Stay updated with the latest Other news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on Other topics.
Amritsar: A war of words has erupted within Sikh religious circles after the Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, was accused of bypassing a long-standing tradition by not delivering the customary June 6 'sandesh' -- a formal message to the Sikh community on the anniversary of Operation Bluestar, a 1984 military operation to smoke out holed up terrorists from the Golden Temple.Former Damdami Taksal spokesperson Sarchand Singh has pushed back against attempts by the Akal Takht secretariat and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to suggest that Giani Gargaj's 'sandesh' was embedded within his 'Ardas' (prayer), arguing that this kind of claims reflect a basic misunderstanding of Sikh religious practice. "An Ardas is a humble supplication to the Guru; a 'sandesh' is a directive message to the 'quom' (community)," Sarchand Singh said. "There was nothing new or directive in this year's Ardas compared to previous commemorations. To equate the two is misleading."The criticism follows mounting scrutiny over Giani Gargaj's role and legitimacy. Sarchand Singh expressed dismay that Gargaj -- who was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Panj Pyare at Takht Patna Sahib -- was given a 'Siropa' (robe of honour) reportedly at the Akal Takht, despite Sikh tradition dictating that a 'tankhaiya' must first complete prescribed penance and receive formal absolution before being honoured at any Takht.Sarchan Singh said: "Offering a Siropa to someone declared tankhaiya without due absolution sets a dangerous precedent. This violates religious protocol directly." The controversy also reignites long-standing debates over the SGPC's authority to appoint Jathedars. While acknowledging that the SGPC holds administrative power over Takht appointments, Taksal's former spokesperson asserted that this kind of decisions lacked spiritual legitimacy unless endorsed by broader Sikh institutions.He said: "The identity of the Panth cannot be upheld if Sikh sects, Nihang groups, and Sabha societies are excluded from the process. Jathedars are being appointed like SGPC employees, diminishing the stature and sanctity of these positions. The dispute highlights deeper fissures within Sikh religious governance, raising fresh questions about accountability, tradition, and the role of representative consent in decisions affecting the global Sikh community.MSID:: 121695262 413 |
Berhampur (Odisha), Jun 6 (PTI) Environmental activist Medha Patkar on Saturday appealed to the people of Odisha for protection of Rushikulya river. The government planned to construct a dam in the river Pipalapnaka under Sorada block in the district. While participating in the Save Rushikulya river movement in Ganjam district, she said, "Rivers may be small or big, but they are our mother. We have to protect the rivers from attacks." She attended a meeting were organised by the Rushikulya Banchao Kriyaanusthan Committee (RBKC) and the Centre for Climate Justice, spearheading the agitation a ...Read More >
Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the largest representative body of Siks, on Saturday said the Takht Sri Patna Sahib clergy had gone beyond its religious jurisdiction by declaring Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal a tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct). In a statement, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the decision by Takht Sri Patna Sahib's panj pyare (the five beloved ones) had created confusion within the panth (Sikh community). Dhami said traditions and customs were meant to resolve issues of the community, and not to deepn a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday extended his greetings on the occasion of Guru Purnima. In a post on X Rahul Gandhi stated,'Heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Thanks to all the Gurus who show us the path of compassion, kowledge, patience and truth in life.' A Guru is considered an essential guide for one's success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on ...Read More >
AMRITSAR: In less than twenty-four hours, the Golden Temple once again received a threatening message warning of a possible bomb attack. The fresh threat, similar in content to a previous one referencing RDX and a specific time, sparked renewed concern among authorities and devotees alike.Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Secretary Partap Singh informed on Tuesday that the internet department of SGPC received the mail on the morning, following which the same was informed to the police. Stating that the content of the fresh threat email is almost the same as the one received on Mon ...Read More >
Gurdaspur (Punjab) [India], December 4 (ANI): Jasmeet Kaur, wife of Narain Singh Chaura, who attempted to assassinate Sukhbir Singh Badal, condemned her husband's actions on Wednesday. She stated that her husband had informed her he was attending a "death anniversary programme" in Amritsar. "I didn't know what had happened until reporters came knocking at my door. Earlier, he had been lodged in jails in Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Gurdaspur," Kaur told reporters. "I don't think what he did was right," Kaur added. Narain Singh Chaura opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh ...Read More >
