AFTER THE SHOE CAMPING FOR SIKHI THE WORLD'S EDGE
Jarnail Singh fights Sikh youth camp A Sikh couple travels
world sikh news
back to secure at Fremont ends to North Pole & learns
justice P8 on a high note P19 about life P12
August 19-25, 2009 www.worldsikhnews.com Vol 5 Issue 19, Phone (408) 272-2034, Fax (408) 519-6610
US Commission Harmandar Sahib
blacklists the
world's largest Heritage Status Issue
democracy for Again Under Review
lack of religious WSN Bureau Harmandar Sahib and had ruled in
April this year that the decision to
AMRITSAR
freedoms in its t a time when a new row
reject and withdraw the dossier on
the Golden Temple for seeking the
latest report; A
convening
is emerging in Sikh cir-
cles over whether or not
the Akal Takht should be
a Sarv Dharam
world heritage status was taken in
''haste'' and hence needed to be re-
considered in the larger interest of
the Panth.
India cries foul Sammelan (an all religion con-
clave) and allegations
It had asked the SGPC Executive
to constitute various
are flying thick about sub-committees of
USCIRF said India earned the the motive behind the SGPC sets experts to delve deeper
India Is on
Watch List designation due to the
disturbing increase in communal
kar sewa of Darshani
Deodhi, the larger
up panel to into the issue.
Punjabi University
violence against religious minori- issue of getting from study the Vice-Chancellor Dr
ties- specifically Christians in the UNESCO the Jaspal Singh has now
Orissa in 2008 and Muslims in World Heritage Status dossier afresh been tasked with once
Gujarat in 2002. for Harmandir Sahib again studying afresh
Any country that is designated on has once again moved after gurdwara the dossier which was
Watch List
the USCIRF Watch List requires
"close monitoring due to the nature
centerstage.
The SGPC, which at
judicial got prepared four years
ago and also look into
and extent of violations of religious
freedom engaged in or tolerated by
one stage pulled out
all stops to pitch for
commission the implications of the
world heritage status for
the government." "India's demo- such a status for Sri directive the holiest of the Sikh
cratic institutions charged with Darbar Sahib, has shrines. Prof Prithipal
upholding the rule of law, most now decided to recon- Singh Kapoor, a
Jagmohan Singh particularly Muslim, Christian, notably state and central judici- sider the issue after a pointed ref- renowned Sikh scholar and pro-
CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON Sikh and Dalits. aries and police, have erence from the Sikh Gurdwara VC, Guru Nanak Dev University,
The 2009 annual report emerged as unwilling or Judicial Commission. The Jasbir Singh Sabar, former Prof,
ndia refused to take benefit of of USCIRF India section unable to seek redress for Commission had received a peti- GND University, and now working
I
the nearly four month delay was delayed as they victims of the violence. tion seeking direction to the SGPC with the SGPC as in charge of
in the preparation of the 2009 wanted to come to India More must be done to to consider the issue of getting Gurmat classes, Dr Gurnek Singh,
annual report of the inde- and take first hand stock ensure future violence world heritage status for Continued on page 19
pendent and bipartisan of the situation in does not occur and that
United States Commission Orissa and Gujarat. The perpetrators are held
for International Religious government of the largest accountable," said Mr.
Freedoms as the body was left with democracy took refuge and Leo. USCIRF's Watch List
no choice but to place India under raised the iron curtain to join apart from India includes
watch for "its largely inadequate Cuba in stopping the US commis- Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt,
response in protecting its religious sion directors to come to India, after Indonesia, Laos, the Russian
minorities." initially agreeing in principle. Federation, Somalia, Tajikistan,
While the largest democracy in Placing India on the Watch List, Turkey and Venezuela.
the world is keen to be acknowl- USCIRF chair Leonard Leo said, "It As far as the Sikh community is
edged as a growing economic power, is extremely disappointing that concerned, the report has this to
it is lagging behind in the race on India, which has a multitude of reli- ,
say "The failure to provide justice to
the front of human rights and pro- gious communities, has done so lit- religious minorities targeted in vio-
tection of religious rights of vari- tle to protect and bring justice to its lent riots in India is not a new devel
ous communities in the country , religious minorities under siege." Continued on page 22
SIKHS PROTESTS DROWN CELEBRATING AUG 15 WHOSE INDEPENDENCE
INSIDE FIA PARADE CHARM P3 AS “BLACK DAY” P21 DAY? P15