The Tribune – End calendar confusion, more Sikh bodies urge SGPC

G S Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 16. The American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) has urged the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to amicably resolve the controversy over the amended Nanakshashi Calendar. It said all Sikh outfits across the globe should be taken into confidence before introducing any amendment in the calendar.

Yesterday, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) had aired similar views. It has been at loggerheads with the SGPC over the calendar issue since the last over two years. As a result, it has been observing various Sikh rituals as per the original calendar.

While the SGPC observed Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day on June 12, the PSGPC commemorated the occasion today at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

Speaking to The Tribune on the phone from Pakistan, AGPC coordinator Pritpal Singh said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh should work out a consensus among various bodies to end the confusion.

PSGPC president Sham Singh said Sikh outfits all over the world should be taken in the loop before finalising key issues related to the Panth.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130617/punjab.htm#15

UK – 7 April 2013; Havelock Road Singh Sabha and Park Avenue, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Uxbridge Road – Gatka Group

Uxbridge Road – Gatka Group

Uxbridge Road – Gatka Group

High Street – Collecting money for Pingalwara orphanage

High Street – Southall Sikh Scout Group

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UK – 7 April 2013; Havelock Road Singh Sabha and Park Avenue, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Uxbridge Road – Two Singhs

Uxbridge Road – Taking rest
Waiting for the very slow Nagar Kirtan to arrive

Uxbridge Road – Taking rest
Waiting for the very slow Nagar Kirtan to arrive

Uxbridge Road – Gatka players

Uxbridge Road – Gatka players

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UK – 7 April 2013; Havelock Road and Park Avenue Singh Sabha, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

South Road – Gatka

South Road – Gatka

South Road – Gatka

Guru Granth Gurdwara
45 Villiers Road
Southall UB1 3BS

Green Drive – Heathrow Royal Mail Wala

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UK – 7 April; Havelock Road Singh Sabha and Park Avenue, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

King Street

Singh Sabha Gurdwara Park Avenue

Railway Bridge

South Road

South Road

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UK – 7 April; Havelock Road Singh Sabha and Park Avenue, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Havelock Road – Ladies, in truck

Havelock Road – Ramgarhia Sabha Southall

Kings Road

Kings Road with Guru Nanak Darbar

Kings Road – Ramgarhia Sabha Southall

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The Tribune – Work begins on ’84 riots memorial in Delhi

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 12. Sikh head priests Balwant Singh Nandgarh of Damdama Sahib, Gurbachan Singh of Akal Takhat Sahib and Tarlochan Singh of Kesgarh Sahib laid the foundation stone of the 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial inside the Rakab Ganj Sahib gurdwara complex here today.

Iqbal Singh of Patna Sahib and Kulwant Singh of Hazur Sahib were also scheduled to be present there, but they could not make it. The foundation was laid on the gurdwara premises despite Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s statement to the contrary yesterday.

The memorial site is located just outside Lucky Shah Vanjara Hall.

The memorial plaque mentions that the foundation stone was laid by Giani Gurbachan Singh, Giani Tarlochan Singh, Giani Balwant Singh, Giani Iqbal Singh and Giani Kulwant Singh in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, DSGMC president Manjit Singh (GK), general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa, senior vice-president Ravinder Singh Khurana, junior vice-president Tanwant Singh and joint secretary Harmeet Singh Kalka.

BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Vijay Goel were also present on the occasion. An “ardas” and “kirtan” preceded the stone-laying ceremony, but the gathering on the occasion was not much.

Those often seen holding protests seeking justice for 1984 riot victims on different occasions in the past were also not present on the gurdwara premises today.

Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had not given justice to the victims of 1984 riots in which thousands of Sikhs were murdered. “Instead of punishing the culprits, the Congress is protecting them,” he said.

This is a memorial to those who were killed in the 1984 riots and would be completed in a year, he said.

When asked if the foundation stone was laid in violation of law, he said, “Was the killing of Sikhs not a violation of the law?”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130613/main3.htm

UK – 7 April; Havelock Road Singh Sabha and Park Avenue, Southall Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Havelock Road – Desi Radio

Havelock Road – Desi Radio & LAKHA scaffolding

Havelock Road – Vahu Vahu Gobind Singh Ápé Gur Chela

Havelock Road – Gurdwara Singh Sabha Hounslow

Havelock Road – Ealing Fire-brigade

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The Tribune – SGPC hails US verdict lifting ban on ‘kirpan’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 10. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has hailed a US court’s decision to lift the ban on wearing ‘kirpan’ on the premises of Gurdwara of Rochester. In a statement issued here today, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the court verdict had come as a big relief to the Sikh community in the US.

It was earlier alleged that the trustees of the gurdwara had submitted affidavits to the court supporting an application for preliminary injunction from the judge for “barring all persons entering the gurdwara premises from bringing in ceremonial sheathed swords larger than 4-6 inches or other weapons that could cause injury or be a threat to the persons on the premises”. This had invited criticism from a large section of Sikhs.

However, the board of trustees later clarified that there was no restriction on the small ‘kirpan’.

“There is also no restriction on the full-size ‘kirpan’ usually carried by Bhai Sahibans and/or anyone who normally wears it. Nobody has ever been denied entry to the gurdwara because of the size of the ‘kirpan’ during the past over 30 years of its existence,” they stated.

Makkar also welcomed the verdict of the Pakistan Supreme Court directing former chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Syed Asif Hashmi, to deposit the money allegedly embezzled by him.

The trust looks after gurdwara affairs in Pakistan.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130611/punjab.htm#2

UK – 7 April; Guru Nanak Darbar & Havelock Road Singh Sabha Southall; Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Guru Nanak Darbar – Afghan Ekta
Plans for the new Gurdwara

Guru Nanak Darbar – Afghan Ekta
Plans for the new Gurdwara

Gurdwara Singh Sabha Havelock Road
Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Gurdwara Singh Sabha Havelock Road
Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Gurdwara Singh Sabha Havelock Road
Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan, Palki Sahib

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