New York, New York - The Sikh Coalition is dismayed to report that a twelve-year-old Sikh girl's hair was maliciously cut by another student. On June 9, Gurprit Kaur, a student at Public School 219 in Flushing, Queens, discovered that another student had cut off a portion of her braided hair and discarded it. The attack on Gurprit occurred only five days after Jagmohan Singh Premi, was punched in the face when a student intentionally attempted to remove his patka (smaller turban) at Richmond Hill High School, in Richmond Hill, Queens. It also occured a just a year after Harpal Singh;s hair was forcibly cut by another sutdent in a city school. Sikh children simply continue to suffer in New York City. This past April, the Sikh Coalition released a civil rights report that found that more than 60% of the over 400 New York City Sikh public school students the Coalition surveyed suffered bias-based harassment or violence in city schools. The Assault On Monday, June 9, 2008 at approximately 11:00 am while in English class, Gurprit's classmate told her that a portion of her braided hair had been cut off. Gurprit did not notice while her hair was being cut behind her back. Given the deep spiritual significance of her hair, Gurprit was extremely upset. She immediately conveyed her dismay to teachers. Gurprit's school conducted an investigation and within hours advised her that a classmate (a juvenile who shall remain nameless) had admitted to cutting her hair during a class they share together and where they sit next to each other. The school returned Gurprit's hair to her wadded in a tissue. The perpetrator was suspended the same day. Sister and Brother Suffer Silently for Years Sadly, the perpetrator specifically harassed Gurprit because of her and her brother, Talwinder because of their Sikh faith. The perpetrator made fun of Talwinder's jurdha and patka (smaller turban), saying "Your brother has a ball on his head. I am going to rip it off and throw it at him." Once when Gurprit came to school with her hair in a bun, the perpetrator said, "Now you have a bun on your head just like your brother." The perpetrator also referred to Talwinder derisively as a "Hindu" in front of Gurprit. The perpetrator knew that cutting hair was against Gurprit's religion. Several months ago, the perpetrator specifically asked Gurprit why she did not cut her hair. Gurprit responded because her religion does not allow it. Gurprit's brother Talwinder, a sixth grade student, is routinely subject to ridicule because of his Sikh articles of faith. Other sixth-graders call him "potatohead" and "turbanator." Students would say that Talwinder has a bomb on his head, and to get away from him because he is going to blow everyone up. The harassment Talwinder has suffered this year is nothing new. When Talwinder was in the fifth grade, a student tried to touch and remove his patka. When he was in the fourth grade, the school suspended a student for harassing Talwinder about his turban and hair. When asked by the Coalition's staff whether he liked school, Talwinder responded, "I like school, but not the kids." Enough is Enough: Sikhs of New York City to March for Sikh Children on June 30th The Sikh Coalition along with Gurprit Kaur and Jagmohan Singh Premi's parents are organizing a march through the streets of Richmond Hill, Queens on Monday, June 30th. The march will end with a rally at Richmond Hill High School, the school where Jagmohan Singh Premi suffered a bias-based assault this month. The purpose of the march is to push the New York Department of Education to end bias-based harassment of Sikh children in city schools. It is about time that the Department recognize that Sikh children in particular are vulnerable to bias-based harassment and violence in school. The Sikh Coalition calls on all Sikhs to march with us on Monday, June 30th or sign the community petition to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein asking him to take action to protect Sikh children from bias-based harassment in city school. Coalition Action and Department's Response Sikh Coalition staff was on site at Gurprit Kaur's home and at her school within 24 hours of receiving a call from her father requesting assistance. School officials have since met with the Coalition to discuss diversity educational programs to be implemented at the beginning of the new school year in the Fall. The Department has not been clear on whether these programs will include specific education for teachers and students on Sikhs and Sikh concerns in school. The Coalition calls on the Department to implement a more Sikh-specific program since Sikh children are uniquely vulnerable to bias-based harassment. In addition, the Sikh Coalition has formally requested that the Department share with the Coalition the Department's planned Chancellor's Regulation on addressing bias-based incident in city schools. The Department has agreed to meet with the Coalition before any such regulation is made public or implemented so that the Sikh Coalition can have input on its implementation Coalition a draft As always, the Coalition continues encourages all Sikhs to fearlessly practice their faith and stand up for their rights. We ask that you sign our petition and attend our March for Sikh children. Frontline comments These stories will keep on coming, the way our parents raise children into papus like rinku and pinku. the sikhs are meant to be a martail race that defends the oppressed but we are being bullied ourselves. all kids should go martail arts.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Sikhs getting terrorised all over globe
How Many Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Saroops were burnt in 1984?
