In the Christmas holidays we went to California, USA. Bhenji Manpreet Kaur jee and Bhaji Manvinder Singh jee invited us over to California to do sevaa at a camp that they were helping to organise. Bhenji is originally from the UK but now lives in California. It was great to meet the Fresno Gursikh sangat. The whole atmosphere and attitude of the people was very friendly and open. It was inspirational and moving to see the pyaar and Gursikhi spirit of the Sangat.
Some photos:
Group photo with Bhaji Manvinder Singh jee, Bhai Prabhdev Singh jee and Bhenji Manpreet Kaur jee. On the day we arrived we were shown the Golden Gate Bridge. (Looking at the bridge you realise there is nothing 'golden' about it and is more of a 'Red Bridge'.)
With Bhaji Prabhdev Singh jee, standing next to this statue. I have no idea who the statue is supposed to be!
Bhaji Prabhdev Singh jee driving his pride and joy! (bhaji's van reminded me of the A-Team van!).
Woodland Park.
Lake Millterton (when they said Lake Millerton I thought they said "Lake Militant". Waheguru).
Group photo.
Bhaji Jagmeet Singh jee. Such a nice Gursikh. Waheguru :)
Group photo of Singhs at the Lake.
On the last day before we left for Yuba City, all the Bhenjis cooked us loads of cakes to take with us on the way (carrot cake, cup cakes and normal cake! Waheguru!). Dhan Guru Ke Sikh.
Family photo on our last day at Fresno with all the Gursikhs at Bhaji Manvinder Singh jee and Bhenji Manpreet Kaur jee's house :) Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare.
With Guru Sahib's kirpaa the Derby Sangat has organised a one-day Sikhi Camp during the Christmas holidays. There will be lots of activiites for the Sangat and guest speakers will be doing talks, including Bhai Joginder Singh leicester, Bhai Surjit Singh India, Prof Daljit Singh Virk, and Bhai Vijay Singh. The Kauregeous group from Leicester will be running individual groups.
There will also be indoor sports activities in the afternoon including Bouncy castles, trampoline, and volleyball. The Sangat will have opportunity to ask the elder Gursikhs questions in the open discussion forum.
With Guru Sahib's kirpaa, the 15th annual Christmas Sikhi Camp is beign held in Coventry. It is an opportunity not to miss. Like every year the camp is fun and enjoyable for all ages. There will be special classes for 15+ and adults! This year Bhai Surjit Singh from India will also be attending and therefore extra laahaa (benefit) for all the Sangat attending.
DETAILS: When: From Friday 25th December to Wednesday 30th December 2009
Time:9.30am to 4.30pm
Where: Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Cross Road, Coventry, CV6 5GR.
WHAT'S PLANNED?
25th December (Christmas day): There will be a fun day with activities, competitions, bouncy castles, bungee runs, gladiators,THE BITTU SHOW, tug of war, PS3, Xbox and moret!
26th to 29th December: There will be Sikhi talks and discussions with various guest speakers, zones with different activities, bouncy castles, keertan, dastaar tying and loads more! (Not forgetting - THE BITTU SHOW!)
30th December: There will be a mystery trip for campers! Note: There will be re-union trip in January 2010 for the 14+ years! (Sounds exciting!).
NOTE: Coventry Gursikhs will provide accomodation if needed. Please contact local Gursikhs.
Benti to everyone please write to your local Member of Parliament about what has happened in Ludhiana. The British, Canadian and American governments can put diplomatic pressure on India to ensure peace is brought to Panjab, that the human rights of the Sikhs is restored and justice is delivered for the bloodshed of the Sikhs.
You can contact your local MP through this website: http://www.writetothem.com/
This is the least we can do sitting abroad! You can use the below template to send. Just copy and paste but remember to put the name of your MP at the top and your name at the bottom.
