The Tribune – Thakur Uday Singh made Namdhari sect head

Comment by Gurmukh Singh, Southall UK

Seeing that all Sikhs are on Guru Nanak Sahib’s “Naam Marg”,  why don’t these Naamdharis return to the Panthic fold by shedding some baggage collected after Baba Ram Singh ji?

From his letters from the jail – and perhaps someone can reproduce them – Baba Ram Singh ji made it absolutely clear that he was “Gura(n) da kookar” and there was no hint in those communications that he wanted to start a cult. He was hurt that he was being hailed as a “guru”. I have read his letters.

Baba Ram Singh’s Sikhi revival after Maharaja Ranjit Singh, during which the former clashed with the pujaris at Darbar Sahib, may be regarded as similar in some ways as the Singh Sabha sudhaar movement.

He never called himself a “guru”.

Our Correspondent

Bhaini Saheb (Khanna), December 16. Thakur Uday Singh, nephew of the late Satguru Jagjit Singh who was made administrator after the sect head’s death, was today nominated the chief of Namdhari Darbar.

Though the dera had earlier said that the next chief will be announced at the Satguru’s bhog on December 23, the process was re-scheduled and completed today itself in the presence of the Namdhari Sangat.

A meeting in this connection was held at Bhaini Saheb Darbar. Among others, Satguru Jagjit Singh’s widow Chand Kaur, Namdhari Darbar president Harwinder Singh Hanspal, senoir vice-president Surinder Singh Namdhari, sect leaders Jagtar Singh, Baldev Singh Kaku, Balwinder Singh Jhall and Harbhajan Singh participated in the meeting. A large number of Namdhari Darbar followers were also present.

The meeting decided on making Thakur Uday Singh the next chief and he was given the designation of Satguru Uday Singh amidst raising of religious slogans. The announcement was made on behalf of Chand Kaur and others present in the meeting.

The turban ceremony Thakur Uday Singh will be organised on December 23, the day the bhog ceremony will also be organised.

Supporters wanted brother as chief

A controversy seemed to have erupted over the issue of succession of the Namdhari sect. A few members of the Namdhari Sangat had requested Chand Kaur, the late Satguru Jagjit Singh’s wife, to reconsider the decision to nominate Thakur Uday Singh as the successor. The members claimed that the “deserving” successor of Satguru Jagjit Singh was Thakur Dalip Singh. Thakur Dalip Singh and Thakur Uday Singh are real brothers and nephews of Satguru Jagjit Singh.

Jaswinder Singh, chairman, International Namdhari Sangat, alleged that Mata Chand Kaur had taken the decision to nominate Thakur Uday Singh as the successor under pressure and the sangat did not approve of it. “The decision to nominate the successor had already been taken by Satguru Partap Singh and Satguru Jagjit Singh. Chand Kaur seems to be under pressure,” said Jaswinder Singh.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121217/punjab.htm#13

The Tribune – DSGMC elections likely on 27 January

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 16. The Directorate of Delhi Gurdwara Election is likely to announce the date of elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) tomorrow. Sources said the elections were likely to be held on January 27 and nomination papers will be filed from December 31 to January 7.

Documents of candidates will be scrutinised on January 8 and withdrawal of candidature would be allowed till January 10. The results will be announced on January 30. This is being done following direction of the Supreme Court, which had rejected a plea by the Delhi Government to extend the December 31 deadline for holding the elections.

Asked about the issue of allotting symbols to parties, the Director of the Delhi Gurdwara Election, GP Singh, said three parties, the Shiromani Aklai Dal (Delhi), the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and the Shiromani Akali Dal Panthak (Jathedar Santokh Singh), already had car, bucket and candle as election symbols, respectively. The Kendriya Guru Singh Sabha had been allotted book as election symbol recently, he said.

Two more parties, Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-UK) and Dashmesh Sewa Society, had applied for symbols but they were yet to get them as they reportedly did not follow the rules. According to the rules, a party should be registered under the Registrar of Societies Act and two members of the DSGMC should endorse it. The law was formed by the Delhi Government in 2010, the Director said.

These parties have challenged the law in court contending that the three parties, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and the Shiromani Akali Dal Panthak (Jathedar Santokh Singh) that already had symbols, were also not registered under the Registrar of Societies Act.

Now, the court will decide whether the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-UK) and the Dashmesh Sewa Society would be given symbol or not, he said.

Poll schedule

- December 31: Filing of nomination papers will begin, say sources
- January 7: The last date for filing of nomination papers
- January 8: The scrutinisation of the documents of candidates will take place
- January 10: The last date for withdrawal of candidature
- January 30: Results to be announced

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121217/punjab.htm#5

The Hindu – People will vote BJP for a third time: Modi

Ahmedabad, 17 December 2012.  Confident of returning to power in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the ruling BJP would score a “hat-trick” in the state by winning the assembly polls for the third time in a row on the plank of “good governance and development”.

“I thank all the voters. In this election, people of Gujarat will make a hat-trick by giving a third term to us.

People of the state will once again vote BJP to power…the sentiments of people here is giving you an clear indication of that,” Mr. Modi told reporters, after casting his vote at Nishan High School in Ranip locality.

He also termed the 2012 Gujarat Assembly elections as a “historic” one as it has been contested on the issues of good governance.

“This election will be historic one in India as it has been contested on the issues of good governance and development plank….and has been contested with people’s participation,” Mr. Modi said.

