Kashmir Times – Delimitation panel has worked in favour of BJP – Dr Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar – J & K – India, 27 February 2022. National Conference chief and Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) chief Dr Farooq Abdullah Saturday said that Delimitation Commission’s fresh proposals have increased alienation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Panel has worked in favour of BJP only under a “planned strategy.”

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of PAGD’s press conference at his Gupkar residence here, Dr Farooq said that the recommendations made by the Delimitation Commission are biased and whatever they have advocated has in fact increased the alienation across J&K.

“I see a larger plan in whatever Delimitation Panel has done.

The commission has worked in favour of BJP as I foresee that the plan is to get a resolution passed in favour of Article 370 in the J-K assembly and then BJP will itself take the case to the court and claim victory,” Dr Farooq said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the seats have been increased in a way to benefit BJP and to help the party sail through the elections.

“As far as NC is concerned, we will fight elections in any case,” he said. Asked whether PAGD would fight polls jointly, he said: “It was too premature to comment on this issue at this juncture. Let the elections come, many people will join us to fight polls,” he said.

On the Russia-Ukraine war, Dr Farooq said that he believes the ongoing battle between the two countries will engulf the entire world. “There will be inflation and oil prices will skyrocket,” the NC chief said as per KNO. He said that war never helps anyone and he hoped that better sense prevails.

Asked how he sees India’s decision of abstaining from voting in UNSC on Russia-Ukraine war issue, he said: “Since he is not a member of UNSC, it won’t suit him to reply to the query. The Indian representative in UNSC would be the best person to reply on this.”

http://www.kashmirtimes.com/newsdet.aspx?q=114076

The Tribune – Sikh girl turban issue: SGPC team to meet Karnataka CM

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has termed the denial of admission to the Sikh girl an “attack on the religious freedom” of Sikhs

Tribune News Service

Amritsar – Panjab – India, 26 February 2022. The SGPC has sought an appointment with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after a Mangalore-based private school refused admission to a six-year-old Sikh child.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has termed the denial of admission to the Sikh boy an “attack on the religious freedom” of Sikhs. Expressing concern, he pointed out earlier a college in Karnataka had asked an Amritdhari Gursikh girl not to sit in the class over her turban.

Dhami said it violated the Constitution, which guaranteed religious freedom to all [also to Muslims – Man in Blue]. He asked the Karnataka CM to take concrete steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the state.

He said suppression of the religious freedom of Sikhs could not be tolerated, adding an SGPC delegation would soon visit the state to meet the CM on the issue. A letter in this regard had been sent to the CM’s office.

Meanwhile, the SGPC president objected to the directive issued to students in Delhi not to come to school in religious attire.

He said it was unfortunate that the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had issued such instructions to officials of its education department, adding religious concerns and rights were being violated in the name of differences and inequality among students.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/turban-row-sgpc-team-to-meet-karnataka-cm-373374

IndyStar – Sikh Coalition calls incident at Whiteland high school a ‘bias-motivated’ assault

M J Slaby – Indianapolis Star

A senior at Whiteland Community High School says he was the victim of “severe bias-motivated harassment and physical assault” in the school cafeteria that included his turban being knocked from his head.

The Sikh Coalition, a national advocacy group that defends Sikh civil rights, is calling for justice in this case, and an examination of how school officials handle bias-based bullying, per a news release issued Friday.

A statement from the Clark-Pleasant school district, which includes Whiteland Community High School, stressed no tolerance for “racism, bigotry violence or discrimination” in the schools and said district administrators and law enforcement are working to gather information about the incident.

District superintendent Patrick Spray, has “reached out to the Sikh Community in an effort to begin dialogue regarding this matter,” per the statement.

‘This indeed has become our homeland‘:
How Indy’s south side has grown in diversity.

The Sikh Coalition is providing the student with legal representation and said in the release that the high schooler was taunted for his turban as he and others tried to eat lunch. He was then assaulted, they said.

The other students made “bigoted remarks about his turban and race throughout the assault,” according to the release, which added the student was injured and later suspended for “getting in a fight.”

“I am shaken by what happened to me, and frustrated that I am being punished for being targeted and beaten,” he said in a statement shared with the coalition.

