Latest news with #GurdwaraSriGuruSinghSabha
News18
08-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Khalistan A Religious Term': Decoding UK Body's Nod To Separatist Signage At Gurdwara
The panel said the Khalistan boards did not promote material calling for a political state. Intelligence sources say the ruling overlooks global precedents on political extremism The UK charity regulator's clean chit to the display of 'Khalistan' boards at a prominent gurdwara in southeast England is being seen as biased and inconsistent, said intelligence sources. Disregarding security intelligence from India concerning Khalistani radicalisation, the Charity Commission on Thursday said that while its wider probe into Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough remains ongoing, the specific issue of the Khalistan signage does not amount to a breach of its political campaigning guidelines. Based on a 2019 complaint and as as part of governance concerns, the independent watchdog was asked to review the 'complex and sensitive" issue of Khalistan banners or plaques being displayed at the gurdwara. Five years after the issue was flagged, the UK's commission has decided that the boards can stay, noting that the word 'Khalistan" has an important religious meaning, while it is a political term for some. The panel concluded that the charity was acting within its religious objectives, as the Khalistan boards did not promote material calling for a political state. Sources said the ruling overlooks global precedents on political extremism. How have other countries handled such cases? Europe and the USA have firmly handled similar or less significant cases of Islamist or pro-Palestinian activism. In Berlin and other cities, police prohibited multiple pro-Palestinian marches in 2023, citing fears of inciting violence. The French Interior Ministry suspended all pro-Palestinian protests nationwide in October 2023, citing public order concerns Nearly 100 activists were arrested in 2024 for targeting companies linked to Israel, including 55 in London alone. Police in Amsterdam arrested over 210 protesters from a pro-Palestinian university occupation, citing property damage and public safety. Around 17 pro-Palestinian students were arrested for occupying administrative offices. At the University of Texas at Austin, 79 protesters were arrested for a sit-in demanding a Gaza ceasefire. Spanish authorities blocked pro-Palestinian demonstrations in sensitive areas, citing risks of extremist infiltration. Belgian police disrupted Islamist-linked rallies based on intelligence inputs during festival times Italian municipalities restricted public Islamic gatherings due to foreign funding concerns Canadian police charged individuals for waving ISIS flags or displaying extremist Islamist symbols in public rallies but ignored Khalistanis. The German government ordered a raid and shutdown of the Islamic Centre in Hamburg known as the Blue Mosque in February 2025, accusing it of promoting Iranian-influenced Islamism A town council in Spain passed an ordinance in August 2025 banning Muslim rituals like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha from public facilities, allowing celebrations only when organized by local authorities Germany banned Arabic slogans at pro-Palestinian protests in February 2025. With Agency Inputs About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
08-08-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why UK has allowed gurdwara to keep ‘Khalistan' boards
A watchdog for the United Kingdom's charity sector has allowed a gurdwara to keep boards featuring the word 'Khalistan'. The Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough was found not to violate the regulator's political guidance for charities operating in the country. Here's what happened read more A gurdwara in the UK has been allowed to display 'Khalistan' boards. Image Courtesy: A gurdwara in the United Kingdom (UK) has been allowed to keep boards featuring the word 'Khalistan'. The watchdog for the UK's charity sector ruled that it had found in its investigation into Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough that the 'Khalistan boards' did not violate the political guidance for charities operating in the country. The case arose in 2019 when an Indian journalist came across a 'Khalistan board' in the premises of the place of worship. However, the committee of the gurdwara reportedly defended the use of these plaques as 'religious' rather than political. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's what happened. The row over 'Khalistan boards' in UK gurdwara In 2019, an Indian journalist visiting the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, in the Berkshire county of southeast England, found a large ' Khalistan board' inside the premises. She filed a complaint with the Charity Commission, which regulates the UK's charities. Gurdwaras are registered as charities in the UK as they are for public benefit. The British Charity Commission's guidance does not allow advocating political party or state. The 'complex and sensitive matter' of displaying Khalistan banners or plaques at the gurdwara was raised with the independent watchdog for review. Last December, the commission told the trustees of the gurdwara to take down the plaques by March 10, 2025. However, they were never removed, reported Times of India (TOI). The Gurdwara's management tried to portray the Charity Commission's ultimatum as 'bullying' and 'interference in Panthic affairs,' reported Khalsa Vox. The ultimatum led to a meeting among several Sikh organisations and three Sikh MPs — Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill and Jas Athwal — with top officials at the commission to resolve the issue. UK commission allows 'Khalistan boards' at UK gurdwara Five years after the issue was flagged, the UK's commission has decided that the boards can stay, noting that the word 'Khalistan' has an important religious meaning, while it is a political term for some. The panel concluded that the charity was acting within its religious objectives, as the Khalistan boards did not promote material calling for a political state. 'After a number of governance concerns were raised with us about Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, we opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these and engage with the trustees,' a Charity Commission spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'As part of this case, a complex and sensitive matter was raised regarding the display of 'Khalistan boards'. Following substantial review of evidence and consultation with a number of sector representatives and stakeholders, we have determined the display of the boards in itself not to be in breach of our campaigning and political guidance for charities,' the spokesperson added. As per TOI, Dabinderjit Singh, lead executive for political engagement at the Sikh Federation UK, said he told the commission 'the word 'Khalistan' on its own means 'land of the pure'. That is different to 'Khalistan Zindabad'.' 'They have reached a decision about the Slough one so our interpretation is any gurdwara can display this word,' he added. Speaking to the Indian newspaper, staff at the Slough gurdwara said that the two Khalistan boards have been there for nearly 50 years. Gurdwaras in Birmingham, Derby, Leicester and London also display the word. The development comes amid India's concerns about rising activities of Khalistan supporters in the UK. Last month, during his London visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his British counterpart Keir Starmer to take action against 'extremist ideology' that 'misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
