Tag: Sikh

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Queen crossbow threat: Sikh intruder was inspired by ‘Star Wars’

Morgan told the court that Chail demonstrated a wider ideology focused on destroying old empires spilling over into fictional events such as Star Wars…reports Asian Lite News

 A British Sikh, caught with a crossbow on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021, was partly inspired to attack the late Queen by the Star Wars films, a London court heard.

Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, the self-styled ‘assassin’ who admitted a charge under the Treason Act in February, had described himself in a sinister video as characters in the films — “Sith” and “Darth Jones”, the Old Bailey court heard on Wednesday.

In a social media video that emerged soon after the incident, Chail, who identified himself as an “Indian Sikh”, said the attack on the late monarch was revenge for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre of Indians by British colonial troops.

According to The Independent, prosecutor Alison Morgan K.C. said that the “heart of the issue” was whether Chail was suffering from auditory hallucinations at the time “taking away his ability to exercise self-control”.

Morgan told the court that Chail demonstrated a wider ideology focused on destroying old empires spilling over into fictional events such as Star Wars.

“The defendant’s key motive was to create a new empire by destroying the remnants of the British Empire in the UK, and the focal point of that became the removal of the figurehead of the royal family.

“His thinking was informed partly by the fantasy world of Star Wars and the role of Sith Lords in shaping the world. He was attracted to the notoriety that would accrue in the event of the completion of his ‘mission’,” The Independent said citing Morgan.

During the hearing, it was told that he applied for jobs within the armed forces that could have led to a “close proximity” to the monarch.

He also wrote in a journal that if the Queen was “unobtainable” he would “go for” the prince as a “suitable figurehead”, in an apparent reference to King Charles.

According to reports, Chail had scaled the perimeter of the grounds with a nylon rope ladder, some two hours before his arrest.

He was wearing a hood and mask and was carrying a crossbow loaded with a bolt, with the safety catch off and ready to fire. The prosecution earlier told the court that the Supersonic X-Bow weapon he was carrying had the potential to cause “serious or fatal injuries”.

The Queen was in her private apartments at Windsor Castle at the time of the intrusion.

Chail’s sentencing, which had been due on Thursday, was postponed to a later date, yet to be confirmed. He was remanded into Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital.

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2 convicted for killing Sikh teen in case of mistaken identity

2 convicted in UK for killing Sikh teen in case of mistaken identity.(Photo : UK Met Police)

One of his pursuers then stabbed him at least five times in the back, and the second one stabbed him at least 10 times…reports Asian Lite News

Two teenagers have been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old Sikh boy who they mistakenly thought belonged to a rival gang in West London.

Vanushan Balakrishnan and Ilyas Suleiman, both 18 year-olds from Hillingdon, were found guilty of murdering Rishmeet Singh, following a trial at the Old Bailey on Monday.

Rishmeet, who came to the UK in October 2019 with his mother and grandmother to seek asylum from Afghanistan, was mistakenly targeted and murdered after being stabbed 15 times while lying defenseless on the ground.

“I have lost my husband and now I have lost my only child, my son. Justice is finally served for Rishmeet but their sentence will never be enough for me. They have taken my whole life away from me and Rishmeet will never come home again,” the victim’s mother Gulinder said in a statement.

The court heard that on the night of November 24, 2021, Rishmeet was walking home when he saw two unknown males running towards him.

He ran down Raleigh Road, in Southall, where he tripped and fell, according to a Metropolitan Police release.

One of his pursuers then stabbed him at least five times in the back, and the second one stabbed him at least 10 times.

His attackers then fled, leaving his bloodied and injured body on the ground, the Met Police said, adding that the whole attack lasted 27 seconds.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service scrambled to the scene after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public, but despite their best efforts Rishmeet died at the scene.

Enquiries revealed that Balakrishnan and Suleiman dumped their bikes near the bridge and chased after Rishmeet on foot, with Balakrishnan attacking him first followed by Suleiman.

They are captured on CCTV fleeing the scene, and are clearly identifiable from the distinctive clothing and Covid masks they were wearing – including Balakrishnan’s dark trousers with a white stripe behind the knee.

While Balakrishnan was arrested on suspicion of murder at his home address on December 2, 2021, Suleiman was held from an address in Edgware on December 9. The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on April 28, 2023.