“To attack another person’s faith – to strike at my turban – is completely unacceptable. No one should have to face that threat anywhere, let alone at school.”

The Sikh Coalition is not naming their client to protect his privacy and said he is not prepared to speak publicly beyond the statement.

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://eu.indystar.com/story/news/education/2022/02/25/whiteland-high-school-indiana-sikh-coalition-attack-religion/6943340001/

SGPC says suppression of religious freedom will not be tolerated

The Hindu Bureau

Chandigarh – Panjab – India, 24 February 2022

Head of gurdwara body writes to Karnataka CM opposing objection to Sikh girl wearing turban to Bengaluru college

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the body responsible for the management of gurdwaras, on Thursday objected to the action of a college in Bengaluru, which has reportedly asked an ‘amritdhari’ (initiated) Sikh girl to remove her turban to attend the college.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has written a letter in this regard to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, asking him to ensure the preservation of the religious freedom of Sikhs in the State and also reminding him of the contribution of Sikhs to India.

“It cannot be tolerated to force Sikhs to remove their turban in their own country. It is an unconstitutional decision that will never be accepted.

Turban is very important in Sikh faith and it is an integral part of Sikh dress. Forcing anybody to remove the dastar (turban) is in violation of Sikh traditions and principles,” Mr. Dhami wrote.

“The questions are being raised on the turban of Sikhs in India, where turban-wearing Sikhs have served as President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Army Chief.

Sikhs all over the world wear a turban and are working on various top positions, whereas, in their own country India, turbans are being challenged,” the letter adds.

Mr. Dhami said that the suppression of Sikhs’ religious freedom can never be in the interest of the country.

The SGPC president has also demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the matter, and the issuance of instructions to every State to uphold the religious freedom of the people.

Mr. Dhami said that the Sikh community would never tolerate any act of suppression of their religious freedom and they would strongly oppose it.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sgpc-says-suppression-of-religious-freedom-will-not-be-tolerated/article65080551.ece

The Print – Uttarakhand HC shows displeasure over treatment of Van Gujjars

Nainital – Uttarakhand – India, 23 February 2022. The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over non-compliance of its order on providing land allotment and other facilities to Van Gujjars, a forest-dwelling community living in parts of Corbett and Rajaji Tiger reserves.

Hearing a bunch of PILs, Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Justice NS Dhanik asked the state government why the orders related to Van Gujjars issued earlier had not yet been complied with.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice R S Chauhan had earlier ordered that Rs 10 lakh be granted within three months to the 24 families from the community living along the banks of the Sona river in Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The court had also directed that a certificate of ownership of the land be granted to these families within six months.

Basic facilities like food, housing, medical, schools, roads and arrangements for fodder for their animals and veterinary doctors for their treatment were also to be provided to the destitute families of forest Gujjars in Rajaji National Park.

The government was asked to submit a detailed report, but till date the government has not complied with this order, the court said.

https://theprint.in/india/hc-shows-displeasure-over-treatment-of-van-gujjars/844650/

No upload to the blog tomorrow morning due to early departure for Knokke, north west Belgium, near the Dutch border.

My excuses
Harjinder Singh

Scroll.in – Rising intolerance: Why the right of young Indian Muslims to wear the hijab must be protected

They deserve to be on diverse – inclusive educational campuses where they feel safe and accepted for who they are.

Sameera Khan

Of all the relentless images from Karnataka to which we have been subjected in the last few weeks, no doubt the one everyone will remember Muskan Khan for the uncommon bravery she exhibited, raising a defiant fist as she entered her college building when accosted alone by mobs of men with saffron scarves screaming “Jai Shri Ram”.

But the section of the video clip of this 19-year-old student in the small town of Mandya that continues to stay with me is of a self-assured woman driving her two-wheeler to a parking spot and then walking swiftly, with her head held high, towards her classroom with a knapsack slung on her back.

That this earnest young student rushing to submit a college assignment was wearing the hijab should have been almost incidental to our gaze. Unfortunately, in recent days that is all most of us can see.

Hardening of attitudes

Though it started with the hijab becoming the focus of attention for some government college administrators in Karnataka who closed the gates on hijab-clad Muslim students, it then attracted Hindutva-influenced hordes of young men (and also some young women) who taunted the hijabi Muslim girls. Both demand a ban on hijabs in the classroom.

