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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SGPC moves high court on instructions for Sikh articles of faith in public places
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and a woman lawyer have approached the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking directions for circulation of instructions to permit the wearing of 'karas' and 'kirpans' by members of the Sikh community at all public places. One of the petitioners, Amanjot Kaur, a baptised Sikh, was allegedly denied entry to a Rajasthan Judicial Services examination centre in June last year for refusing to remove her 'kirpan'. Recently, Gurpreet Kaur of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran had alleged that she was stopped from entering the examination centre as a candidate for the Rajasthan Judicial Services at Poornima University, Jaipur, on the plea that she was wearing her sacred articles of faith – 'kada' and 'kirpan'. Highlighting multiple instances where Sikhs were denied access for carrying 'kirpans' or 'karas', the SGPC and Amanjot Kaur, in their petition, have urged the high court to issue directions to the central govt, states of Punjab and Haryana, and UT Chandigarh to frame and implement uniform regulatory guidelines. According to the plea, which is yet to come up for hearing, such guidelines would help prevent further violations and bring clarity to public institutions dealing with religious articles of faith. The petition pointed out that the matter was earlier raised before the Supreme Court in Nov last year, but the apex court asked the petitioner to approach the high court concerned. MSID:: 122974948 413 |
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sikh woman barred from exam over kirpan, Takht, SGPC fume
(Blurb) It's violation of Constitution, say Akal Takht, SGPC and SAD A Sikh woman candidate was reportedly not allowed to enter an examination hall in Rajasthan's Jaipur as she was allegedly asked to remove her religious articles, including a kirpan. The candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, a resident of Pheloke village in Tarn Taran district, had to appear in the Rajasthan Judicial Services examination. The episode has drawn condemnation from the Akal Takht, the SGPC and the SAD. The Akal Takht secretariat issued a video of Gurpreet Kaur in which she is seen protesting over being denied entry to the examination hall. She was seen asking the authorities to show the instructions regarding ban on the kakars (five articles of Sikh faith). In a statement, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj termed the incident a grave violation of the Constitution and an act of discrimination. Questioning the BJP-led Rajasthan government, he said Amritdhari Sikhs wear kirpan as a mandatory article of faith. 'Similar instances occurred during the same recruitment process last year in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Despite a written communication from the SGPC and other Sikh bodies to the state government, the same episode has been repeated,' he mentioned. He referred to Article 25 (Explanation I) of the Constitution that affirms the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan. 'While the country is commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadar who sacrificed his life for religious freedom and human rights, the Sikh symbols are simultaneously being questioned,' Giani Gargaj pointed out. He directed the Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC to immediately form a high-level joint delegation to meet with the Prime Minister, home minister, Rajasthan chief minister and the registrar of the Rajasthan high court to register a strong protest and ensure a permanent resolution. If necessary, he added, the SGPC should consider filing a petition in the Rajasthan high court. An official of Akal Takht secretariat also shared details of the case with the ex-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and senior BJP leader Iqbal Singh Lalpura. 'Lalpura, as a Sikh, has a primary duty of talking to the BJP leadership to ensure that no Sikh faces such discrimination in any part of the country. Lalpura shall hold meetings with the Prime Minister and the home minister and submit a detailed report of the efforts made for a permanent resolution to Sri Akal Takht Sahib,' the Akal Takht secretariat stated. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said strict action must be taken against the officials at the exam centre. He recalled that a similar incident had taken place in Rajasthan with some Sikh candidates last year. At that time, an SGPC delegation had met with the administration there and urged them to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future. Terming the Jaipur episode as a 'discrimination', Dhami said an SGPC delegation would soon be sent to meet with the Rajasthan government to demand strict action against the responsible individuals. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal sought the Prime Minister's intervention to ensure such events do not recur. 'It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the Constitution. The central government should issue or, if necessary, re-issue clear cut guidelines to all states and union territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith,' said Badal in his letter to the PM. Sukhbir Badal also urged the Rajasthan high court to provide Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the RJS examination. He also asked Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal to take strict action against the responsible officials. AAP MLA seeks special chance for candidate AAP MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, who also heads the Chief Khalsa Diwan, said every individual has the right to live according to their religion and wear religious symbols. 'The incident is a direct violation of religious and constitutional rights,' he said. Seeking a chance for the student to reappear under special arrangements, he appealed to the central government to ensure that Sikh students are allowed to appear in examinations while wearing their religious symbols.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Sukhbir writes to PM Modi expressing concern over instances of disrespect to Sikh religious symbols