San Jose, CA (KP) – The ‘Sikhs for Justice’ organization, which was established in the United States held a petitioning campaign at the San Jose Gurdwara Sahib in which thousands of petitions were collected in one day to assist the Indian Supreme Court’s attention towards the instigators of the 1984 pogroms. A gurmat diwan was organized the same day in which speakers once again reminded the sangat of the brutalities committed by the Indian Government.
| According to research by scholars, proof is available that over 1000 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji were burnt by the Government led mobs. |
While the main purpose of the petition campaign is to submit a final appeal to the Indian Supreme Court to investigate the murders of thousands of Sikhs, the crusade is set up in a way to attract full media exposure so international governments can be made aware of issues minority communities are facing in India. According to officials of the ‘Sikhs for Justice’ organization, similar programs will be held at different Sikh institutions across the country for the benefit of the sangat and further the goal.
Along with officials of the Sikhs for Justice Organization, several other Sikh personalities attended the program. Singh Sahib Giani Gurbhachan Singh, Head Granthi Sri Harmandir Sahib, also addressed the issue while sharing his views with the Sangat. He also asked the Sikh Sangat to remain attached to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and work to create unity within the Panth.
After Singh Sahib, Bhai Arwind Singh did a presentation which included some graphical pictures from the 1984 pogroms along with key facts and other information. The main attraction of the program was Bhai Jasbir Singh of the Tytler case. Bhai Jasbir Singh who is the key witness of Jagdish Tytler’s involvement in the pogroms told his story in front of the Sikh Sangat.
The Sikhs for Justice organization gained public attention soon after it identified Jasbir Singh for the Tytler case while working with the Sikh Student Federation (Peer Mohammed). Ever since it’s establishment, the organization has taken over several key Panthic matters and provided valueable input.
Bhai Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the legal representative of the Sikhs for Justice organization, while speaking at the end, familiarized the sangat with a very important fact regarding the incidents of pogroms. According to research by scholars, proof is available that over 1000 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji were burnt by the Government led mobs. This new research is likely to bring new developments to the existing cases against the Government officials as precedent is available for punishment of those who cause sacrilege to saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.
Furthermore, according to Bhai Gurpatwant Singh, a similar program will be organized at Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, California, USA on July 26 on a larger scale. Sikh scholars will acquaint the Sangat with facts about the 1984 pogroms. This program will be held under the leadership of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and Singh Sahib Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti will be the chief guest. After Giani Vedanti’s open hearted speeches during the New York Nagar Kirtan, his address in Fremont will be of particular interest as Fremont houses several Panthic organizations and is generally known to have a pro-Khalistan atmosphere.
Protests continue
Navi Mumbai (KP) - Following the incident in Mumbai, protests have continued in almost all parts of Northern India demanding legal action against Gurmeet Ram Rahim for the death of Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh this past week. Although the Dera chief is yet to be questioned by the police, at least six people have been booked for interrogations while several mall shopkeepers have been probed. At the same time, the Dera chief has returned to his Sirsa based headquarters where he is enjoying increased personal security.
Ever since appearing in front of his devotees dressed up in attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and parodying the first Amrit Sanchar, the Dera chief has been causing major burdens to State Governments. Along with spending huge sums of money to ensure his security, State Governments have had to deal with large protests and public outcry. However, no legal action has yet been taken against the chief even though strong proof is available against Gurmeet Ram Rahim for not only hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, but for his involvement in two murder cases and multiple cases of rape.
This past week, shortly after the shooting in Mumbai, Gurmeet Ram Rahim traveled to his Mysore based dera. Experiencing heavy protests from Sikhs in different parts of Karnatka, the dera chief was officially asked by the
Mysore police to leave the State immeditely. Through the New Delhi Airport, the Dera chief landed in his Haryana based cricket stadium on a private helicopter where thousands of people awaited his arrival along with press reporters. Despite there being heavy security, no members of the press were allowed to enter the stadium. The dera chief then left for his private underground residence along with his personal security force. Rapid Action Forces have been deployed in Haryana, along with a company of B.S.F. for the security of the Dera Chief at the expense of the Government.
