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World Sikh Organization of Canada press statement:

http://worldsikh.ca/2010/04/23/wso-condemns-facebook-threats-against-mp-ujjal-dosanjh/

Please send it to all media outlets.

Let me first say this, i i m no fan of dosanjh because he is opportunist and he is always negative against anyone speaking against human rights abuses in india, i m also trying to gather facts of his life (ie- honoring indian martyrs consider terrorist by UK and acts he did ) which will challenge his credibility. But this death threat against him is totally out of order should be condemned by organizations that represent Sikhism at all levels not because its politically correct thing to do but sikh khalsa is never oppressive, threating, intimidating to those are against their ideals.

I yet to see an soorma standing up have civil debate with him. Thats much needed instead of these unfortunate threats. We need to open an dialogue with those who are against us period. Its only through education, discussion, debates we can create awareness of human right abuses, Sikh sovereignty within its own realm.

Hopefully sikh world canadian organization are coming up with press statement on this..this is much needed not because its politically correct but its right thing to do.

source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/23/bc-ujjal-facebook-threats.html

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115557021801224&v=wall&ref=ts

Facebook threat to Dosanjh checked by RCMP

The RCMP are investigating a posting on a Facebook page that calls for Vancouver Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh to be shot.

"Someone shoot him — ASAP," one commenter posted on the site titled "Ujjal Dosanjh is a Sikh Traitor," the National Post reported Friday.

Another branded Dosanjh, a former B.C. premier and former federal cabinet minister who is a vocal opponent of Sikh extremism, as a "rat in our midst."

The group's page says the Indo-Canadian MP "betrayed his own people" and is a "scumbag traitor and an insult to the Sikh religion."

The most threatening posts had been removed from the site by Friday morning, but the RCMP confirmed the force was taking the threats seriously and would investigate.

RCMP Insp. Paul Richards confirmed the force has been called in to investigate the online threats, but said it was too early to say whether charges would be laid.

"What we're doing is reviewing the content of that Facebook site and some of the commentaries that were made," Richards told CBC News.

Dosanjh said he is concerned for his safety, but not afraid because he believes the vast majority of people are peaceful.

Threatened before

Dosanjh, the MP for Vancouver South, has long warned of violence and extremism in pockets of the Sikh community in Canada. (CBC)He added he's sad, but not surprised by the postings, which aren't the first he has received on Facebook. In 2007 he also reported to police a threat posted on the social networking site.

"If a member of Parliament in this country can't speak about issues freely without being threatened to be killed, you know, it's a shame," he told CBC News on Friday morning.

News of the Facebook group comes after an organizer of an April 17 Sikh parade in Surrey, B.C., said in a interview on a Metro Vancouver radio station that Dosanjh and Surrey MLA Dave Hayer were not invited, and that if they showed up they should bring their own security.

Dosanjh took those comments as a thinly veiled threat and notified the RCMP. Other spokesmen for the temple later apologized for the comments, but Dosanjh dismissed the apology as insincere.

The MP has a long history of speaking out about Sikh extremists in Canada. In 1985, he was severely beaten in an attack for his comments.

Surrey parade provokes controversy

The Surrey Vaisakhi parade has become controversial in recent years for featuring floats and images of Sikhs linked to the Air India bombing, which killed 329 people, and other militant incidents.

Hayer said he was shocked at violent online comments directed at Dosanjh, adding that spreading violence is not acceptable.

"I think we really have to have a discussion: what type of Canada are we really looking for," said Hayer.

Hayer's father, Tara Singh Hayer, was fatally shot in Surrey in 1998. The outspoken publisher of the local Indo Canadian Times newspaper was to testify as one of the key witnesses against Sikh extremists in the Air India bombing trials.

"Most people that come here, regardless what their religion is, regardless what their background is, they just want a peaceful place where people can respect each other, raise their family without fear of violence, without fear of being murdered, and feeling safe in the street and in the workplace," Hayer said.