Dear [WRITE MP'S NAME]
I am emailing you in regards to the concerning events that took place in Ludhiana in Punjab (India). On Saturday 5th December 2009 when police and paramilitary forces opened fire without warning and used heavy-handed barbaric tactics to stop Sikh protesters who were protesting, belonging to Sikh religious organisations, marching towards a controversial anti-Sikh two-day event organised in Ludhiana by Dera Divya Jyoti of Ashutosh; and that at one Sikh has been killed and about 15 seriously injured. Sadly, the death toll is expected to increase. Further to this a number of Sikhs have gone missing and it is feared the Punjab Police have kidnapped them and will torture them.
Members of the UK Sikh community, including myself, have family members living in the area and are horrified at the police brutality used against the Sikh protesters shown in the News reports.
Please see video below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUjzKDSQWU0
News link and Press release from Voices of Freedom charity: http://www.panthic.org/articles/5183 http://www.panthic.org/articles/5186
I would like you to take up this issue with the Indian High Commissioner in the UK immediately and ensure that justice is brought for the victims of the Police brutality and that the Human Rights (which includes the right to protest) of the Sikhs will be protected. Please press upon them that we would like to see peace in Punjab, and that this cannot be achieved with over zealous policing.
I await a response from you.
Kind regards, [YOUR NAME]
More photos of Police Brutality:
Lawless policemen
Police beating an unarmed Sikh.
Shaheed Bhai Darshan Singh after being shot in the chest by the Police.
Bullets being collected.
Police didn't fire in the air but were aiming at the Sikh protestors. Some bullets hit many public buses as seen above.
On Saturday 5th December, the Panjab Police shot and killed Sikhs protesting in Ludhiana against a rally organized by supporters of Ashutosh Noormehlia of the Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan.
Who is Ashutosh Noormehlia?
Ashutosh Noormehlia is a man from Bihar who was brought to Panjab by agencies to create a cult (Diviya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan) to attack the Sikh religion. The cult-leader Ashutosh openly claims that Sikhs should not follow Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and instead accept him as the Guru because he says that the 'Jyot' (light) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee is within him and he claims that he is the reincarnation of Guru Gobind Singh jee as well. In his dera he keeps saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee that they treat and keep like a book which they keep on the shelf. He quotes and misinterprets Gurbani on a daily basis at his programmes. Ashutosh preaches against and insults keeping Kesh, wearing the 5 Ks, reading Gurbani, following the Shabad Guru, and going to the Gurdwara etc. The cultists claim that they are the 'true Khalsa' and oppose Amritdharis.
Video of Ashutosh Cultist preaching against Sikhi
They hold regular diwans at the heart of Sikh cities like Taran Taaran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Many times, events of 1978 have been repeated where the police was used for protection and attacking and killing the peaceful Sikh protestors. On one occasion, a programme was held on 19th April 2002 at which a preacher of Ashutosh, Shardha Nand, grossly insulted Sikhi and Guru Granth Sahib jee (see video above). When Sikhs showed up to protest they were attacked and fired upon. Shardha Nana escaped in government vehicles and Sikhs were arrested for causing violence. Similar events have taken place in other cities but with the help of the government Noormehls always managed to escape and Sikhs became the target of violence and police brutality.
The events leading up to Saturday After the events of 2002, the then government led by Capt. Amrinder Singh (Congress) banned Ashutosh from doing any form of preaching outside of his dera as it was a risk to law and order and it would hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. However, the Badal government (the Akalis) lifted the ban and allowed Ashutosh to do programmes throughout Panjab. It should be noted that whenever anti-Sikh cults have risen in Panjab to attack the Sikhs it has always been during the Akali-BJP governments (e.g. 1978 massacre, 1984 Operation Bluestar, Bhaniaare wala, and Jhoota Saudaa).
Ashutosh had planned a Shobha Yatra (mockery and copy of Sikh's Nagar Kirtan) in Ludhiana on 5th December, in which he was to sit in a Palki and roam around Ludhiana. But Panthic Jathebandis had protested against it, and due to pressure from all sides, the Badal's government refused permission for the parade. Despite the cancellation of the Shobha Yatra, Ashutosh was adamant to hold a programme to show his power, as he knows that 40% residents of Ludhiana today are from UP and Bihar. He wanted to directly challenge the Sikh panth.