News18
08-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Khalistan Boards' At UK Gurdwara Not A Breach Of Political Guidance: Charity Watchdog
Last Updated: A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules. The watchdog for the charity sector in the United Kingdom on Thursday said that its ongoing investigation into the UK gurudwara governance had determined that displaying 'Khalistan boards" did not breach the political guidance for charities functioning in the country. A few years ago, the Charity Commission began checking Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough, Berkshire, south-east England, for compliance with its rules. As part of governance concerns, the independent watchdog was asked to review the 'complex and sensitive" issue of Khalistan banners or plaques being displayed at the gurdwara. 'After a number of governance concerns were raised with us about Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, we opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these and engage with the trustees," a Charity Commission spokesperson said, news agency PTI reported. 'As part of this case, a complex and sensitive matter was raised regarding the display of 'Khalistan boards'. Following substantial review of evidence and consultation with a number of sector representatives and stakeholders, we have determined the display of the boards in itself not to be in breach of our campaigning and political guidance for charities," the spokesperson added. The commission said that while its case is 'still ongoing," in December 2024 it gave the charity a 'Regulatory Action Plan" requiring the trustees to take certain steps to improve how the charity is run and managed. 'As part of our monitoring work, we have now removed several actions due to sufficient progress being made on these," the spokesperson said. Officials said it was decided that 'Khalistan" has both a religious meaning and, for some, a political meaning. Since the gurdwara's banners did not promote separatism or call for a political state, it was concluded that the charity was acting within its religious purpose. (With PTI inputs) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
07-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
No breach in 'Khalistan boards' at Gurdwara, says UK charity watchdog
A prominent gurdwara in southeast England has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the UK's charity regulator over the display of 'Khalistan boards,' with the watchdog saying they do not violate political activity rules for Charity Commission on Thursday said that while its wider probe into Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Slough remains ongoing, the specific issue of the Khalistan signage does not amount to a breach of its political campaigning commission launched a regulatory compliance case into the gurdwara a few years ago following multiple governance concerns, one of which was the display of banners linked to Khalistan -- a term that carries both religious and political connotations. 'After a number of governance concerns were raised with us about Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough, we opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these and engage with the trustees,' a Charity Commission spokesperson said.'As part of this case, a complex and sensitive matter was raised regarding the display of 'Khalistan boards'. Following substantial review of evidence and consultation with a number of sector representatives and stakeholders, we have determined the display of the boards in itself not to be in breach of our campaigning and political guidance for charities,' the spokesperson charity law allows political expression or campaigning by registered charities, but only in the context of furthering their charitable purpose. In this case, officials found the banners had no separatist messaging and instead were consistent with the gurdwara's religious sources noted that 'Khalistan' could refer both to a religious aspiration and, to some, a political goal. Since the boards displayed at the gurdwara did not advocate for the creation of a political state, the charity's actions were found to be within the the compliance case into the gurdwara's wider operations is still active, the Charity Commission said it issued a Regulatory Action Plan in December 2024 to address broader governance issues. Several requirements from that plan have since been marked complete due to sufficient progress.A compliance case allows the commission to review charities facing complex concerns without opening a statutory enquiry.- EndsWith inputs from agencies
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sikh candidate stopped from entering CET centre wearing kada let in after intervention
Hisar: An Amritdhari Sikh candidate was reportedly stopped briefly by security personnel at the entrance of a CET centre in Sector 16-17 here because of his 'kada', one of the five articles of faith (Panj Kakars) worn by initiated Sikhs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Though Milanveer Singh was allowed to carry his 'kirpan', he was initially barred from entering the centre wearing the 'kada'. He then contacted Sardar Sukhsagar Singh, former head of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and a former member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. On receiving the call, Sukhsagar promptly arrived at the exam centre and informed the police officers that Amritdhari Sikh candidates are legally allowed to appear in exams with all five religious articles, including the kada, according to govt guidelines. Despite this, the security personnel remained adamant and refused him entry. To escalate the matter, Sukhsagar dialled emergency helpline 112. When additional police arrived, he asserted that preventing the Sikh youth from wearing the 'kada' was a violation of constitutional rights and religious freedom. He also attempted to contact the SHO of Civil Lines police station, but his call reportedly went unanswered. The police then consulted a senior officer on the phone and allowed him to speak with Sukhsagar. However, the officer also denied permission to wear the 'kada' during the exam. In protest, Sukhsagar began preparing to stage a sit-in outside the exam centre. Following further consultation with senior officers, the police finally allowed the youth, Milanveer, to appear for the exam wearing both his 'kada' and 'kirpan'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to the media, Sukhsagar emphasised that initiated Sikhs have a constitutional right to wear their five symbols, just as married Hindu women have the right to wear a mangalsutra during exams. He criticised the police personnel for their lack of awareness and failure to follow official protocols, which caused unnecessary stress to the student and potentially affected his exam performance. Photo caption: The head of Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Sukhsagar Singh, speaks with police personnel at the exam centre