Diplomat fears Sikh extremism rising in Canada

India's high commissioner in Ottawa, Shashishekhar Madhukar Gavai, said the Sikh separatist movement to create a homeland in India called Khalistan has been silent for years in that country.

He told CBC News the recent events show Sikh extremism is on the rise in Canada.

"The rise of Sikh extremism anywhere is a legitimate concern for us. And I think it should be a cause of worry to Canadians as well," he said.

"I mean this clearly shows the mindset of these people. They are violent, they are extremists and you know they want to surpress a freedom and voices of reason, that's all I can say," he said.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/ca...l#ixzz0lxTO6mXi

http://www.facebook....4&v=wall&ref=ts

source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/story/2010/04/22/wdr-kirpan-courthouse-100422.html

Sikh man in Windsor, Ont., who refused to remove a ceremonial dagger when entering a courtroom has ignited a fierce debate about religious rights and security concerns.

Sukhdev Kooner wears his kirpan at all times including while sleeping and taking a shower. (Saphia Khambalia/CBC)Dr. Sukhdev Kooner was scheduled to testify in Ontario Superior Court Thursday about an ongoing dispute between leadership parties in the Windsor Sikh Community.

Kooner, an internist and allergist, also serves as president of the Sikh Cultural Society of Metropolitan Windsor.

As a devout Sikh, Kooner wears a kirpan, a ceremonial knife, on his hip at all times and had it on him when he arrived at court.

"We are supposed to wear this all the time, even when we are sleeping, taking showers, cutting the grass," Kooner told CBC News.

In order to enter the courtroom Kooner would have needed to surrender his kirpan at security, but the man refused, and stayed outside.

"Removing this, it's like somebody has cut my arm off," said Kooner.

'They have taken it off, so they are not Sikh anymore. They are considered excommunicated.'—Sukhdev Kooner

Justice Steven Rogan said the kirpan, which is viewed by Sikhs as a symbol of peace, could be considered a weapon, but did not force Kooner to remove it and enter the courtroom.

"It's not an offensive weapon," said Patrick Ducharme, Kooner's lawyer.

"It would only ever be used to defend someone who is helpless."

Dozens in court removed daggers

In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned a ban on wearing the kirpan in public, after a 12-year-old Quebec boy was ordered to remove the ceremonial dagger at school.

Kooner has worn his kirpan for 17 years at the hospital where he works and tells CBC News he has been in court dozens of times both in Toronto and Windsor, but has never been asked to remove his kirpan.

The courtroom was packed with dozens of other devout Sikhs who had removed their kirpans.

All ordained Sikhs are required to wear the kirpan, a ceremonial dagger, at all times. (Saphia Khambalia/CBC)"We are working very diligently to keep the community together, to maintain the peace and harmony," said Harjinder Singh Kandola.

Kooner said the others were wrong to remove the kirpan, one of five articles all ordained Sikhs are ordered to keep on them their entire lives.

"They have taken it off, so they are not Sikh anymore. They are considered excommunicated," said Kooner.

"Even if someone orders you to take it off, you do not."

Flying is 'different'

Kooner admits he removes his kirpan in order to fly, but says that situation is different, because he has no choice but to remove the dagger and say a prayer for forgiveness.

Ray Colautti, a lawyer representing others in the civil case, said his clients respected the rules of the court, and that the issue of the kirpan is a "red herring."

"It's a hyped-up thing," said Ducharme. "It was designed and was successful in getting two adjournments."

Security was boosted at Windsor's courthouse in April 2006, after a man attending court for sentencing pulled out a knife and began slashing his wrists.

Kooner calls his kirpan a weapon of peace, and not a security concern, noting that there are other weapons in a courthouse.

"It's the same thing as a policeman going in there, someone could just grab the gun and use it," he said.

Can testify outside court

In the end, Justice Rogan ruled Kooner could enter a sworn affidavit, which will be recorded outside the courthouse in a lawyer's office.