“It is a very peaceful election, it was such an election which has been contested by the people of Gujarat themselves…it was an election where youth and women folk had taken up the responsibility on their shoulders,” he said.

“It will also be a memorable one since for the first time 3D technology was used here, which has never been done in world before..,” Mr. Modi said, referring to use of 3D Holographic technology to air his poll speeches at different locations simultaneously.

“In the field of technology people will have to acknowledge Gujarat’s mettle…this is my firm belief,” Mr. Modi said.

“I am committed to my six crore Gujaratis..I live for them and I personally believe whatever I am doing in Gujarat is a service to the nation, because Gujarat is an integral part of India…,” Mr. Modi said to a query on whether he will be going to Delhi.

The BJP strongman, who is contesting from Maninagar assembly constituency, is locked in a direct contest with Congress candidate Shweta, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. (PTI)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/people-will-vote-bjp-for-a-third-time-modi/article4209075.ece

Luik / Liège Kirtan Darbar – 22 September 2012

Tabla man

Tabla man

Tabla man
A tabla set consists of a small (soprano) and a bigger (bass) drum. By showing you a series of pictures I try to give an impression of how the tabla is played. Percussion is an essential element of south Asian classical music.

A long beard

A longer beard !

Sikhs from other areas of Belgium and from the UK were also present

Guru Nanak Prakash Gurdwara
625 Rue Saint Leonard
B-4000 Liège

To see more Belgium and Netherlands gurdwara pictures :

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

More Luik – Liège pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Malik blames Indian, Pakistan agencies for failing to prevent 26/11 attacks

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 16. Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik today said the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks happened because both India and Pakistan were not interacting and sharing information with each other.

“We failed to prevent 26/11 because we were not talking to each other,” said Malik while delivering a lecture at the Observor Research Foundation during the last day of his visit.

Malik said Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley was a triple agent. “A US passport holder, Headley conspired with Al-Qaida terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri, a retired major of Pakistan Army and three Indian terrorists – Abu Jundal, Jabbiullah and Fahim Ansari – and plotted India’s worst terror attack,” he said.

Malik said Jundal, arrested in Saudi Arabia and deported to India, has confessed to have met Headley, who, in turn, was in touch with Kashmiri.

“So it is not a state-sponsored drama, a state-sponsored action. It is an action by non-state actors. Triangular nexus between Headley, (Ilyas) Kashmiri, the enemy of Pakistan, a Major who deserted the Pakistan Army, having joined LeT and of course the three Indians,” he said.

“Headley was interacting with Indian and Pakistani non-state actors to coordinate the attacks. But for whom he was coordinating? Who was the third party,” questioned Malik. Headley, Malik said, was once arrested by the drug enforcement agency (DEA) of the US. “But how he managed to operate freely is a mystery. He came from the US. He had money and credit cards. He moved all over and even managed to create a social circle,” said Malik.

“All this should have come to the attention of some agencies. But the agencies failed, both here and Pakistan. We failed because we were not interacting,” he said.

Referring to Jundal, who was present in LeT control room during 26/11 attack, Malik said: “He was a known criminal, having been charged in many cases. He also worked as one of the sources of a very elite agency of India. Now, see, he has used agencies also and went rogue. Put it another way, you become a source, you become a double agent.

While he is working, living in India, he might have gone rogue and then went to Pakistan.”

On Ilyas Kashmiri, Malik said, he was a part of the conspiracy to kill former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto. On Hafiz Saeed, one of the suspects in the Mumbai attacks, Malik said: “The determination of Pakistan is very much there to arrest him but with evidence.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121217/main2.htm

BBC News – Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik hails India ties

Friday, 14 December 2012. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that relations with India have improved since the 2008 Mumbai attacks and there is “growing interaction” between the two countries.

On arrival in Delhi he said that he had a “message of peace and love from the children, women and men, old and young of Pakistan” for the people of India.

Mr Malik signed a new visa agreement with India at the start of his visit.

The deal was agreed after talks between India and Pakistan in September.

‘Forget the dark days’

India suspended peace talks with Islamabad after the attacks on Mumbai, its financial capital, in which 175 people died.

The attack was blamed by India on the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group.

Delhi wants LeT founder Hafiz Saeed – who lives openly in Pakistan – to be extradited. But Mr Malik said on Friday that his country would only do so if the Indian authorities acquired proof of his guilt that would stand up in court.

He said that Pakistani authorities had arrested Mr Saeed three times, but on each occasion the courts had found him innocent and freed him.

The interior minister’s three-day visit comes less than a month after India executed Pakistani-born Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks.

Mr Malik insisted that it was now necessary to forget the “dark days”. He said that he hoped the visa agreement would trigger more interaction between the people of both nations.

“The journey towards peace is progressing very well, especially with the new visa regime, it will also bring a lot of good for us… Let us not create any negativity,” he said.

Cricketing ties

The agreement makes it easier for business travellers to get visas quickly and easier for people aged over 65 in both countries to get “on arrival” visas. It also enables members of divided families, tourists and pilgrims to obtain visas speedily instead of waiting for months.

“When Indians enter Pakistan and Pakistanis enter India, they should feel like they are coming home,” Mr Malik said.

The interior minister is expected to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, according to the state broadcaster, Doordarshan.

His trip comes ahead of Pakistan’s first cricket series in India for five years.

India is likely to issue 3,000 visas to Pakistani cricket fans attending a short limited-overs tour beginning on 25 December.

Correspondents say the move to resume cricketing ties is a further sign of improving relations between the two countries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20722791