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Sikhs at risk of being banned from UK courts

Practising UK Sikhs at risk of being 'unlawfully' banned from courts

Practising, or Amritdhari Sikhs, are required to carry Kirpan at all times along with other articles of faith…reports Asian Lite News

Practicing Sikhs in the UK face the risk of being banned from entering courthouses or tribunals in England and Wales under present guidelines over kirpan (ceremonial dagger).

Sikh lawyer Jaskeerat Singh Gulshan challenged the security policy of the courts and tribunals concerning kirpans in a case which was heard this week by the lord chief justice and the vice-president of the court of appeal, The Guardian reported.

Practising, or Amritdhari Sikhs, are required to carry Kirpan at all times along with other articles of faith.

Gulshan launched a legal battle after he where he was barred from entering the Ealing Magistrates’ Court till he removed his kirpan in 2021.

He was carrying a Kirpan with an overall length of eight inches, and the length of the blade was four inches, which was within the permissible limit, according to him.

As per the prevailing guidelines, Sikhs are allowed to bring a kirpan into a court or tribunal building if the overall length is no more than six inches and the blade is no more than five inches in length, the report stated.

But according to Gulshan, these measurements are physically impossible as a Kirpan with four inches of blade cannot have two inches for the handle and sheath.

“In light of the HMCTS (HM Courts and Tribunals Service) guidance as it currently stands, it is apparent that a Sikh lawyer … cannot expect to practice law because he has effectively been banned from appearing in court in violation of his right to carry a kirpan as protected by UK legislation,” Gulshan’s barrister, Parminder Saini, told the lord chief justice and the vice-president of the court of appeal, The Guardian report said.

“Sikhs are unique in being a protected religion as well as a race. As a person of Sikh ethnicity, this systemic discriminatory treatment therefore occurs on both religious and ethnic grounds, and equates to systematic discrimination against Sikhs,” Saini added.

In its argument, the government said that the security policy came into force after consulting the Sikh community.

In reply to this, Saini said the government spoke with the smaller Supreme Sikh Council and not the Sikh Council UK, which is the community’s largest platform in the country, the report said.

Sukhjeevan Singh from the Sikh Council UK, said in his submission to the court that “to design and manufacture such a kirpan would be a mockery of our sacred article of faith”.

Saini said the court’s guidance is unlawful because it seeks to overrule primary legislation — it is not an offence to carry an article with a blade in a public place if a person has the article with him for religious reasons.

To this, the government argued that permission to appeal should be refused because the policy falls under the legitimate aim of protecting the security of others. Saini’s objections, they said, are “a misreading of primary legislation”.

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Doval to take tough stand with UK on Sikh extremists

Although India has been raising the issue of Sikh extremists in Britain, the UK government has been dragging its feet over stopping the funds flowing to these groups…reports Asian Lite News

National security advisor Ajit Doval is likely to strongly take up with his UK counterpart Tim Barrow, at a meeting in London today, the issue of Sikh extremists being given a free run in Britain.

At the meeting, which forms part of the annual strategic dialogue between the two countries, NSA Doval is also expected to discuss the issue of continued support to Pakistani groups in the UK that are carrying out an anti-India campaign and fuelling cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. Some British politicians have been backing these groups of Pakistan-origin because of their large vote-bank in some constituencies.

Although India has been raising the issue of Sikh extremists in Britain, the UK government has been dragging its feet over stopping the funds flowing to these groups through some gurudwaras controlled by radical groups in Britain. They have been spreading false propaganda about “atrocities against the community” in India. The Modi government believes that the UK is trying to justify violence in the name of freedom of speech and using these radical groups to pressure India.

While the Rishi Sunak government is eyeing the vast Indian market for its goods as the UK economy totters after Brexit, the British deep state with its pro-Pakistan tilt has been working against India.

NSA Doval is stopping over in London after a successful trip to Washington where he held talks with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan.

Earlier, Doval met the board members of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USIPF) and held discussions on enhancing cooperation in defence, space, cybersecurity, undersea and innovative intelligence, according to the statement released by USIPF.

In the one-hour-long discussion that took place on Wednesday, both Doval and board members held a discussion on enhancing cooperation in surveillance, building sophisticated reconnaissance systems, and US restrictions on the export of technology. The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C, and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organisations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.

According to the statement, since the seminal nuclear deal, the U.S.-India defense cooperation has only improved over the years. This meeting underscored U.S. defense companies’ commitment to producing military hardware under the Government of India’s AtmanirbharBharat (Self-Reliant) initiative and, on the software side, on advanced technologies in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).

