Punjab: 9th Guru's martyrdom: DSGMC calls for joint commemoration with SGPC
In a letter addressed to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka said the commemoration functions should be held jointly, reflecting the spirit of Panthic unity and honouring Guru Teg Bahadur's supreme sacrifice.
'Guru Teg Bahadur was martyred in Delhi for protection and religious freedom of Hindu religion. There are reports of separate events being planned by the DSGMC and the SGPC. Such a fragmented approach is not befitting the legacy of Guru Sahib,' Kalka stated in his letter.
He reminded the SGPC of the past collective efforts that united the Sikh community — the 300th anniversary of Khalsa Foundation Day at Takht Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) in 1999, the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev, the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in 2019 at Sultanpur Lodhi and the tercentenary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib at Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded, in 2008.
Kalka also requested that the commemoration include remembrance of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dyala Ji, who were martyred alongside Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Vivek Agnihotri alleges multiple FIRs against him by WB ruling party members to hamper release of The Bengal Files
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri took to his social media on Tuesday to make serious allegations against members of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress party. He claimed that multiple FIRs have been filed against him in different cities to hamper the release of The Bengal Files, which is slated to hit theatres on 5 September. Here's what he said. Vivek Agnihotri took to social media to claim that certain entities are trying to stop him from focusing on The Bengal Files. Vivek Agnihotri alleges multiple FIRs filed on him Vivek began his video by stating that he is sharing his message from the US, where he is promoting The Bengal Files. He then claimed that despite a stay granted by the Calcutta High Court, FIRs continue to be piled on him. 'I am in the USA promoting The Bengal Files. I must tell you, it's one of the most defining, one of the most important films on Hindu genocide. It uncovers so many dark chapters of our history, which some vested interests had covered up for a very long time. But while I am here, the ruling party of West Bengal and their members have been filing so many FIRs against us in different cities, in different cities and thanas,' said the filmmaker. He also claimed that while he initially chose to stay silent and pursue this only legally, an attempt was being made to derail the film's publicity. 'I have great faith in the Indian judiciary, especially the Calcutta High Court, and I have some good news to give you. The Calcutta High Court has given a stay on all these FIRs. But as the case was being heard in the High Court, at the same time, they filed more FIRs. I think this is their strategy. The ruling party wants to trap us with so many legal hassles, so many legal battles, so that we cannot focus on the promotion of the film,' said Vivek. Questions motive behind the FIRs Vivek also questioned if the FIRs were being filed to 'stifle dissent or hide inconvenient truths. 'This strategy has been deployed by them for a very, very long time. Are they against me? Are they against the film? Or are they against the truth?" he asked. He also alleged that they were denied permission to shoot The Bengal Files in West Bengal and had to shoot it in Mumbai. 'Now, with our limited resources, we want this film to reach every citizen of India, especially the young people,' he said. Vivek also speculated that the FIRs might have been filed on him because the ruling party fears the film's 'influence'. He ended by saying that he will release the film's trailer in West Bengal and that nobody could silence him. While sharing the video, Vivek captioned it: 'Important & Urgent: Multiple FIRs have been filed against me by the West Bengal govt for making #TheBengalFiles. The Hon'ble High Court has stayed them. Why do they want to silence us? Why are they so scared of the truth? I will not be silenced.' The Bengal Files is written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi. It features Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar and forms part of Agnihotri's Files trilogy, which includes The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files.
