ally, Ms. Banerjee was expected to support the UPA, especially in the context of the nomination of our respected leader, but she decided to do just the opposite,” the letter said.

State leaders see the developments as an opportunity for the Congress to pull out of the Trinamool government as they feel the party is making “no gains” by continuing its support.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3533656.ece

6 May 2012 my 65th birthday visit to Brussel & Open Places of Worship Day 13 May 2012

6 May, Brussel – Bruxelles, Dairy of the Soignes Forest

On Sunday 13 May many Limburg places of worship opened their doors to all-comers
Both the Sint-Truiden and the Hoepertingen gurdwara took part
I was on duty in Hoepertingen together with Inderjit Singh and Harjit Singh

13 May, Hoepertingen, Open Places of Worship Day

13 May, Hoepertingen, Open Places of Worship Day

13 May, Hoepertingen, Open Places of Worship Day

13 May, Hoepertingen, Open Places of Worship Day

Guru Ram Dass Sikh Study Cultural Centre
Smisstraat 8B
Hoepertingen, B-3840 Borgloon

To see more Belgium and Netherlands gurdwara pictures :

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

More Belgium pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Pranab is UPA’s choice for President

Sonia ensures allies’ support; CPM leaders call up Pranab too; Contest likely to be one-sided

Anita Katyal, Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, June 15. After weeks of intense consultation and speculation, the UPA today finally decided that veteran Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be its nominee in next month’s Presidential elections.

This announcement was made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi after a brief meeting of UPA leaders who readily endorsed Mukherjee’s candidature, while a key ally Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister was conspicuous by her absence at this formal show of hands.

An isolated Mamata, who had returned to Kolkata earlier in the morning, remained adamant that she would not support Mukherjee, insisting that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was her first choice for the top Constitutional post.

The Congress decision to ignore Mamata’s objections to Mukherjee’s candidature could well set the stage for a parting of ways between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress given that the two parties have been on a collision course for the past several months now.

While Mamata played spoilsport, support for Mukherjee began pouring in shortly after Sonia issued a formal appeal to all political parties to support him, thus indicating that the elections will be a one-sided affair. Sonia rang up Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati as both are extending outside support to the UPA government.

The Prime Minister followed up by speaking to leaders of parties, cutting across the political spectrum, with the plea that Mukherjee be elected unopposed. The BJP-led NDA, which has been undecided about its role in the presidential election, may find it difficult to oppose Mukherjee as the senior Congress leader commands respect across party lines.

The biggest relief for the Congress came when Mulayam, who has emerged as the pivot in this election with his party’s six per cent vote share in the electoral college, backed the finance minister’s candidacy. This came two days after it appeared that Mulayam was deserting the UPA when he joined hands with Mamata in proposing former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as their choices for the President’s post.

Mulayam’s statement had come as a rude shock for the Congress as the SP leader had informally promised support for a UPA presidential candidate. Congress crisis managers immediately got into the act and began building consensus in favour of Mukherjee and isolating Mamata. Ahmad Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, and other senior leaders, including Digvijay Singh, got in touch with Mulayam in an effort to wean him away from the Trinamool chief.

Shortly after the SP’s announcement, BSP leader Mayawati also pledged her support for Mukherjee. CPM leaders called up to congratulate Mukherjee shortly after his candidature was announced, indicating that the Left Front will also vote for him though a formal decision will be taken at their meeting slated for June 21.

Mukherjee took the declaration in his stride. While joyous supporters were busy distributing ladoos at his Talkatora Road residence, Mukherjee said he felt deeply honoured to be named as the UPA candidate for President. “I am grateful to Sonia Gandhi for her support and the nomination and I accept the offer with all humility,” he told mediapersons..

“I have been fortunate to receive the love and affection and confidence of my party colleagues, members and leaders of other political parties. I will again seek their indulgence and support over the next few weeks. We have requested all parties to support us,” Mukherjee added.

Mamata Firm on Kalam’s name

An isolated Mamata, who had returned to Kolkata, remained adamant that she would not support Mukherjee, insisting that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was her first choice for the top Constitutional post.

Congress wins over Mulayam

Mulayam backing Mamata’s claim after she met him on Thursday had come as a rude shock for the Congress. The party’s crisis managers immediately got into the act on Friday and began building consensus in favour of Mukherjee. Ahmad Patel and other senior leaders got in touch with Mulayam and were able to wean him away from the Trinamool chief.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120616/main1.htm

BBC News – UN urges Bangladesh to take in people fleeing Burma violence

Friday 15 June 2012. The United Nations has urged Bangladesh to accept refugees fleeing violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Burma.

Tens of thousands of refugees have fled Burma’s province of Rakhine by boat. About 30,000 are already in camps in Bangladesh.

As many as 1,500 are said to have been turned back in recent days.

The UN’s refugee agency in Geneva, the UNHCR, says women and children have been left adrift on boats in the river Naf without food or care.

“There are now a number of boats drifting in the mouth of the Naf River with desperate people onboard in need of water, food and medical care,” the UNHCR said in a statement.

“It is vital that these people are allowed access to a safe haven and shelter.”

The violence flared after the murder of a Buddhist woman last month, followed by an attack on a bus carrying Muslims which killed 10 people.

Burmese officials have said the fighting has killed 29 people and thousands of homes have been burnt down.

Stateless group

Most of the refugees travel to Bangladesh by boat through the river Naf which marks the border with Burma.

The majority of the mainly-Muslim Rohingya refugees already in Bangladesh are staying in two camps in Cox’s Bazar district.

Rakhine state is named after the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist majority, but also has a sizeable Muslim population, including the Rohingyas.

The Rohingyas are a Muslim group and are stateless, as Burma considers them to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

According to reports, rioting began on Friday last week in the town of Maung Daw, spreading to the state capital Sittwe and neighbouring villages.

Two days later, President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency there.

On Thursday Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi warned that the strife would continue without “the rule of law”.

Speaking in Geneva on her first trip to Europe since 1988, she said the situation should be handled “with delicacy and sensitivity”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18460804