USISPF members touched on how the private sector can coalesce and work with both governments on traditional defense capability and deep-tech collaboration, especially in the era of autonomous weapons where non-state actors pose a pernicious threat to a nation’s vulnerability.

In this meeting, USIPFF president and CEO Mukesh Aghi said the NSA received in the US mark a high point in the defence and strategic relationship between Washington and New Delhi.

“It also accentuates the level of trust that the United States has in India, as a key defense partner, despite not being a treaty ally. USISPF believes it is time for the U.S. to remove the export barriers of the late 1990s and allow its private sector to work with its Indian counterpart to take the U.S.-India defense partnership to the next level,” he said.

As India and the U.S discuss greater cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, USISPF will work with both governments and the private sector to enhance synergy across defense security, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and the Make in India initiative to consolidate India as a hub for defense manufacturing in the Indo-Pacific region.

NSA Ajit Doval was on an official visit to Washington from January 30-February 1. He was accompanied by senior government officials and leaders of Indian industry.

During his visit, both nations agreed to maintain sustained attention to achieve outcome-oriented deliverables within definitive timelines, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

The NSA interacted with US policymakers and stakeholders across government, Congress, business, academic and research communities on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest, it said.

Apart from his meeting with US NSA Jake Sullivan, Doval held a meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, Acting Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, key Senators, and industry leaders.

Doval and Sullivan co-chaired the inaugural meeting of iCET at the White House on January 31.

iCET aims to position the two countries as trusted technology partners by building technology value chains and supporting the co-development and co-production of items. It also aims to address regulatory restrictions, export controls, and mobility barriers through a standing mechanism.

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Hardy Sikh prayer book revived after 100 years

Provided by the Defence Sikh Network, the modernised Nitnem Gutka is designed to be hardy so it can cope with use on operations…reports Asian Lite News

Waterproof and tearproof, the Nitnem Gutka (Sikh Daily Prayers) is designed to be used in modern tactical environments. Nitnem translates to Daily Routine, and the collection of Sikh meditations will allow Sikh personnel to practice their faith at 3 different times of the day, wherever they are and in any conditions.

There is a long tradition of Sikhs carrying their religious text with them into conflict. In World Wars 1 and 2, Sikhs made up 20% of the British Indian Army. Over 120,000 Sikhs died and many more were injured from the trenches in France to the Jungles of Burma, and records from the time show Sikh troops with their prayer books in the deserts of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Provided by the Defence Sikh Network, the modernised Nitnem Gutka is designed to be hardy so it can cope with use on operations.

Maj Daljinder Singh Virdee, who led the project, said, “I was inspired to undertake this initiative when I saw old images of Sikh soldiers conducting their prayers in uniform. It has been a two-year journey to get to this point but makes all the efforts worthwhile knowing that Sikhs in UK Defence no matter where they serve across the world in whatever conditions can connect to their faith and find spiritual support through this Nitnem Gutka, for generations to come”.

The project has opened the door for other faith communities in Defence to create a similar product, such as the Hindu Gita.

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Indian-American appointed to US DHS’ Faith-Based Advisory Council

GILL. (CREDIT: YOUTUBE)

The Faith-Based Security Advisory Council provides advice to the Secretary and other senior leadership on matters related to protecting houses of worship…reports Asian Lite News

After Indian-American community leader Chandru Acharya, Kiran Kaur Gill, an Indian-origin Sikh, has been named to the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Faith-Based Security Advisory Council.

Gill, Executive Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), is the lone Hindu voice in the committee of 25 distinguished faith leaders from the US.

At SALDEF, a Sikh-American advocacy organisation based in Washington, Gill oversees programmes related to policy, research, education, civic engagement and youth leadership.

She was previously a volunteer for SALDEF conducting Sikh Awareness training around the country for schools, law enforcement and state/local government. She was actively involved in teaching Sikh history and kirtan (religious music).

Before SALDEF, Gill was the president and CEO of an environmental consulting firm in New Jersey. In 2014, she was selected as “Small Business Person of the Year” by the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

In 2018, she was named among the top 50 most influential people of colour in New Jersey by ROI-NJ. She was also the president and a founding member of Inspiring South Asian American Women, an organisation dedicated to promoting civic and community engagement among South Asian American women.

