The Tribune – Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar; DSGMC Delegation approaches German Embassy

I know that the German government has already on a number of occasions discussed the Bhullar case with India, but India chooses not to listen to any voices of reason. Harjinder Singh – Man in blue

New Delhi, April 16. A delegation led by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Manjit Singh GK today submitted a memorandum to the German Embassy, asking it to put pressure on the Indian Government to grant clemency to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.

The memorandum says that when Bhullar was brought from Germany, the German Appeals Court had noted that he should have not been deported from Germany. “Bhullar’s conviction is based on a confession made in police custody. While Bhullar is convicted for abetment and conspiracy, the main accused has been acquitted by the court,” the memorandum reads.

It says Bhullar is not in a fit state of mind and is in a mental hospital. “As per our information, your government has always taken a stand against the awarding of death penalty to Bhullar. We are informed that your government had been assured by the Government of India that Bhullar would not be given the death penalty… We request you to take up this matter with the Government of India and the President to
accept the petitions not to award Bhullar the death sentence,” the memo says. (TNS)

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The Tribune – SC verdict on Bhullar death sentence today

R Sedhuraman, Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, April 11. The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment tomorrow on Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s plea for commuting to life imprisonment the death penalty awarded to him for the September 10, 1993 bomb attack on the then Youth Congress president MS Bitta.

A Bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya will pronounce its verdict, giving its views on the desirability of commuting death sentences on account of the long delays in the rejection of mercy pleas by the Governors or the President on the advice of the respective government.

The verdict as such is likely to become a guiding factor for adjudicating a bunch of petitions by similarly placed convicts, including the killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who are seeking commutation of the death penalty handed out to them.

Bhullar, his wife Navneet Kaur and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) have pleaded that he should be spared the gallows as he has virtually undergone life sentence due to the long delay in the rejection of his mercy plea. The Centre, however, has opposed the plea.

Besides the delay, another reason given in the plea was that Bhullar was being treated for some mental ailment.

The 1993 bomb attack in Delhi had killed nine security personnel and left 25 persons, including Bitta, injured. Bhullar is imprisoned at Tihar Jail here.

Three death-row convicts in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi assassination case — Santhan, Murugan and Arivu — have also sought commutation of their sentence to life, contending that their cases were similar to that of Bhullar.

On April 6, another SC Bench stayed the execution of eight death-row convicts, including former Haryana MLA Relu Ram Punia’s daughter Sonia and her husband Sanjeev.

The eight petitioners have challenged the execution move citing the long delays in the rejection of their mercy pleas.

The other convicts are Suresh, Ramji, Gurmeet Singh, Praveen Kumar, Sundar Singh and Jafar Ali.

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The Tribune – Free education to J&K Sikh girls in SGPC institutions; Post-DSGMC elections, row over preachers erupts

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 7. To promote education among Sikh girls in Jammu and Kashmir, the SGPC has decided to offer free education and accommodation to them in institutions run by the committee.

Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC chief, said today that a committee would be formed to survey schools in Jammu and Kashmir to enlist Sikh girl students.

A decision to this effect was reached after Makkar’s meeting with Kashmir Sikh Sangat chairman Dhanwant Singh who said the Sikhs were facing several problems in the strife-torn state.

Makkar saidt the committee would help Sikh students who came forward to propagate Sikhism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, after its win in the DSGMC elections, the SAD seems to have taken control of the daily discourses at Sikh shrines in New Delhi, though the party officially denies the same. The discourse from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is being telecast live on a TV channel. Paramjit Singh Sarna, SAD (Delhi) chief, claimed that the SAD had shunted out some preachers hired by the earlier committee while some others had been told to restrict their discourse to ‘katha’ (explaining the essence of Gurbani).

He alleged that the SAD was dictating terms to ‘katha vachaks’ (preachers). This was unwarranted. Asked as to how the SAD was doing this when the reins of the DSGMC were still in his hands as the new body was yet to take charge, he said: “As I have been defeated, I don’t want to intervene on this issue, though I’m taking care of routine affairs.

I want to see as to how low they can stoop.”

Daljeet Singh Cheema, SAD secretary, denied the charge. He said since the new committee was yet to take charge, “making changes in the affairs of Delhi gurdwaras does not arise.” However, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar admitted that Giani Mann Singh had been in Delhi to deliver religious discourses in gurdwaras there. He dubbed this as a temporary arrangement. “We will send preachers to the Capital whenever the DSGMC approaches us,” he added.