On the other hand, Sikh Sangat numbering in the thousands gathered near Mulund railway station to cremate Shaheed Bhai Balkar Singh. His body was carried in a truck followed by a huge procession of Sikhs. The cremation ceremony was carried out around 6:30 PM and was well attended by representatives of almost all Panthic organizations.
Sikh leaders vowed to get justice for Bhai Balkar Singh's martyrdom and suggested that the Government should arrest the Dera Chief soon as he has continued to hurt Sikh sentiments. Bhai Balkar Singh was honored as a
martyr of the Panth by Sikh representatives.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has asked for a judicial probe into the Mumbai incidents. Several of the organization's officials traveled to Mumbai to show their support for the community there. While addressing the press at a conference in Mumbai, SGPC President Avtar Makkar said that a memorandum has been submitted to RP Patil, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, for ensuring strong action against Gurmeet Ram Rahim. At a meeting in Sholapur, RP Patil, who has held meetings with Sikh delegates on this matter, said that the Maharashtra Government might impose a one year ban on Gurmeet Ram Rahim from entering the State.
Avtar Makkar appreciated the hard work of RP Patil and said that the protests by the Sikh community were spontaneous as the community was upset by the shooting in Mulund. He stated that if the State and Centre
Government showed more interest in Sikh matters, all the protests could be halted.
After the martyrdom of Bhai Balkar Singh and the arrests of Sikhs after the incident, Sikh Sangat has organized several 'rail-blockage' operations in which no trains have been allowed to leave or enter railway stations. These
protests were held in Mulund and Punjab to seek the arrest of Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his bodyguard.
Hair Cut attack
5001/SADA/2008 01st July 2008
I am referring S. Karamjit Singh S/O S. Sohan Singh permanent resident of Vill & P.O.: Chhatri, Tehsil: Thunag, Distt: Mandi (H.P.).
Karamjit Singh is an Amritdhari Sikh. On 06th April 2008 he was beaten up by some Brahmins of Chhatri Village, his hair were cut, his mini sword (Kirpan) which he was wearing was thrown into the toilet pipe, his turban and hair were burnt, his wife was insulted. FIR No 82/08 dated 19 Apr 08 under Section 147,325, 295 IPC to this effect was lodged in Police Station Gohar. But no arrest has been made so far.
S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab says that he has formed the alliance with BJP to protect the Sikhs. But it is unfortunate; sacrilege has taken place, when you are the Chief Minister. Sikhs in India and all over the world are very perturbed over this incident in Himachal Pardesh, where everybody knows the tenants of the Sikh faith.
The police and local population is putting pressure to withdraw the case. This is totally unbecoming of the police force, which is ment to be a fair, impartial, and constitutional (secularism) in the hallmark of Indian Constitution. S. Karamjit Singh along with his family wants to flee Himachal Pardesh. But I have assured him that his religion and security would be ensured and protected by the Chief Minister.
I will be highly grateful, if you could personally look into the case and provide justice to S. Karamjit Singh.
Sardar Kulwant Singh and Sardar Harchand Singh from our party will meet you.
With regards,
Sh Prem Kumar Dhumal,
Hon'ble Chief Ministerr
State of Himachal Pardesh
Shimla
Child Prostitution
Child prostitutes sell themselves on Craigslis
SACRAMENTO, California (CNN) -- For more than two years, undercover cops on the Sacramento Police Department's vice squad have been working one of the most draining beats: trying to crack down on online child prostitution.
Sacramento police have nabbed nearly 70 underage girls for child prostitution since 2005.
Police have nabbed nearly 70 girls under the age of 18 since 2005. Most of the girls were released to foster or group homes. Those are just the official figures; investigators think there are many more child prostitutes out there.
It is no easy task.
"We're asking these girls to do a big thing ... which is to stop what they're doing," said Sgt. Pam Seyffert of the Sacramento Police Department. "Stop what's working for them. Surviving is basically what they're doing."
Sacramento police are working with the FBI as part of a nationwide campaign to combat underage prostitution called Innocence Lost. The goal of the program, which is now in almost 30 U.S. cities, is to decriminalize the girls and concentrate on catching the pimps who control them.
"It really makes me angry," Seyffert said. "I think everybody on the team has different reactions to it, but I just flat out get really angry that some guy thinks he can take this girl and basically deprive her of her freedom."