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
Assam to drop foreigners tribunal cases against non-Muslims who entered state before 2015, cites CAA
The Assam Government has asked district authorities and members of the foreigners tribunals to drop cases against members of six communities – Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi – who entered the state on or before December 31, 2014, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act. The state's home and political department held a meeting on July 17 and had discussed 'issues related to Foreigners Tribunal with reference to Citizenship Amendment Act' and the 'dropping off cases'. The meeting was held following a directive from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Citizenship Amendment Act is aimed to provide a fast track to citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities, except Muslims, from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the condition that they have lived in India for six years and have entered the country by December 31, 2014. It was passed by Parliament in December 2019. The Union government notified the rules under the Act in March 2024. The foreigners tribunals in Assam are quasi-judicial bodies that adjudicate on matters of citizenship based on lineage and a 1971 cut-off date. They rely primarily on documents submitted by persons to establish their family's residency in Assam or India before 1971. The tribunals have been accused of arbitrariness and bias, and declaring people foreigners on the basis of minor spelling mistakes, a lack of documents or lapses in memory. Of the 1.6 lakh persons declared foreigners so far, more than 69,500 are Hindus. The department, under which the border police and the foreigners tribunals function, directed district commissioners, police chiefs and members of the tribunals to submit an action taken report in the matter. 'As per the amendments made to the Citizenship Act, the FTs are not supposed to pursue cases of foreigners belonging to the six specified communities (Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi and Jain communities) who had entered into Assam on or prior to 31.12.2014,' showed the minutes of the meeting signed by Ajay Tiwari, the additional chief secretary, home and political department. Scroll has seen the document. 'It was suggested to drop all such cases,' the minutes added. It added: 'In this regard, the district commissioner and the senior SPs [superintendent of police] should immediately convene a meeting with their respective FT members and also review the developments periodically and submit the action taken report to this department.' The notification sent to district authorities said that 'foreigners should be encouraged and supported' for applying for Indian citizenship as per provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act. It also noted that the Assam government had issued 'clear cut' instructions for withdrawal of all cases filed against persons belonging to the Gorkha and Koch-Rajbongshi communities. 'This should be complied with forthwith,' the government said. In July 2024, the Assam government had asked the state's border police not to forward cases of non-Muslims who had entered India illegally before 2014 to foreigners tribunals. The border police, which investigates citizenship cases, was told by the Assam home department at the time that the undocumented immigrants from the six communities should 'be advised' instead to apply for citizenship on the Citizenship Amendment Act portal, and that their cases would be decided by the Union government. Sarma had said at the time that existing cases would not be dropped. Critics contend that the Citizenship Amendment Act undermines the 1985 Assam Accord between the Union government and the leaders of the Assam Movement, which was launched in 1979 to identify and deport undocumented immigrants. The accord stipulates that anyone who entered Assam after the midnight of March 24, 1971, be identified and deported. Assamese nationalist view 'illegal migrants', irrespective of their religion, as a threat to the state's culture and resources. The Citizenship Amendment Act had sparked massive protests in Assam and several other parts of the country in 2019 and 2020. However, the amended law was welcomed by Assam's Bengali Hindus. In August 2019, Assam published a National Register of Citizens with the aim of separating Indian citizens from undocumented immigrants living in the state. More than 19 lakh persons, or 5.7% of the applicants, were left out of the final list. In March 2024, Sarma said five lakh Bengali Hindus, two lakh Assamese Hindu groups Koch-Rajbongshi, Das, Kalita and Sarma (Assamese), and 1.5 lakh Gorkhas had been left out of the National Register of Citizens. The chief minister had also said that seven lakh Muslims are among the 19 lakh persons excluded from the register. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had claimed that Hindus excluded from the register in Assam would be able to gain citizenship under the amended law. There have been fears that Muslims would be the only ones who stand to lose their citizenship in such an exercise.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Bangladesh's soil will never be used against India, says Dhaka's new envoy in Delhi
The remarks come amid growing concerns about reports of the growth of Islamist groups in Bangladesh well as Dhaka's growing diplomatic engagement with China and Pakistan. 'Bangladeshi soil will never be used against Indian interests by anyone,' Hamidullah told ThePrint. New Delhi: Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, has reassured India that Bangladeshi territory will not serve as a base for anti-India activity, dismissing any concerns about Pakistani or Chinese influence. In an interaction with ThePrint, Hamidullah described India-Bangladesh ties as a decades-old relationship founded on mutual trust, shared economic interests and deep cultural connections. The diplomat also charted out a vision for the bilateral relationship that emphasised continuity, cultural kinship and long-term strategic convergence. 'India and Bangladesh have an opportunity to collaborate on learning and skill-building, not just to strengthen ties, but to create lasting value for both societies. The real challenge is this: can we shape our economic interests in a way that de-securitises the relationship?' Also Read: By reviving Hasina-era mango diplomacy with India, Yunus govt signals 'business as usual' India-Bangladesh relations Hamidullah expressed concern over the erosion of people-to-people ties, particularly after India suspended medical visas and other cross-border exchanges. 