It may be used as evidence in place of cross-examination when the trial resumes June 1st.

Kooner said, if called to court again, he will stand firm on his religious beliefs and not remove his dagger.

"I don't want to set a precedent. We already have one place, airplanes, where we cannot use it. Today it will be in the court, tomorrow it will be in the schools, and then it will be everywhere else."

Kooner said he is currently lobbying to be allowed to wear his kirpan on airplanes.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/ca...l#ixzz0lvhrTpQ5

Big up this amazing gursikh standing for religious rights, it appears fierce debate over kirpan will start again.

World sikh canadian organization already set up fact and fiction execellent article on this:

http://worldsikh.ca/2010/04/07/canadian-sikhs-on-the-kirpan-separating-fact-from-fiction/

Time to send it to all the media.

I am downloading this documentary as we speak.

Well there are two ways to run the gurdwara. One is through the committee and the other way is through mahant gaddi given by gurdev of respective samparda. Both have pros and cons. I cannot speak for India, but gurdwaras run through mahant are successful and peaceful in Canada because the head of samparda's oversees everything being run. Again, no system is perfect ultimately due to human greed. One possible solution is not to change anything in the committee or mahant structure but to have one independent, huge organization free from bias or any influence overseen by the gurdwara management abroad.

Update: just drove by glidden gurdwara because gurdwara is on my way to work. I saw CBC(National) truck there. So brace yourself with national news on this fight. What a embarrassment..!!

I don't know what the solution is. Perhaps to be more inclusive and include sehajdharis, udasis, nihangs and nirmalay as different members of the same family, but to promote the ideal of Amritdhari rehatvaan Gursikhs as an ideal?

Thats is an excellent idea. Only now if we can implement it. Well it was like that before singh sabha destroyed it in intention of reforming the panth.

Kalyug veer,

We probably won't be alive to see this. I really hope our childrens or grand children don't see this either. In fact, i really hope i m wrong in this. But as i said, fanaticism has nothing to do with our religion, its a human trait. Speaking in context in sikhi, as sant jagjit singh ji says: its bound to happen when we start feeding amrit to snakes(malechas). Think about it, more emphasis are being put just takin amrit but no emphasis are given - how to prepare yourself to take amrit? Like amount of seva, simran ahead of time etc. In puratan times it used to be opposite. Bhai fauja singh shaheed had to prove himself to panj pyares by putting his life on railway track that he is worthy of amrit.

Now days its opposite, this kind of leniency in the panth have led gondai's/ mobs, criminals, fanatics get initiated in the dharam just so they can hide their avguns behind dharam and use dharam (emotional speeches, getting into commites) to gain more power. They are dalal(pimps) who like to use dharam as prostitution to gain more power to themselves.

Meh. We still have some way to go before we start blowing ourselves up in a gurdwara and killing innocent worshippers.

K.

Singh, give it +100 years. Give our sikh population get to 300 million mark. Then one can see, there is no religion for fanaticism. It's human avgun just like choori, dhuka, irkha. Fanaticism is global problem. If we refuse to do any house cleaning, just give it +100 years and let our population grow, you will see we be just like sulleh(sunnis and shia) killing each other for difference of opinions. Stabbing/beating someone with machetes(hathora) already have an killing intent as serious as 2nd degree murder. I don't know what else will it take us to get up do some house cleaning? bodies in body bag?.

All guru ghar mantars are parvan. There is no set mantars that will give you bhramgyan and other will not. No such concept like that in our gurughar. Yes some gurughar mantar helps more with surti/birthi. But at the end, all are capable to join our surti with akaal purkh.

Any mantar which signifies- nirgun or nirgun and sargun form of vahiguroo has ablity to take this jev to kaival mukhti/bhramgyan. As there are different levels of mukhti. You can search archives under meditation section for more information with keyword- mukhti.