It is not uncommon for the officers on the unit to put in 30-hour shifts. Oftentimes, their work is heart-wrenching.
Child prostitution is even tougher on the parents of these girls. Roslyn and Sergio's daughter had been missing for more than two weeks. They waited for hours at police headquarters in hopes that their daughter would be found.
Vice squad officers found her in a downtown apartment with Bruce William Carter, a 21-year-old man who police said had posed on the Internet holding fistfuls of cash. He pleaded not guilty to charges of statutory rape and was held in lieu of $35,000 bail.The couple's daughter, who had just turned 17, was detained but not arrested.
"It hurt," said Roslyn, who appeared weary and a bit shell-shocked. "Because you don't want to see your children involved in things like this. You don't realize how dangerous the Internet is. Now, we got to keep her away from the Internet."
Police say most of the ads appear on Craigslist, the popular and free Internet classifieds site, under a category named "Erotic Services." Even though Craigslist has posted a bold disclaimer warning against human trafficking and the exploitation of children, law enforcement officials said it doesn't seem to deter girls from posting the ads or men who are searching for sex.
But why would a girl sell her body online?
To help answer that question, Sacramento police made arrangements for CNN to interview a 14-year-old girl who said she'd started selling herself as a prostitute at the age of 11.
"I wanted to feel loved. ... I wanted to feel important," said the teen, who wanted to be identified only as Monique.
She said she used Craigslist because it was free and she could post dozens of ads a day. Even though she understood the seriousness of what she was doing, she said she didn't care.
"You could put stuff in your ad like 'wet and wild,' 'fun and sassy,' things like that to catch their attention, to make them want you," she said.
Craigslist executives said they abhor the fact that their site is being used for child prostitution but believe that the problem could be harder to track if they removed the category.
"It would be a bigger problem if we removed that category and had those ads spread throughout the site," said Jim Buckmaster, chief executive officer of Craigslist.
Both legal experts and police say Craigslist bears no legal responsibility. Undercover officers said the fact that the listings can be traced helps them pinpoint the girls and sometimes leads them to pimps.
For her part, Roslyn has a strong message for the man arrested in connection with her daughter's detention.
"I want him to stay away from my daughter," she said. "I'm going to put a restraining order on him. Every time he goes near my daughter, I'm going to call the police and have him put in jail."
Even though they have more work than they can handle, vice officers hold out hope that they can save more girls from a life of prostitution.
Dera Report
Dera Sirsa and Hindutava
The DSS is based in the town of Sirsa, in Haryana, India, which borders the Indian state of Punjab. The organization propogate facists hindu ideals under a image of a co called (sikh) leader gurmeet ram. Its a hub of propogation of hindutava and traning its terrorists.who in return play the part of followers of the dera who work in ashrams in its many business, which generates wast income. This funds Gurmeet ram and his playboy life style,even his mode of transportation, which is "a fleet of high range cars, protected by up to 100s of private armed bodyguards."nothing less then a head of state.
DSS printed an advertisement featuring Gurmeet ram. This advertisement, coupled with other activities of DSS, demonstrate a deliberate and extremely offensive attempt to copy Sikhi. Specifically, it attempts to copy the creation of "Khalsa," the orthodox manner of Sikhi instituted by the tenth and final Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. It does this in several ways.
Gurmeet Singh appears dressed in the style of Guru Gobind and seated in "Bir Asaan," the style of seating used by Guru Gobind during the creation of Khalsa. This seating style is still used during Amrit Sanskar, the ceremony in which a Sikh is initiated into Khalsa.Gurmeet ram is portrayed distributing Jaam-e-Insaan, an attempted copy of the Amrit (or nectar) used in Amrit Sanskar. Amrit Sanskar is a vital ceremony in Sikhi. This is when a Sikh is publicly baptized into pure Sikhi and takes the surname "Singh" (or "lion") to denote equality with others in the community. This distribution of Jaam-e-Insaan is also a copy of Khande di Pahul, where nectar is prepared. According to Sikhi, since Guru Gobind only "Panj Pyaras" have the authority to prepare Amrit, which they must do in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy book)while following a prescribed method.