The Faith-Based Security Advisory Council provides advice to the Secretary and other senior leadership on matters related to protecting houses of worship, preparedness and enhanced coordination with the faith community.

“This Council is an important way for the Department to engage formally with critical partners on issues impacting faith communities,” said Brenda Abdelall, Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement.

“Members of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council will provide valuable insight that will benefit our stakeholders nationwide on important issues within the scope of the Department’s mission

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Sikh delegations of UK army attend controversial events

The UK delegation visited Kartarpur Corridor, Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib and Orakzai district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province…reports Asian Lite News

The participation of official Sikh delegations of the Australian and UK armies in certain events have raised eyebrows in New Delhi, especially in view of India’s growing defence relations with both countries.

A delegation of 12 Sikh soldiers of the British Army visited a number of religious sites and historical monuments in Pakistan on June 28 under the aegis of the Defence Sikhs Network (DSN), an official UK armed forces organisation. The visit, under the name “Ex Nankana Pilgrim 2022”, was undertaken at the invitation of the Pakistan Army chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa.

The delegation – which was led by Maj Gen Celia Harvey, an army reservist who once contested elections as a Conservative Party candidate and is now Defence Champion for Sikhs in the Armed Forces – also interacted with Bajwa.

Last month, several Indian Australians were disturbed by the participation of a Sikh contingent from the Australian Defence Forces in the Griffith Sikh Games in New South Wales as the event featured Khalistani banners, posters and flags. Several Australian Sikhs of Indian origin complained to the organisers of the games about the pro-Khalistan banners.

Following the controversy, an Australian defence spokesperson told The Australia Today that a “small group of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members” attended the event in Griffith and that their attendance “was not in any official capacity and there was no formal invitation to Defence to participate”.

“They had no prior knowledge of other groups attending the event, including political or separatist movements. The attendance of ADF personnel at this event in no way endorses any other group or organisation who may have also been in attendance,” the spokesperson said.

“While the attendance of the ADF personnel at this event was well-intentioned, it has identified some internal process issues around attendance at community events and a requirement for further awareness training, both of which are being addressed,” the spokesperson said, adding that the ADF is an apolitical organisation and its personnel are expected to remain impartial.

Some of the Indian Australians were irked as pro-Khalistan organisations used photos of Sikh ADF personnel to suggest they were aligned with the cause of an “independent Sikh homeland”, people familiar with the matter said.

The people further said the Sikh delegation from the UK armed forces visited Pakistan against the backdrop of reports of hate crimes against religious minorities, especially Hindus and Sikhs. The UK delegation visited Kartarpur Corridor, Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib and Orakzai district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Defence Sikhs Network (DSN), earlier known as the British Armed Forces Sikh Association, is an official UK armed forces organisation which acts as a focal point for serving Sikhs and their community.

Eyebrows have also been raised in New Delhi over a post by DSN on its Facebook page and Instagram account on June 6 that condemned the “loss of sanctity of Harmandir Sahib and the Akal Takht” in 1984.

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Sikh Temple hosts Iftar

Dr. Surender Singh Kandhari, Chairman and founder of Gurunanak Darbar Dubai, welcomed the guests to Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple

Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Dubai hosted an Iftar gathering recently which was attended by senior UAE officials, citizens, diplomats, prominent religious and business personalities, Sikh community and members of all other faiths to spread the true spirit of the holy month of Ramadan.

The guests were welcomed by Dr. Surender Singh Kandhari, Chairman and founder of Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple Dubai.

HE Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Omar Al Muthanna, CEO, Regulatory and Licensing Department at CDA, Mirza Al Sayegh, Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Maktoum Foundation, were also present at the Gurudwara to convey and extend the message of friendship, tolerance, and acceptance. Maghrib prayers were led by Muslim religious scholars present at the Langar Hall after Iftar.

The officials and diplomats spoke about the unique event for promoting religious harmony and efforts of bringing together people from all walks of life. Former Pakistan cricketer Zaheer Abbas and Pamela Serena, Mrs. Universe Dubai 2021, the first Sikh lady to win the title were among the guests.

The Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Dubai opened a decade ago has welcomed people of all faiths and has been hosting Iftar gatherings every Ramadan but for the last two years due to Covid-19. Gurunanak Darbar Dubai also played a major role in helping authorities during the pandemic. Their efforts were welcomed and applauded by government officials and diplomats.