I never mention katarpatnhis but shariavadis. These are terms which are best to label this situation. When we as collective group refuse to do anything about it (ie- condemn them) and live in denial than these terms come out in frustration. I know lot of youths are turned off by this. Elitist group who think they are above have no place in society or in our culture. They should be condemn at highest level not because its politically correct to do so but its righteous to do.

This is becoming quite disturbing. Fussar panthis / sharia vadis masands malech fighting bringing shame to our community. We must step up and condemn them and not let these masands malech fussar panthis sharia vadis take control of our gurdwara. I seriously hope these people get charged. I don't care which group you are from- anti or pro sri dasam granth or committee or anti committee. No one has right to fight within gurdwara, infront of maharaj. What do we think we are? Elitist group over law??. As i said before, we need to realize, we are not living in times of monarch...where we can settle differences by dhaka sahi..we live in soceity where we must follow law of the country. Otherwise we be labelled as criminals..sikh outlaws and ultimately may be even deported depending on your status and our temples would be shut...Today by the way was vaishakhi program in the afternoon....sickening. I am sure these idiots put off lot of people who happen to be monaie may be in verge of getting inspired and taking amrit.

source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/797333--bloody-fight-erupts-at-brampton-sikh-temple?bn=1#photo

Staff Reporter

Five people are in hospital after two opposing groups clashed inside a Brampton Sikh temple Sunday afternoon.

The fight broke out at the Guru Nanak Sikh Centre at Glidden Rd. near Hwy 410 and Steeles Ave. when one group tried to break up the other group's meeting. It started as a fistfight but witnesses say turbans soon flew and hammers, machetes and construction knives were brandished as a group of about 100 people clashed at about 3:45 p.m.

The fight spilled outside as Peel Regional Police scrambled to take control, said witnesses.

"It was quite chaotic," said Jagdish Grewal, editor of Punjabi Post, a newspaper published in Brampton, who arrived minutes after the fight broke out and saw two men lying outside with a bloodied hammer between them. Others were being given first-aid and taken to hospital.

Inside the hall, where the scuffle happened, Grewal said knives and machetes were still lying on the floor along with torn blood-soaked clothes. "There was blood too on the tiles," Grewal told the Star.

At heart is the control of the temple but no one will say that openly.

The management was not available to comment on Sunday's violence but members of the temple said trouble had started brewing a couple of days earlier when the group opposing the management announced that it would hold a meeting inside the temple.

"All we wanted was to have a meeting to discuss matters of the temple," said Rampal Dhillon, who was inside the hall when the fight broke out. "We started the meeting at 3 p.m. and it was going smoothly when about two dozen people stormed inside."

They were wielding hammers, machetes and construction knives, said Dhillon, who lives in Dundas, near Hamilton. There was screaming and yelling as people shoved and pushed to get outside, he added.

"It's an ongoing dispute among the board members," said Const. George Tudos of Peel Regional Police, adding that police had been called in earlier. "There was indication that there might be some trouble here."

This fight comes two weeks after Manjit Mangat, a prominent Brampton lawyer, was stabbed outside the Sikh Lehar Centre, a Sikh temple located barely a kilometre away from the temple at Glidden Rd. Witnesses had said at least two men brandished unsheathed kirpans, the ceremonial dagger worn by baptized Sikhs, triggering a fresh controversy about Sikhs' right to wear it.

That is deep kam. Thanks soo much for sharing this.

I wonder if there is any gurbani quote directly mentions panj koshas? I know there are ones for panj tat- asthol and suksham tats (Five elements)

>>> http://www.artofjaswant.com/gallery.htm <<<<

Similar discussion going on sikhsangat: http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?/topic/52156-more-problems-for-canadian-sikhs/

source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/16/bc-vaisakhi-parade-threats-dosanjh-hayer.html

This is getting unbearable.. who are these people threatning mps?? We seriously need spokesman who represent all Canadian Sikh Community apointed by jathedars of takht sahib so they can condemn this id iot. I don't like comrad views of dosanjh and hayer on sikhi but threatening mps for attending nagar kirtan its ridiculous and shows true face of fascism should condemn at all levels. Besides, Our community cannot afford more negative media than there is already.