Third, Gurmeet Singh includes a list of "Rules for Humanity" in his advertisement. This is an undeniable attempt to copy the "Rahatnamas" (or "Codes of Conduct") of Sikhi which were instituted by Guru Gobind. While Gurmeet Singh's list of rules are all very similar to those in Sikhi, what is most offensive is his attempt to copy Guru Gobind by issuing such a list.
Fourth, Gurmeet Singh ordered his followers to adopt the name "Insaan" (or "human"), in a copy of Guru Gobind's admonition to adopt the name "Singh" (or "Kaur" for women) after Amrit Sanskar. Thus Gurmeet Singh has attempted to copy the unique creation of Khalsa by creating Insaan.
DSS has also attempted to copy and offend Sikhs and even other religious groups in several other ways . Just as Guru Gobind taught the importance of "Panj" (or "five"), so Gurmeet Singh has copied this concept by using "Sat" (or "Seven"). Dr. Adyita Insaan, the spokesman of DSS, has equated Gurmeet Singh to Sikh Gurus Gobind Singh and Har Krishan, as well as to Ramachandra, a Hindu god. Additionally, DSS deceptively uses the symbols of the four main religions in India to attract followers: the Sikh Ek Onkar, the Muslim Star and Crescent, the Hindu Om, and the Christian Cross.
In summary, DSS has created an amalgam religion which primarily attempts to copy Sikhi and is offensive to Sikhs and those of many other religions. Under Indian law, this deliberate offense is illegal. Indian Penal Code 295a reads: "Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of [citizens of India], [by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to [three years], or with fine, or with both.]"
In a December, 2002 letter to then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a female member of DSS accused Gurmeet Singh of sexually exploiting his "Sadhvis," or female followers. The anonymous author of the letter, whose family urged her to become a "Sadhvi," says:
"Two years after I became a 'Sadhvi', a special woman-disciple of Maharaj Gurmit Singh came to me one night at 10 o'clock and said that the Maharaj had summoned me to his room. I felt elated that Maharaj himself sent for me. I was going to him for the first time. After climbing the stairs, when I went into his room, I saw that he was holding a remote in his hand and was watching a blue [pornographic] film on the TV. Beside his pillow on the bed, lay a revolver.... He offered me water and said that he had called me because he considered me very close to him. This was my first experience. Maharaj took me in his embrace and said that he loved me from the core of his heart. He also said that he wanted to make love with me. He told me that at the time of becoming his disciple, I had dedicated my wealth, body and soul to him and he had accepted my offering. When I objected he said, 'There is no doubt that I am God.'"
Gurmeet Singh then blackmailed the "Sadhvi" into having sex with him by threatening to kill her and her family. She claims that many other Sadhvis are regularly raped by Gurmeet Singh, saying that her time comes "every 25-30 days." She says other Sadhvis who have tried to reveal their sexual exploitation have been threatened, beaten, and even maimed. This letter inspired an investigation of the DSS by India's central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On October 24, 2003 two men riding a motorcycle and claiming to be from DSS shot journalist Ram Chandra Chatrapati four times at point-blank range. Chatrapati was the editor of "Poora Sach" and had been investigating the recent charges of sexual exploitation by Gurmeet Singh. He died of his injuries a month later. Two men arrested on suspicion of Chatrapati's murder said they were DSS followers and had been sent on orders from Kishan Li, a senior DSS official, to kill Chatrapati because of his investigations.
Sirsa District Deputy Commissioner D. Suresh says his office has also received multiple complaints about the Sirsa-based DSS allegedly being involved in the theft of land, drug distribution, and tax evasion.
After the mid-May 2007 publication of the offensive DSS advertisement, many Sikhs in Punjab protested Gurmeet Singh's attempted copy of Guru Gobind. DSS followers retaliated, assaulting many Sikhs and injuring many of the police trying to calm the situation. Over 100 people were injured by DSS followers, many of them police. They also attacked fire personnel, set a police jeep on fire, and attacked a deputy commissioner's residence. Worst of all,
- Kamaljit Singh, a Sikh, was killed on May 17th by a bullet fired from inside a Sunam, Punjab DSS compound.
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On 20th june Friday, Guemeet Ram, who is accused of multiple murders and rapes, was visiting a shopping mall in this north-eastern suburb of Bombay when several Sikh youths protested his presence. In response,gurmeet ram and his bodyguards fired many rounds of ammunition from their assault rifles into the crowd of Sikhs, resulting in the death of Bhai Balkar Singh and injuring dozens of others.