Dr. Kandhari praised the kindness and support of HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM, Ruler of Dubai for granting free land to fulfill the dreams of Sikh community for building a Sikh place of worship in Dubai.

He said, “UAE is one of the safest places in the world today and we all are the children of one God and living as brothers and sisters in this country. It is a place where everyone gets support and enjoys freedom. Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple Dubai’s doors are open to people from all faiths and food is served three times a day in Langar irrespective of their religion and position.”

HE Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE praised the UAE Rulers for promoting tolerance, cohabitation, and coexistence. He also appreciated the effort of Gurudwara for extending support to those who were affected during the pandemic. “India is the second-largest country of Muslim population in the world after Indonesia, our nation is known for celebrating various religious festivals, which pass the message of unity and togetherness,” he said.

Mirza Al Sayegh, Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Maktoum Foundation and the former UAE Consul General of India, told Asian Lite that India-UAE relations are centuries old. “Thanks to the Royal family of Dubai for harboring and protecting above 200 nationalities living in the UAE,” he said.

“This ceremony exemplifies to me the forgiving and understanding of harmony and friendship, especially for Sikh community who are known for their hard work and loyalty,” said Al Sayegh.

He pointed out the centuries-old Indo-Arab relations and praised the values of humanity and harmony in India by mentioning the states like Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Surat.

Dr. Omar Al Muthanna, CEO, Communitive Development Authority, Dubai, said the Iftar demonstrated the success of solidarity of various communities living in the UAE. “The Sikh community is not only an important companion of the UAE society but also committed to showing loyalty, positivity, and respecting diversity in the UAE. The Iftar gathering, a simple act of courtesy, is a way of honoring humanity while preserving the respect and self-esteem of others,” he said.

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Sikh scriptures brought to Derby from Ukraine

The scriptures included sets of Senchis, published in Hindi and Gurmukhi, over 30 ‘gutkas’ of Gurbani and other religious literature…reports Asian Lite News

Members of the Sikh Dharma International, United Sikhs and Sikh Defence Network, UK, with the assistance of Ukrainians, have shifted Sikh religious scriptures from war-torn Ukraine to England.

As per the Sikh ‘Rehat Maryada’, the scriptures were brought to the UK and housed in the National Sikh Museum in Derby.

Simran Singh, a representative of the Sikh Dharma International, said they learnt from acquaintances in Ukraine that the scriptures were no longer safe at a gurdwara situated in Odessa, a port city, which had come under heavy attack from Russian forces.

So representatives of various Sikh organisations jointly formed a team to retrieve the religious literature from the gurdwara. The scriptures included sets of Senchis, published in Hindi and Gurmukhi, over 30 ‘gutkas’ of Gurbani and other religious literature.

Reaching the war-torn nation was not easy for Simran and other members of his group, who first reached Romania. From there they went to Moldova and with the help of some Ukrainians salvaged these religious texts.

He claimed they heard loud explosions near the place during their stay in Odessa. They had also taken along food, medicine and warm clothes for the stranded Ukrainians, which they distributed among them.

He said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had caused great devastation. Most of the women, children and the elderly from different cities of Ukraine have already fled the country to safer places.

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UK Sikhs push back against Khalistani elements

They especially thanked Modi for announcing December 26 as Bir Bal Divas and declaring it as a public holiday…reports Asian Lite News

Amidst heightened activities by Khalistanis, the Sikh community in the UK has started pushing back against anti-India forces in country.

At the heart of this push back is Southall in London, which remains among the largest hubs of Sikh community in the UK and has a distinction of hosting the country’s largest and most prominent gurdwaras.

In an unprecedented move, the community leaders gathered at Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Park Avenue, and challenged the prevailing anti-India narrative propagated by Khalistanis and their backers.

They passed an unprecedented resolution thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for doing so much for the Sikh community and helping to bridge the misunderstandings.

They especially thanked Modi for announcing December 26 as Bir Bal Divas and declaring it as a public holiday.

In a congregation, community leaders and gurudwara committee office bearers challenged those who are pushing factually incorrect narrative about India and the Modi-led government.

They also challenged them to disprove their views, which has no political agenda or motive.

Sikhs in the UK consider this as a bold step within the community, which had so far kept silent and chose to not to confront a handful Khalistanis propagating anti-India narrative without any consequences from the local agencies.

The community, which is broadly fed up with Khalistani lies, have been fearful of bullying by Khalistanis and have been desisting from speaking up openly against them.

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