Former DSGMC general secretary Kulmohan Singh confirmed that they had sought the services of SGPC-appointed preachers and Giani Mann Singh was the first among them.

“He will be delivering discourses at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib,” Kulmohan Singh said.

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The Tribune – Moga bypoll; SAD to contest Sikh-dominant seats in other states; Sukhbir says DSGMC to take steps for greater transparency in working

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 4. Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was seriously considering the issue of fielding its candidates in the Sikh-dominant areas of UP, Rajasthan, Uttrakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing mediapersons after felicitating newly elected DSGMC members at Teja Singh Samundari Hall here today, Sukhbir stated that the SAD already had its MLA in Haryana and it had contested Delhi Assembly seats too.

“Now, the party will take a call whether it should put up candidates on seats where the Sikhs are in dominance.” he said. He announced that the party would fight the next Vidhan Sabha elections in Delhi on the party symbol.

To a query on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Sukhbir said the SAD would go along with the NDA decision on the issue. Asked about the Moga byelection, he said he was certain that SAD candidate Joginder Pal Jain would win with a record margin.

Addressing the newly elected DSGMC members, Sukhbir said the Sarnas had lost the elections “because of their arrogance and we must take a lesson from their defeat.”

He described the elections as the reaffirmation of the Sikhs’ faith in the supremacy of Akal Takht. He said the message was clear- that anybody trying to divide the Panth for petty personal interests would be punished.

Outlining the agenda of the newly elected DSGMC, Sukhbir said it would work for introducing measures to bring about greater transparency in its working and financial management and would constitute an education board for schools and colleges being run by it.

Earlier, the newly elected DSGMC members paid obeisance at Darbar Sahib.

Now, the party will take a call whether it should put up candidates on seats where the Sikhs are in dominance… The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee elections as the reaffirmation of the Sikhs’ faith in the supremacy of Akal Takht.
— Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister

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The Tribune – Delhi memorial: Sarna eyeing DSGMC poll

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 25. With the DSGMC chief PS Sarna expressing his intention to raise a memorial to pay homage to those killed in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the politics of memorials is hotting up.

Sarna said the DSGMC would purchase land for the memorial which, unlike the Operation Bluestar Memorial, would not be in the form of a gurdwara. “It will be a befitting tribute to thousands of innocent Sikhs killed in the Capital in November 1984.”

He said a consensus among Sikh organisations would be evolved on the issue.

The DSGMC chief was confident that all political parties, including the Congress, would support the move. “The Prime Minister has already apologised to the Sikhs for the 1984 riots and compensation has been announced for the riot-hit. I see no reason why the Congress will oppose it,” he said. During her visit here on Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had endorsed the move. Observers say building the memorial will pay rich dividends to the Sarna group in the DSGMC elections.

Kalia for memorial on lines of Jallianwala Bagh

Manoranjan Kalia, BJP MLA, has urged the CM to set up a memorial on the lines of Jallianwala Bagh to commemorate the sacrifices of Punjabis. Favouring a monument in the Capital Delhi to pay tribute to those killed in the 1984 riots, he said: “Let the Delhi Government give land for the purpose and let all Punjabis contribute to building the monument”.

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The Tribune – DSGMC may raise memorial to riot victims; Sarna says proposal in this regard to be discussed at executive meeting

G S Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24. After the SGPC’s move to build Operation Bluestar Memorial in the Golden Temple complex, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) now moots a proposal to raise one in Delhi to pay homage to Sikhs killed in the November 1984 riots.

This was stated by DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna who was in town today with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to inaugurate Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas, an inn for pilgrims.

Spread over 2800-sq yard, the inn has been built at a cost of Rs 12 crore. It has 84 rooms (42 AC, 42 non-AC) and four halls.

Sarna said a proposal for raising a memorial to the riot victims would be deliberated at the executive meeting of the DSGMC.

Asked if the Congress would support the move, Sarna said the Congress had always been supportive of issues related to the Delhi Sikh community.

Endorsing his stand, the Delhi CM said: “Till date, nobody has approached us with any such proposal. But it will definitely be considered if the DSGMC takes the initiative”.

On Bluestar Memorial, Sarna said: “ I feel the memorial should neither be in the shape of a gurdwara nor within the premises of a gurdwara.”

He alleged the DSGMC had built Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas because of the non-cooperative attitude of the SGPC towards Sikhs from other states.

“We have been receiving complaints from Sikh pilgrims from other states visiting the Golden Temple that the SGPC staff is reluctant to accommodate them in inns. Even yesterday, the pilgrims who accompanied us from Delhi were refused accommodation at the SGPC-run inns.