Expressing concern over growing incidents of disrespect and discrimination against the sacred symbols of the Sikh religion, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Sunday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to put an end to these painful events. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Badal specifically drew his attention to the incident in which a devout and baptized Sikh girl, Gurpreet Kaur, from Tarn Taran district in Punjab was stopped from entering the examination centre in Poornima University in Jaipur as a candidate for the Rajasthan Judicial Services on the plea that she was wearing her sacred articles of faith – 'kara' and 'kirpan'. 'This is a gross violation of her constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the statute and it denied her fundamental right to practice her religion. Article 25 of the Constitution specifically mentions 'kirpan' among other symbols of Sikh religion which are exempt from any bar even in flights,' wrote Badal. 'It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the sacred Constitution. The government of India should issue, or, if necessary, re-issue clear-cut guidelines to all states and Union Territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith,' said Badal in his letter missive to the Prime Minister. The Akali chief said this was not a one off incident but part of the ever increasing number of examples of religious intolerance towards the uniqueness of Sikh identity. In a similar incident last year, two Sikh girls were stopped from appearing for Rajasthan Judicial Services in an exam centre in Jodhpur. 'Sikhs and their identity are inseparable and this was duly acknowledged and constitutionally mandated for compliance for all purposes in the country by the founding fathers. But some officials at lower rungs deem themselves even above the Constitution. This must stop as this vitiates communal harmony in the country,' wrote Badal, adding: 'You (the PM) are personally aware of the profound spiritual and emotional significance of the Sikh religious symbols and what these mean to our devoutly religious and fiercely patriotic community. I request you to issue immediate directions for compliance to ensure full respect to these symbols at all levels across the country.' Badal also urged the Rajasthan High Court to provide the victimised Sikh girl Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the examination, ensuring her right to uphold her faith is respected.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Akal Takht jathedar condemns denial of entry to Amritdhari Sikh candidate in Rajasthan high court exam
Representative Image AMRITSAR : The officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj condemned the alleged denial of entry to an Amritdhari Sikh candidate, Gurpreet Kaur, from village Pheloke, district Tarn Taran, for wearing a kirpan while appearing for the Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur) Civil Judge recruitment exam in Jaipur on Sunday. Terming the incident a grave violation of the Indian Constitution and an act of religious discrimination against Sikh s, Giani Gargaj asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Rajasthan govt how the party , which claims to be working in the interests of Sikhs, is safeguarding Sikh interests in practice. "The entire world knows that Amritdhari Sikhs wear the kirpan as a mandatory article of faith, yet Sikhs are repeatedly targeted in India for their distinct identity and beliefs," he said. He directed the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to immediately form a high-level joint delegation to meet with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Rajasthan chief minister, and Registrar of the Rajasthan High Court to register a strong protest and ensure such discrimination is permanently resolved. If necessary, he added, the SGPC should consider filing a petition in the present case and collecting past cases in the Rajasthan High Court to seek a judicial remedy to protect the future of Amritdhari Sikh candidates. Jathedar Gargaj warned that if such challenges to Sikh identity and beliefs continue, the consequences will be more serious in the future. Therefore, resolving this issue urgently and permanently is essential, he said. Following the incident, an official of the Secretariat, Akal Takht, also shared details of the present incident with the Ex-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who confirmed that the Commission already issued directions that Amritdhari Sikh candidates are allowed to appear in competitive exams with the kirpan. Lalpura assured he would raise the matter again with the Rajasthan High Court Registrar.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PAU conclave bats for expanding agri-business
Ludhiana: Having received Rs 40,000 under the PM Formulization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, Patiala's Gurpreet Kaur earns anything between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per month from the pickle SHG she founded with it. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She has also employed four to five women. She said this scheme is a great opportunity, especially for women, to become empowered. She was speaking at a conclave at PAU Thursday. It was organised by the varsity's directorate of extension education, along with the Punjab Agro Industrial Corporation, state department of food processing, and PAU's department of processing and food engineering. It brought together entrepreneurs, farmers and scientists. Delivering his address, Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian invited suggestions for expanding the agri-business of dairy farming which could stabilise this subsidiary occupation and livelihood of the farmers as well. Further, Khuddian spoke about the state govt's plan of opening large mandis, enabling entrepreneurs and farmers to set up their shops, supply quality products to consumers and become owners of their shops. Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, called for focusing on self-marketing and e-marketing for the long-term success of agro-processing and value addition. Dr JPS Gill, vice-chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu), shared that Punjab was producing 14.3 million tonnes of milk. The production was substantial, but called for diversification as only 18% milk was being processed by public or private sectors and 82% of milk being processed by unorganised sectors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And of the 18% being processed by private or public organizations, 90% is being sold in liquid form. So there was a huge scope of value addition because most of the cheese is being brought in from outside, he added. Since the taste buds were undergoing a drastic change, imparting training in cheese making was vital, he stressed. Besides, he suggested formation of self-help groups for the production of flavoured milk and curd, paneer, processed cheese, khoya, etc.