This has riled up orthodox Muslim groups, insistent on strict adherence to the hijab as a matter of religious and constitutional right, as well as many progressive liberals who while against the bigotry on display remain conflicted by the patriarchal imagery of the veil.

As someone who closely examines women’s access to public space in general and also specifically researches Muslim women’s negotiations with public space for work and pleasure, I think that we need to centre this discussion in a more nuanced reality.

To read the full article click on the link below:

https://scroll.in/article/1017923/why-the-right-of-young-indian-muslims-to-wear-the-hijab-must-be-protected

World Sikh News – Sirsa-managed Sikh delegation meets Indian PM Modi, community deeply hurt

Published 3 days ago – Jagmohan Singh (@thewsneditor)

Once upon a time, there was no Sikh face in the BJP, except a handful who could be counted on fingers outside Punjab. In fact, there was no Sikh face in the Jana Sangh, the precursor of the presentday BJP.

Even the RSS (Rashtriya Swayam sewak Sangh) had to invent Rashtriya Sikh Sangat to prefer some Sikhs who could be seen as pro-Sikh, even though they continued to enforce RSS agenda.

Today, we have toadies like Manjinder Singh Sirsa who are going the whole hog to undermine Sikhs, Sikhism, Sikh institutions at the altar of the BJP’s majoritarianism.

WSN editor Jagmohan Singh, while discussing the details of today’s meeting of Sikh social, religious and political leaders with PM Narendra Modi warns of the notoriety of the meeting and its likely sinister fall­out.

To read the full article click on the link below

Sirsa-managed Sikh delegation meets Indian PM Modi, community deeply hurt 

The Tribune – Punjab polls: AAP’s undercurrent worrisome for heavyweights Sidhu and Majithia

Amritsaris’ admired SAD candidate Bikram Singh Majithia’s courageous move to take on Sidhu.

Jupinderjit Singh – Tribune News Service

Amritsar – Panjab – India, 19 February 2022. In cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s den, his party’s CM face Charanjit Singh Channi echoes among voters, who are divided in criticism for Sidhu’s inaccessibility, rude and overbearing behaviour but praise for his clean honest image.

The ‘double engine’ of the Congress may have the last laugh even as battle hardened after Amritsari’s SAD candidate Bikram Singh Majithia’s courageous move to take on Sidhu in his own den.

Paramjit Singh sitting on a chair outside the infamous colony of widows, Maqboolpura says, Amritsari’s SAD candidate Bikram Singh Majithia’s courageous move to take on Sidhu in his own den. It is Charanjit Singh Channi I would be voting for.

No government has been able to contain drugs and drug deaths in our colony. Channi has done much in few months he got. He is our leader.”

Baljinder Singh, another resident, echoes, “The Congress did well by making Channi the CM face. The double engine Sidhu and Channi of the Congress would pull the government’s train well to progress.”

Sher Singh, who lost his two brothers and a brother-in-law is the only bread-earner of the family now.

“My sister’s husband died due to drugs three months ago. No politician visited us. Channi sounds sincere. He can contain drugs. Several residents gave examples of free supply of drugs in the colony continuing unabated.”

Majithia’s challenge to Sidhu in latter’s den has also won several hearts. Gupreet Singh, a resident of Golden Gates Residential Society, said that he had turned a fan of Majithia. “He has the dare to challenge Sidhu.

He is a big leader of SAD. He will get many votes, but for Randeep Kaur the election scene is just a tamasha,

“Our area is remembered only during elections or on special days concerning drugs abuse. The politician and the media forget us later. This election tamasha would also be over in two days.” She shifts restless in her charpoy outside her house.

Election fever and fervour hits with full crescendo, unlike other parts of the state lacking colour and usual election din. Political flags adorn housetops, cut-outs of candidates dot road-sides and dangle dangerously on electricity poles, as the titans try their luck in the elections.

The candidates seem to have not spared an inch of space at many places to put up billboards and posters. This is beside the umpteen offices that have sprung up on both sides of the road leading to the constituency.