'People were hurt. The cultural affinity with India is real, but you can't neglect it and expect it to endure.' He offered the example of DPS Dhaka, an Indian school operating seamlessly in Bangladesh for over 20 years. 'Students there don't care if it's an Indian school or if the teachers are Hindu. Bring 10 more like it, and people will welcome them. That's who we are.' Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, Bangladesh's Hindu minority—seen as aligned with her secular Awami League—came under increasing threat. The perception that India supported Hasina's rule has fuelled anti-India sentiment, placing Hindus in a vulnerable position. With restrictions lifted on opposition groups like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, violence has surged. In 2024, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported over 2,000 incidents of communal violence between 4 and 20 August 4, including nine Hindu deaths and dozens of attacks on temples. However, investigations by independent media later suggested that the killings were politically or personally motivated, rather than driven by religious hatred. Rather than force a 'grand design' on bilateral ties, Hamidullah suggested a slower, more organic approach. 'Borders won't soften overnight. Let things settle, like sediment after a tide. It's not an obstacle but a fertile layer. That is when it flourishes. That's how relationships grow, organically.' On isolated instances of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, he cautioned against sweeping generalisations. 'There are over 30,000 puja mandaps across the country. Communities live in harmony. A few cases of vandalism don't define our society.' He said that narratives of the rise of Islamism in Bangladesh are selective, emphasising that the country has always been driven more by cultural identities rather than religious identities. On 5 August, Bangladesh's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abruptly fled Dhaka aboard a military aircraft to India, ending her 15-year tenure amid a mass uprising against her increasingly authoritarian regime. The interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, was put in place to stabilise the country, implement reforms, and pave the way for free elections in 2026. Pakistan, China and regional blocs Hamidullah rejected the notion that Bangladesh's dealings with Pakistan or China reflect an ideological shift. In April, Pakistan's foreign secretary, Amna Baloch, visited Dhaka, marking the first high-level diplomatic contact between the two countries in 15 years. A planned visit by Pakistan's foreign minister, postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions, would have been the first since 2012. Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Bangladesh has adopted a more neutral stance in regional affairs. With Hasina's close ties to India now a point of public resentment, anti-India sentiment has grown, creating diplomatic space for improved relations with Pakistan, including resumed trade, military dialogue, and eased visa restrictions. In January, a Bangladeshi military delegation held rare talks with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reportedly expressing interest in acquiring JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China. Any potential arms deal could deepen Bangladesh-Pakistan ties and open the door to a trilateral alignment with China, raising alarm in New Delhi. For India, stronger military cooperation between its western rival and eastern neighbor, coupled with China's growing regional influence, presents a serious strategic concern. However, according to the envoy, there is no reason to worry. 'Even during Hasina's time, there was defence-level interaction with Pakistan. But that's not strategic realignment. Bangladesh won't allow its territory to be used for hostile purposes by anyone.' On China, he was frank: economic necessity drives engagement, not cultural affinity. 'We are an import-dependent economy. We source from where it's competitive.' He was also optimistic about the future of SAARC, often dismissed as defunct. 'SAARC isn't dead. The Development Fund is still active, and regional projects are quietly moving forward. The institutions are working, even if the politics aren't.' Also Read: Day after India's appeal to reconsider demolition, Yunus govt denies Satyajit Ray link to Bangladesh bldg A post-Hasina Bangladesh A recurring theme in Hamidullah's remarks was Bangladesh's youth. With a median age of 25 and over two million new entrants to the labour market each year, the country's younger generation, he noted, is focused on aspiration rather than allegiance. 'This is a new demography. They care about who will serve their future.' Many of these young people look toward India for opportunities in education, healthcare and work. According to Hamidullah, this creates a powerful potential for collaborative human development if India is willing to engage meaningfully. Beyond transactional diplomacy Hamidullah noted that despite political noise, core economic ties remain uninterrupted. Bilateral trade now stands at $13 billion, and total economic interaction, including medical tourism, remittances, and informal trade, is close to $30 billion. Indian exports to Bangladesh are growing at more than 11 percent annually. He sees particular potential in agro-ecological cooperation, especially across eastern India, northeast India and Bangladesh, which share similar environmental and farming conditions. 'None of us have truly understood how much potential lies here. If we get this right, it could transform livelihoods.' He also called for greater Indian investment, but more importantly, for a socially rooted relationship that moves beyond transactional diplomacy. 'Any lasting relationship must rest on trust, mutual respect, and shared benefit. Yes, India should invest more, but more than that, we need to start talking about society. That's where the real connection lies.' 'India-Bangladesh relationship has evolved organically, rooted in shared history and cultural ties. But in recent times, it has begun to lose momentum. We cannot allow this decline to continue. Too much has been achieved between our two nations to let it slip away,' Hamidullah told ThePrint. This is an updated version of the report (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Sheikh Mujib failed miserably despite succeeding as people's leader, says author Manash Ghosh