B.C. premier demands apology

source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/16/bc-vaisakhi-parade-threats-dosanjh-hayer.html

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell says he won't attend a Sikh parade in Surrey on Saturday unless there is a formal apology from organizers for a perceived threat against two other politicians.

"Unless there has been a direct apology to the two individuals that were mentioned ... I would find it difficult agreeing to go," Campbell said Friday.

An organizer of the annual Vaisakhi parade told a Punjabi radio station Thursday that Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and B.C. Liberal MLA Dave Hayer were not invited to the event and were responsible for their own safety.

"They have never been invited," Inderjit Singh Bains said during an interview on Radio Sher-e Punjab "If they come, they need to bring their own security."

Organizers are denying that any threat was implied.

Both Dosanjh and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts have lodged complaints with the RCMP about the comments.

The parade has a history of controversy because of its support for Sikh militants in India. Both Dosanjh and Hayer are Indo-Canadians who have distanced themselves from the militant movement.

Never attended parade: Dosanjh

Dosanjh said he has never been to the parade since he lives in Vancouver and only occasionally attends the yearly religious celebration there.

"I'm not very religious. So for the organizers to pick on someone like me and Dave Hayer out of the blue … and say if you come, your security is on your own … implies a certain degree of threat — that some violence may happen to you," Dosanjh told CBC Radio on Friday afternoon.

In 1985 Dosanjh, who was a lawyer at the time, was severely beaten for speaking out against militancy in the Indo-Canadian community.

Dave Hayer's father was a newspaper publisher who was shot dead in his garage in Surrey after he refused to be silenced in his criticisms of hard-line Sikh nationalists operating in Canada.

"It may in fact be a prompt for violence for people who hate me or dislike me," Dosanjh said. "I don't know if it's criminal or quasi-criminal. I felt out of concern that I should send it to the RCMP and I did."

Temple denies allegations

On Friday another parade organizer, Moninder Singh of the Dasmesh Darbar temple, said the matter was a misunderstanding and no threats had been made.

Parade organizer Moninder Singh says no threats have been made and the politicians are welcome. (Meera Bains/CBC)

"There is no invitation that's sent, so we can't really invite somebody to come, and if they show up there is nothing stopping them from attending," Singh said. "Technically at the end of the day, the RCMP and security services are all throughout the parade and they ensure the safety of everyone there, so those comments I think are taken out of context."

Singh said parade organizers don't condone violence and the politicians are welcome to come if they wish.

"We personally aren't going to provide any type of security for any MP or anybody that decides to come to the event," he said.

Controversy keeps politicians away

In years past the parade, which marks the Sikh new year, attracted a slew of political figures, including the premier, MPs and the mayor.

But in 2007 Liberal, Conservative and New Democrat politicians who attended the parade faced political embarrassment after a photo of alleged Air India bombing mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar was displayed on a float.

At the time Dosanjh said police should investigate the incident. The following year Surrey officials sent letters to politicians warning them the parade would again include controversial images.

A 2008 Vaisakhi display in Surrey, B.C., includes images of two Sikh men who assassinated Indira Gandhi among photographs of men considered Sikh martyrs. (Meera Bains/CBC)

While Parmar's photo was not displayed on a parade float last year, organizers did set up a separate tent on the grounds of the Dasmesh Darbar temple for a controversial display that included photographs of the founders of the Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation, groups Canada considers terrorist organizations.

Parade organizers have reportedly said that this year every float would include the flag of Khalistan and images of martyrs, said by their supporters to be heroes of the armed struggle by Sikh extremists to carve out an independent nation called Khalistan in the Indian state of Punjab.