“Do not go by the number of flags of any party or candidate. You do not know who will emerge the dark horse,” is the first advice of the voters as one enters.

“The predominance of one party’s flag may be a good indicator of who is winning but not this time, at least in this constituency, said Parminder Singh, pointing towards his grey beard as sign of his experience, “ It is just money and muscle power.”

BJP candidate Dr Jagmohan Raju is not lagging behind in presence in any way but Jiwanjot Kaur of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) can emerge as dark horse, as she enjoys an undercurrent of support in the 20 Februaryelections.

“Sidhu did not get us a job in compensation for the tragic loss of my son Dalbir Singh Ghuggu in the Dasehra train mishap. We got monetary compensation from the state and centre government but no healing balm from our local MLA.

He has not visited us for long as well,” says Swaran Kaur in street No 2 near the infamous Jorra Phatak where the mishap took place.

Stresses his friend Gursharan Singh standing near a roof top full of Akali flags,” we have seen all parties and their promises. This time we will go for the AAP. They are not loud mouth and are maintaining grace.”

Use of harsh language by Sidhu and Majithia against each other and later apology for the same is already much talked about.

But Ranbir Johal, a businessman brushes it aside. “It is high pitch and high prestige political battle. Some fireworks are necessary. And Amritsaris call a spade a spade. Sidhu Dhakkad Banda hai. “

Here is sitting a group of burly Sardars determined to vote for Sidhu, “Yes. There has been an issue of accessibility of Sidhu and use of rough language but we are overlooking it. His wife Navjot Kaur did not lose touch with the area residents.

Sidhu is an international name. He is an honest man. How many honest politicians are there these days?” he asks.

“And he did not indulge in political vendetta against Akali workers all these years. We cannot vote for drugs and goonda raj.

We are witnessing it since the election scene heated up,” his two friends stress but don’t want to disclose their identity. “We are business persons, you know.”

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab-election/punjab-polls-aaps-undercurrent-worrisome-for-heavyweights-sidhu-and-majithia-371280

Qantara.de – Muslims – Hindus & Sikhs – India’s anti-BJP groundswell

Dominik Muller

In November 2021, the Modi government assured India’s protesting farmers that it would withdraw three pieces of controversial agricultural legislation. Upcoming state election results due in February and March in protest strongholds Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, have rarely been so eagerly awaited.

The farmers’ key demand was a legally guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for selected crops. The government promised to set up a committee with the participation of farmers’ organisations for this purpose.

So far, however, no attempt has been made to do so. Many people eagerly anticipated the announcement of the new federal budget on 1 February.

Would it reflect the demands of the historic farmers’ protests? Yet, even in the draft budget, there is no indication that India’s government intends to address those demands or offer solutions to the farmers’ fundamental concerns, such as rising costs for resources.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already announced in late November that he would revoke the three controversial laws. The timing was not random, with elections in the populous states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh coming up in February and March.

The elections in these two states are traditionally considered critical for the future direction of the country as a whole and both states have been strongholds of the farmers’ protests.

“Despite several attempts to explain the benefits to farmers, we have failed,” Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told the press.

In fact the farmers, who achieved a remarkable victory, understood all too well what the laws were all about: they were designed to open the floodgates to other market players, including large supermarket chains.

Fruit and grains would then be sold directly to interested buyers rather than through regulated wholesalers. Experience from other countries shows that this strategy serves to incite price wars among the cheapest suppliers, as well as outright price dumping.

Sooner or later, the buyers, with their immense market power, end up dictating prices. “Grow or get out” becomes the order of the day.

In addition to guaranteed minimum prices for their crops, the farmers demanded that all lawsuits against farmers who had taken part in the protests be withdrawn – and compensation paid to the families whose relatives had died in the protests.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation made up of more than forty farmers’ associations that joined forces in November 2020 to coordinate civil disobedience against the agrarian laws, cites a total of 714 deaths.

Many were caused by the heat and the second COVID wave, yet some area also attributable to the brutal violence with which the protests were suppressed.

The online portal Qantara.de aims to promote dialogue with the Islamic world. It is run by German’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

To read the full article click on the link below

https://en.qantara.de/content/muslims-hindus-sikhs-indias-anti-bjp-groundswell