“If need be, another inn could be built over a 200-sq yard plot in the galliara area,” Sarna said.

Among those present at the inauguration of the inn were present Jathedar, Takht Patna Sahib, Iqbal Singh, Shiromani Panthic chairman Manjit Singh Calcutta and district Congress leaders.

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The Tribune – Ready to resolve Nanakshahi calendar row: Pakistan Sikhs

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 16. Even as the SGPC is following the amended Nanakshahi calendar, Sikhs in Pakistan as well as New Delhi today observed the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev as per the original version of the calendar.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) member Swaran Singh offered a platform to resolve the differences among the community members over the calendar issue. “We are ready to host a gathering of Sikhs from around the world in Pakistan so that misunderstandings can be removed and a strong appeal can be made to the Akal Takht to implement the original calendar in letter and spirit,” he said.

PSGPC chief Sham Singh, who was also present, endorsed his views. Pleading to the Akal Takht to implement the original calendar, released by the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat in 2003, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) coordinator Pritpal Singh said if there was any amendment to be made, it should be done after holding consultations with Sikh leaders from across the world and calendar’s architect Pal Singh Purewal.

PSGPC members said there had been a lot of confusion relating to gurpurabs, martyrdom days and other important dates due to certain amendments made by the SGPC in the original calendar “without evolving a consensus within the community”.

A large number of Sikhs had gathered from all over the world to observe the martyrdom day of the Guru at Gurdwara Shaheed Asthan inside Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Lahore.

Meanwhile, the DSGMC, headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna, also observed the martyrdom day today as per the original calendar.

The main programme was organised at Lakhi Shah Wanjara Hall in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib. Though the Akal Takht has endorsed the amended Nanakshahi calendar and directed all to follow it, the PSGPC and the DSGMC continue to stick to its original version while observing various events.

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The Tribune – Nanakshahi Calendar; Dissent persists over amended version

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 23. It has been well over two years since the SGPC introduced the amended Nanakshahi Calendar, but it is still grappling to get it implemented among all Sikh organisations in the world.

This became evident recently when Pakistan denied visas to 320 Sikh pilgrims wanting to visit the neighbouring country to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev while contending that the event is not being observed in Pakistan during the period when the SGPC intends to send its jatha.

The SGPC wanted to send a jatha to Pakistan from May 17 to 26 as it is observing the event here on May 25, but the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) is sticking to its date of June 16 as per the original Nanakshahi Calendar.

Last year too Pakistan had denied visas to 340 Sikh devotees for this occasion for the same reason.

Back home, the DSGMC also follows the original version of the calendar while observing “gurpurabs” in a year. The fact that the SGPC has to time and again publish advertisements, appealing Sikhs to celebrate/observe a “gurpurab” on a particular date shows that the community remains divided over the calendar.

Continuing with the trend, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar appealed to the Sikh sangat on Tuesday to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev on May 25 as per the amended calendar. He said some Sikh organisations were not falling in line due to their “narrow political interests”. He said it was the duty of the SGPC to ensure implementation of directions of the Akal Takht, but these outfits were violating these, which was not appropriate.

Makkar said they were planning to send a jatha to Pakistan next month for observing the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. “We will ask our representatives in the jatha to hold talks with the PSGPC to convince them to follow the amended calendar as per directions of the Akal Takht”.

Former PSGPC president Bishen Singh said they would organise an “akhand path” on June 14-16 at Gurdwara Dehra Sahib in Lahore and would observe the event on June 16. However, at the same time, PSGPC vice-president Sahab Singh said they would hold a meeting of the Sikh sangat on May 26 to discuss the issue denial of visas to Sikh pilgrims from India.

Conflicting point

Pakistan has denied visas to 320 Sikh pilgrims since the Pakistan gurdwara body is observing the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev on a different date

The DSGMC also follows the original version of the calendar

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The Tribune – Takht supports complete marriage Act; Jathedar says draft to be forwarded to Union Govt through SGPC, rejects amendment in Anand Marriage Act 1909

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 15. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today said the draft of ‘Sikh Marriage Act — 2012’, prepared by Khalsa College principal Daljeet Singh, would be discussed in a meeting of the Sikh clergy and later forwarded to the Union Government through the SGPC. The aim was to get a complete marriage Act for the Sikh community.