This problem exist in every country armies. This problem is do with fascist animal instinct of an human being, where human feels he has more power because he/she got rifle/machine gun he/she will go out of way to commit atrocity against innocent people. They don't feel guilty, they feel its pleasure and get some sort of kick out of it by committing atrocity against innocent.

I found two similar topics on this, those threads were made by tsingh(thats probably you couldn't find them in archives), Anyway here are the links:

http://www.sikhawareness.com//index.php?showtopic=9329

http://www.sikhawareness.com//index.php?showtopic=7348

I will find it for you. Stay tuned..!!

Quite shameful. Singhs used to save girls from mughals and save their aabru. However, this example show we are becoming balatkari of women.

Great stuff, please keep them coming...!!!!!!!!

Yeah thats amazing. That was great gift to the sangat on such an auspicious day. Happy Vaishakhi.

I also think it's important when mentioning this protest incident that people are aware that Lehar centre members had weapons, were waiting, and incited and attacked the Singhs first. What wrong the panthic singhs (THAT SMALL HANDFUL THAT ACTUALLY DID THE WRONG)did is not erased by that fact, but instigation and pre-emptive attack are big public relations blunders by Lehar Centre. There are 3 eyewitness statements posted in the comments on thelangarhall.org that support this view. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot by propagating what Lehar Centre supporters have been saying.

By the way, Prabhjot Singh is writing an English translation of Critropakhyan on sikh sangat, so once that's done we can spread it at nagar kirtans. Perhaps by romanizing the Gurbani to prevent beadbi???

You are right they had weapons. I am not sure who instigated the fight. From law point of view, these protesters were trespassing into the private property as gurdwara is private owned by these guys. We all know gurdwaras is open to sangat and its place of worship. But law considers it to be private property as its register as such. I don't think who instigated the fight would be looked at in this case. If this was United States, and private owner sees group of people coming to their property, owner can fire a gun at them and justify later they felt threatened. Anyway regardless, whoever instigated it, attacking any individual with kirpan is totally out of order especially where it register as article of faith/symbol not a weapon. I understand there are claims that person who attacked with kirpan had bipolar disorder while i don't dispute that but question obviously comes in mind, how this individual arrived at the location despite of his condition. Obviously there was an intent.

Not saying, we should stop doing gurmantar or mool mantar- sikh beloved mantras but in your spare time, do also reflect on goodness of

- ~ Om Mani padme Hum ~

Om Jewel in the Lotus Hum" or can be also translated to "Praise to the Jewel in the Lotus.

Om or Ong just the sound of an nasal.

exactly right tony veer. As once wise man said, worst form of parchar you can do against stuff you don't agree with is use dhakha either in words or by force. Other side parchar will gain more credibility and momentum and they will use that to gain more sympathy in their cause. Ultra orthodox people need to understand times are different now. We don't live in Sikh Monarch where things like blasphemy were taken seriously. Seriously if this prof dude was in india, people wouldn't have cared for him or gave two hoots about it. When i speak to normal nitneemi banda from india they just can't seem to fathom were all this tamasha gets started in abroad. They make comments like- you guys don't have anything better to do.

Look guys, i won't say pro dasam granth sahib parchar isn't be done or anything. All the things are done intensively, massive credit to them but somewhere along the line we got carried away and we get ourselves in this big mess. These people who went to protest instead of taking approach of dhakha, they should have used that energy to distribute pamphlets to pro dasam parchar and akaal takht hakumnama to normal sangat in and out who were not aware of it and let readers decide.

Somethings aren't in our control. On that day, we may be successful stopping prof darshan singh who was not there anyway (probably sitting home watching all this tamasha) but the fact is, we may have stopped him that day, but now he is bigger than ever in toronto. Our people made these anti dasam people victims, victims as always gain sympathy in media and else where. Most of radio stations, newspapers in Toronto are now in favor of victims. History is witness, take any example of any killing of an hostile cult leader, as soon as that happens, that cult leader is made to be- martyr and followers of hostile cult gets replicated like cockroaches and they get more power than ever.