Sikhs

Trade talks with UK still on, reports of pause 'baseless': MEA official

In a bid to bring negotiations back on track, the UK Home Office is planning to make an announcement in the coming weeks and a crackdown on Sikh extremists

Khalsa is a uniting and not a dividing force, says Ambassador Sandhu

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that Khalsa is a uniting and not a dividing force, days after instances of violence at the Indian missions by a small group of pro-Khalistan supporters. Sandhu, who comes from an illustrious Sikh family, made the remarks on Saturday at an event where he was presented with the prestigious Sikh Hero Award from Sikhs of America along with several other eminent Sikh Americans. Khalsa, which was created on the Baisakhi day, by Guru Gobind Singh is a uniting and not a dividing force, Sandhu said in his keynote address at the event, which was attended by eminent Sikh Americans from across the country. The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. The important concepts and fundamentals in the Sikh religion and history include universality, unity, equality, honest living, seva, meditation, peace of mind, and harmony between people, he said. The Khalsa flag -- which flies at the Akal T

Pakistan issues 2,856 visas to Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi from April 9-18

During the visit, the pilgrims would go to Dera Sahib, Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib. They would enter Pakistan on April 9 and return to India on April 18

IRCTC starts Bharat Gaurav Yatra train promoting Indian culture, heritage

IRCTC aims to promote the culture and heritage of the country with its Bharat Gaurav Yatra train covering the famous Sikh shrines of India

Neither Sikhs in India nor Indian diaspora advocate for Khalistan: IWF

"At the same time, United Nations Security Council is requested to impose sanctions on such individuals who are a threat to global peace and ban their organisations," IWF chief added

Hindus among healthiest, Sikhs most likely to own homes: UK census data

Hindus living in the UK are among the healthiest and well qualified religious groups and Sikhs are most likely to own their homes, according to latest census data for England and Wales. The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been analysing census statistics to release information across various subcategories for the country's population based on the responses of the online census conducted in March 2021. In its latest release entitled Religion by housing, health, employment and education' this week, the ONS finds that life outcomes for religious groups varied considerably. In 2021, those who identified as Hindu' had the highest percentage of their population reporting either very good' or good' health (87.8 per cent), compared with 82.0 per cent of the overall population, the ONS finds, adding that the Hindus also reported the lowest prevalence of disability. People who identified as Hindu' had the highest percentage with a Level 4 or above' [certificate-level] ...

Why the Sikhs are hurting

The causes of anger are broadly four: Existential threat, incarceration of Bandi Singhs, those accused of sacrilege not being caught, and a rhetorical one, what's wrong with a Sikh Rashtra?

PM Modi has done a lot for Sikhs and Sikhism: Former pro-Khalistan leader

The founder of Dal Khalsa and former pro-Khalistan leader Jaswant Singh Thekedar has lauded the work undertaken and accomplished by PM Modi for the country's Sikh community

State scan: Punjab may be seeing a resurgence in extremist Sikh politics

Politicians warn that admiring the problem instead of taking steps to solve it could worsen the situation

In Punjab, a political vacuum and remote control bring back the K-word

An armed mob overran a big police station near the border, a suspect was freed, and then the State said 'sorry'. You have to be nuts to think there will be no consequences

US State Senate unanimously passes resolution honouring Sikh community

The resolution was moved by Representative Angela Romero and Senator Luz Escamilla from Salt Lake City

PM pays tributes to Guru Gobind Singh's martyred sons on 'Veer Baal Diwas'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, Guru Gobind Singh's sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith. Their martyrdom day is observed as 'Veer Baal Diwas'. Modi tweeted, "On Veer Baal Diwas, we recall the courage of the Sahibzades and Mata Gujri Ji. We also remember the courage of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji." On the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary on January 9 this year, the prime minister had announced that December 26 will be observed as 'Veer Bal Diwas'.

Delhi HC dismisses plea against Sikhs carrying 'kirpans' on flights

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea opposing the permission given to Sikhs to carry kirpans while travelling on civilian flights in India

Sikh woman killed in 'targeted' shooting outside gas station in Canada

A 21-year-old Sikh woman was shot dead in Canada in a shooting incident outside a gas station in Mississauga

PM Narendra Modi greets people on Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev. "May his noble teachings continue to guide us in our endeavour of building a just and compassionate society," Modi said. The prime minister had on Monday addressed a function to celebrate the Sikh guru's 553rd birth anniversary. He said that inspired by the Guru's thoughts, the country was moving ahead with the spirit of welfare of 130 crore Indians.

Statue honouring Sikh soldiers unveiled in UK's Leicester city: Report

A statue of a Sikh soldier was unveiled on Sunday in the UK's Leicester city to honour Sikhs who fought for Britain in conflicts around the world. The bronze figure on a granite plinth went on display in Victoria Park on Sunday, the BBC reported. The Sikh Troops War Memorial Committee said it would complement the existing war memorials already there. Sikhs made up more than 20 per cent of the British Indian Army at the outbreak of World War I, the report added. The statue was created by artist Taranjit Singh and paid for with council funding and donations from Sikh congregations. "We are so proud to be unveiling this memorial to honour the sacrifice of all those brave men who travelled thousands of miles to fight for a country that wasn't their own," Ajmer Singh Basra, president of the committee, was quoted as saying by the report. He said the statue would serve as a reminder to Sikhs who have made Leicester their home, the report added. Piara Singh Clair, from Leicester City Co

Sikh bodies hold protest march in Phagwara over desecration, demands arrest

Activists of some Sikh bodies held a protest march here on Saturday demanding the arrest of those behind the desecration of Sikh religious book 'Gutka Sahib' in August. They also demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be constituted to probe the case. Pages of 'Gutka Sahib' were found scattered under a tree near the old civil hospital building here on August 31. Police had registered a case under relevant sections, including 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against unidentified people in the matter. The protesters took out a march from the Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Sabzi Mandi to the site near the old civil hospital building where the pages were found. Later, they submitted a memorandum to Phagwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukhtiar Rai demanding that an SIT be constituted to probe the case. The memorandum was addressed to the director

SC upholds constitutional validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014 under which a separate committee was formed to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in the state. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Vikram Nath dismissed the plea filed by a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee seeking quashing of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Act. The top court's judgement came on a 2014 plea filed by Harbhajan Singh, a resident of Haryana, who contended that Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 says the power to make law in respect of the SGPC as an inter-state body corporate has been reserved with the Central Government only and there is no provision in law for any bifurcation by enacting a State legislation. The petition had said the hasty enactment is not only against the constitutional provisions and the statutory provisions of Punjab Reorganisation Act but is also divisive in its intention to create dissension amongst ...

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee demands release of Sikh prisoners

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on Saturday staged a protest, demanding release of Sikh prisoners who have completed their terms

Sikh should learn use of modern weapon: Akal Takht's Giani Harpreet Singh

Expressing concern over rise in Christianity and drug abuse in Punjab, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said every Sikh should learn the use of modern weapon