Pride vs Prejudice
Even after decriminalisation, queer Sikhs continue to face challenges. The cancellation of the Amritsar Pride parade underscores ongoing tensions, yet many still find strength and support in their faith and community, writes Chintan Girish Modi
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Stoking unrest ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary: Ambedkar statue defaced near Phillaur, terror group SFJ takes responsibility
Jalandhar: Two months after a Khalistan flag and graffiti reading "Sikhs are not Hindus" were placed on Dr B R Ambedkar's statue in Nangal village near Phillaur at the behest of banned terror group Sikhs For Justice (SFC), the statue at the same place was defaced with black paint, stamped with 'SFJ', and a Khalistan flag was put around it. SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released footage of the defaced statue on Monday morning, as he called for the blackening of Ambedkar's statues on June 6. He alleged that Ambedkar "weaponised the Indian Constitution, which is the backbone of the infamous Operation Bluestar". SFJ's bid to stoke communal flames comes ahead of Punjab observing the 41st anniversary of the Army operation at Golden Temple. Police cleaned the statue in the morning and started scanning CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators. Footage of a CCTV camera installed near the statue showed a man with covered face and wearing a cap spraying the black paint on the statue. Police suspect there could be more persons involved in the case. During the day, dalit activists gathered around the stage and protested against the incident. They also blocked Nakodar-Nurmahal road for some time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo On the night intervening March 30 and 31, a Khalistan flag and graffiti reading 'Sikhs are not Hindus' were placed on Ambedkar's statue at the same place at SFJ's behest. Later, Jalandhar rural police arrested two men — Sukhbir Singh and Avtar Singh from Nurpur Chatha village near Nakoda. Police also added provisions of UAPA in the case, as the accused received funds from abroad to vitiate the atmosphere in Punjab. Later, a new statue was installed at the same site. But it was defaced on Monday. Jalandhar Rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk said a case had been registered. MSID:: 121573682 413 |Bid
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Sikhs who left Indian Army over Operation Bluestar slam SGPC: ‘Never gave us our due'
Amritsar: Sikhs who deserted the Indian Army in 1984 over Operation Bluestar have accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of not giving them appropriate recognition. Samuh Sikh Dharmi Fauji June 1984 Parivar Welfare Association has announced to launch a movement on June 6 to press the SGPC to acknowledge their contributions and grant them the honour they believe is due to them. In local parlance, Sikhs who deserted the army over Bluestar are called "dharmi fauji". Association president Baldev Singh said SGPC had failed to support them. He said while SGPC claims the number of dharmi faujis is 309, the actual number is 2,875. Baldev, who was serving as a havildar in the Indian Army and was posted in Mizoram at the time, left his barracks in June 1984. He said SGPC only provided compensation of Rs 50,000 to families of dharmi faujis who served jail terms, and Rs 1 lakh to the families of those who died. Baldev said during Operation Bluestar, launched to flush out militants holed up in gurdwaras, Sikh soldiers from various states across India, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, deserted their barracks and marched toward Amritsar to protect the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, and other gurdwaras. "Approximately 4,500 Sikh soldiers left the army during this period and later came to be known as dharmi fauji (religiously motivated army deserters)," he said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Quoting his meetings with successive presidents of SGPC, he said the association had been holding a series of internal meetings to deliberate on their future course of action, which will be announced on June 6. He declined to disclose any details about the planned programme or the strategy they intend to adopt. Amritsar: Sikhs who deserted the Indian Army in 1984 over Operation Bluestar have accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of not giving them appropriate recognition. Samuh Sikh Dharmi Fauji June 1984 Parivar Welfare Association has announced to launch a movement on June 6 to press the SGPC to acknowledge their contributions and grant them the honour they believe is due to them. In local parlance, Sikhs who deserted the army over Bluestar are called "dharmi fauji". Association president Baldev Singh said SGPC had failed to support them. He said while SGPC claims the number of dharmi faujis is 309, the actual number is 2,875. Baldev, who was serving as a havildar in the Indian Army and was posted in Mizoram at the time, left his barracks in June 1984. He said SGPC only provided compensation of Rs 50,000 to families of dharmi faujis who served jail terms, and Rs 1 lakh to the families of those who died. Baldev said during Operation Bluestar, launched to flush out militants holed up in gurdwaras, Sikh soldiers from various states across India, including Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, deserted their barracks and marched toward Amritsar to protect the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, and other gurdwaras. "Approximately 4,500 Sikh soldiers left the army during this period and later came to be known as dharmi fauji (religiously motivated army deserters)," he said. Quoting his meetings with successive presidents of SGPC, he said the association had been holding a series of internal meetings to deliberate on their future course of action, which will be announced on June 6. He declined to disclose any details about the planned programme or the strategy they intend to adopt.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Tension after Ambedkar statue defaced at Nangal village in Punjab's Phillaur
Two months after a similar incident, a statue of BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, was vandalised at Nangal village of Phillaur sub division in Jalandhar district on Monday, triggering tension. CCTV cameras captured a masked man defacing the statue and efforts are on to arrest him. Banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took responsibility for the incident in a video posted on social media, claiming that the Constitution of India was 'responsible for the attack on Akal Takht (the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs) during Operation Bluestar in June 1984'. SFJ activists had vandalised another Ambedkar statue at Nangal village on March 31. The administration had installed protective glass around that statue. Amritpal Bhonsle, a local Dalit leader, said the accused was caught on camera smearing black ink on Ambedkar's face before spray-painting anti-Constitution and pro-Khalistan slogans on the boundary wall of the nearby government school. 'It is unfortunate that the such an incident has happened again in the village,' Bhonsle said, adding activists of Dalit organisations are holding a meeting to decide on the future course of action. He demanded the arrest of the accused at the earliest and strict deterrent action. A case was registered under Section 299 (hurting religious sentiments) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Phillaur police station. Senior officials of the Jalandhar rural police were at the spot. 'We are gathering CCTV footage from nearby areas to trace the route the accused took. He will be arrested soon,' a senior police official said. On April 4, two SFJ activists, Sukhbir Singh and Avtar Singh, both residents of Nurpur Chatha village in Jalandhar district, were arrested for defacing the statue on March 31. The police had booked Pannun also in the case. Monday's incident comes four months after a statue of Ambedkar, who led the Dalit rights movement, was vandalised on Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar on January 26, triggering tension in the border state. In Punjab, Dalits constitute 32% of the total population, a figure roughly double the national average of 16.6%. The Doaba region, including Jalandhar district, has a sizeable Dalit population and the move by the separatist outfit is seen as a mischievous bid to spark off social and communal tension in the state. After the Republic Day incident when a youngster climbed atop the statue in Amritsar and tried to vandalise it, the authorities decided that all Ambedkar statues would be secured with toughened glass to prevent any damage to them.