One day before on 4th December, 12,000 Bihari workers rioted across Ludhiana and burnt down Sikh buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles in protest against another issue which was related to them being treated poorly by the police when they reported that they were being their money was being looted by robbers on paydays. Although the issues are different, it is hard to ignore that both events have links. When 12,000 Biharis targetted Sikh buses (Sachkhand and Akal Takht Express buses) and Sikh property no one was fired at! However, oney day later when 500 to 600 Singhs peacefully protest they are fired with bullets by the Police.
On Friday 4th December the Sikhs were reassured by the government officials that Ashutosh's programmes were cancelled however fearing that it could be a bluff they decided to carry out a peaceful protest to the intended programme venue on 5th December. The Sikh Sangat gathered at Gurudwara Kalgidhar in Ludhiana where the Singhs did Ardaas in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee for blessings and then they began to walk.
The Singhs had only walked a hundred kilometers or so when the peaceful Sikh protestors were stopped by the Police and were blocked from going forward. The Police then tried to put Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Damdami Taksaal) into a Police van when the Sangat intervened and prevented it from happening. At this point tensions rose due to the heavy handed tactics of the Police.
LUDHIANA MASSACRE - DECEMBER 5th 2009
The police set up a barricaded check post at Samrala Chowk, about 1 kilometer from the dera rally, and without warning fired upon the protesting Sikhs as they approached the check point. The police used tear gas and live ammunition on the protesting Sikhs. Varying reports are saying that 4 to 6 Gursikhs have been killed and 11 others were seriously injured by the indiscriminate police firing. The injured include Bhai Kanwalpreet Singh, Bhai Anup Singh, Bhai Manjinder Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh, Bhai Parminder Singh, Bhai Gurpreet Singh, Bhai Gurjant Singh, Bhai Jaswinder Singh, Bhai Amarjeet Singh, Bibi Surinder Kaur and Bhai Mangal Singh.
58-year old Bhai Darshan Singh jee becomes the first Shaheed of this Saakaa (massacre). Bhai Sahib was a simple Gursikh who drove a Rikshaa for his livelihood. He was driving his Rikshaa when he saw the Gursikhs protesting. Finding out about the protest Bhai Sahib left his Rikshaa and joined the protest at the front. He has left 2 sons and 1 daughter.
Elderly Singh becomes Shaheed after Police open fire on Gursikhs.
Gursikh left bleeding and his turban removed.
Sikh youngster lying on the ground seriously injured.
Bhai Sahib jee shot in the stomach by the Police.
Bhai Sahib was repeatedly beaten on the head by the Police despite laying on the floor injured.
Panjab Police brutality
Blood on their Hands! Panthic organizations state that Harish Bedi, the local BJP MLA leader, and his son Honey Bedi are directly responsible for organizing the cult rally with the blessings of the ruling Akali government. Both had been actively preparing for the event for several days. Witnesses attest that Honey Bedi was present at the protest site, and shot a firearm in the direction of the protesters. The organizations have requested that along with cult leader Aushutosh, Parkash Badal, Harish Bedi and his son should to be held responsible for the bloodshed in Ludhiana.
Protest ongoing The Gursikh leaders decided that they would get the Sangat to hold back from fighting the Police as they felt it was a trip to get maximum number of Sikhs get killed. Instead the decision was made by the Singhs to sit down and peacefully protest and stay clear from the trap. All the Singhs continued the protested throughout the night and on to the next day. In the cold night of December with no extra clothes or blankets, Gursikhs sat in the roads to peacefully protest. As there was a complete shutdown in Ludhiana, I assume that Langar was not allowed to be brought to the places where Gursikhs were protesting throughout the day and night. Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale jee has taken the lead and are visiting hospitals to tend to the injured Singhs and preparing for the funerals of the Shaheeds tommorow in Ludhiana.