Addressing a seminar organised by the Chief Khalsa Diwan here today, the Jathedar said the draft should be widely circulated and also put on the internet so that the Sikh Sangat from across the world could access it and a debate be initiated on the issue. He said he will also talk to SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to organise a meeting of Sikh intellectuals and legal luminaries, besides representatives of the DSGMC and the Punjab Government, to deliberate on the draft so that it could be further strengthened in all aspects.

Giani Gurbachan Singh said it was high time that the Sikh politicians rose above party lines and supported a complete Sikh marriage Act. He lauded Daljeet Singh for “bringing the Sikh community face to face with reality”.

Talking to mediapersons later, he rejected the amendment being made in the Anand Marriage Act 1909 while asking how could Parliament pass it without the consent of Sikhs.

Chief Khalsa Diwan president Charanjeet Singh Chadha said the Anand Marriage Amendment Bill 2012, which is in the Rajya Sabha, will only facilitate a “lame Act” for Sikh marriages. “We are aiming for a complete marriage Act as other minority communities like Muslims and Christians have,” he said.

Chadha urged the Jathedar to form a committee comprising Sikh intellectuals and legal experts to dwell on the draft and chalk out future course of action over the issue. The participants opined that the amendments being made in the Anand Marriage Act 1909 were not sufficient and were not as per the aspirations of the Sikhs.

While the Chief Khalsa Diwan had extended its full support to the draft, Sikh History Research Board director Roop Singh said the draft was “weak” from the aspect of Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ (code of conduct). He stressed on the need of defining a Sikh strictly on the basis of ‘rehat maryada’.

On the other hand, Dr Daljeet Singh attributed the inclusion of Sehajdharis as well as ‘Patits’ (apostates) in the definition of a Sikh in his draft to the fact that the blueprint prepared by him was based on inclusion theory. He said the draft had been prepared keeping in view the Sikh ‘maryada’ and thoroughly deal with several issues, including definition of Sikh and ‘Anand Karaj’, divorce, alimony and property rights and adoption. The draft does not touch the subject of gay marriages, which are prohibited under the Sikh traditions. Including another significant point, the draft says “no marriage among Sikhs shall be solemnised in any place other than a Sikh gurdwara”.

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The Tribune – Clash at gurdwara Bala Sahib in Delhi; Makkar, Sarna trade charges

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 2. Following a clash between their supporters at Gurdwara Bala Sahib in New Delhi today, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna traded charges and blamed each other’s outfit for sparking violence.

Addressing mediapersons at the SGPC headquarters here, Makkar alleged that the DSGMC along with a private firm was performing “bhoomi pujan” for a hospital building on the gurdwara premises, which was against the Sikh tenets. “The Sikh Sangat came to know about their move and gathered at the venue to protest against it. However, Sarna’s supporters, who were armed with kirpans, pelted them with the stones, which sparked off violence,” he said.

Makkar denied Sarna’s allegations that the SAD supporters triggered violence by pelting stones and bottles. “Our supporters reached the spot at a later stage and, moreover, they were not allowed by the police to enter the venue,” he claimed.

He said the DSGMC could have waited for starting the work on the hospital till the completion of the DSGMC poll process.

Asked whether he would approach the Akal Takht over the issue, he said the Jathedar should himself take notice of the violation of “maryada” by the DSGMC. He claimed that an Akhand Path underway at the venue was also stopped abruptly, which was again a breach of “maryada”.

On the other hand, Sarna accused SAD leaders of creating ruckus at the inaugural ceremony of its multi-specialty hospital. He said, “The SAD leaders along with their supporters reached the venue and resorted to an attack with soda bottles and stones.”

He claimed the Sikh Sangat came out against their “violent act” while the police lobbed tear gas shells, forcing the SAD supporters to run away.

Sarna blamed Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal for the incident. He said there was no “bhoomi pujan” at the venue as alleged by Makkar and instead it was inaugural ceremony of the health services at the hospital. He claimed the SAD leaders had put up ads in Delhi claiming that they will present documents regarding “the sale of Gurdwara Bala Sahib’s land to a private firm” before the Delhi police within 48 hours or else resign from their posts.

“However, it had been 60 hours since then but they neither produced the documents nor quit their posts,” he said.

Sarna was here to review the progress of a 92-room “sarai” (inn) being built by the DSGMC for facilitating pilgrims visiting the holy city.

SGPC chief objects to Haryana minister’s remark on Badal

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar has objected to a Haryana minister’s remark in the state Assembly in which he reportedly dubbed a SGPC-run medical college in the neighbouring state as Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s property. Makkar said they would prove the minister wrong. He said a trust had been formed to run the hospital, which had 12 members, including Badal. The remaining members include three from Haryana and five doctors.

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