BATHINDA: The antim ardas of senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa turned out to be a platform for advocating a strong regional party, also known as Akali unity. Various leaders stressed the need for unity, but interestingly, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar was the most vocal about the need for a strong regional party, although he stopped short of naming the Akali Dal.Sunil Jakhar devoted a significant part of his brief address to unity while speaking to the large gathering at Gurdwara Nankiana Sahib, Sangrur. He said, "Mafi chahunga, meri jaga taan ni banndi magar masla asal virasat da ...Read More >
Ludhiana, Jun 8 (PTI) Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday asserted that his party will win the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, scheduled to be held on june 19, with a "record margin". "Congress practically has no competition here", he claimed. Warring, who is also the Ludhiana MP, said that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was badly mistaken that the Congress would allow it to abuse power and misuse the official machinery for the elections. "First of all, we will not let any misuse of the official machinery and second, in case any official is found to be misusing ...Read More >
Amritsar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand has claimed that Britain assisted India in executing the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, stoking a new controversy.In a post on X on Monday, Dubey alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi "launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain", with British Army officers present in Amritsar.He uploaded a classified British document, "Sikh Community", claiming that on Feb 23, 1984, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in a letter that the Indian govt had sought British advice over a plan to remove Si ...Read More >
Chandigarh, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) On a motion moved by Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravjot Singh, the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday expressed sorrow over the demise of eminent Punjabi Sikh runner Fauja Singh and paid tribute to him. Expressing grief over the demise of 114-year-old Fauja Singh in a road accident, Ravjot Singh said he was the world's oldest runner who had brought glory to the Sikh community worldwide through marathon races. The minister said that Fauja Singh would always remain in the memories. He prayed to God to give the family the strength to bear the loss. The body ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], December 3 (ANI): Punjab Legislative Assembly Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday, slammed the BJP-led central government for neglecting the interests of farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Bajwa's scathing attack comes amidst growing discontent among farmers in the region, who feel their concerns have been ignored by the ruling party. "Ever since the BJP government has come to power, they have not taken a single decision that is in the interest of the farmers of India, especially the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. It is their fundamental rig ...Read More >
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], June 6 (ANI): Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised by several people at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the 41st anniversary of Operation Blue Star on Thursday. People raised slogans of 'Khalistan zindabad' as SAD (Mann faction) leader Simranjit Singh Mann reached the Golden Temple on the 41st anniversary of Operation Blue Star and also the death anniversary of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during the operation. Also Read | Goa: Man Held for Trying to Trade Sensitive Data Online Using Cryptocurrency Transactions. Operation Blue Star was a 10-day militar ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
Ludhiana, Jun 5 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Thursday asserted that there should be no "politicisation" of the armed forces, even as he accused the BJP of milking Operation Sindoor for political gains. "Such politics should not be done. I salute the armed forces. But there should be no politicisation of the army," he said. "Have you ever seen any former prime minister donning a military uniform....? But now the uniform is being used for political gains. It should not happen," he said. Armed forces fight for the country, and they have no connection with politics, he asserted. T ...Read More >
Raipur, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) A villager was brutally murdered in Puvarti village, located within the Jagargunda police station area of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. Puvarti village holds significant strategic importance as it is the native place of Maoist commander Hidma and Battalion 1 chief Deva Barse. The village has produced 22 hardcore Maoists. The attack was allegedly carried out by a group of ten to fifteen Maoists, who ambushed the victim and killed him using sharp weapons, police sources said. The Maoists accused the villager of being a police informant, a charge that has often ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Takht Patna Sahib (one of the five supreme temporal seats of sikhs) due to his failure to appear before it and thereby undermining its authority. Sources said the decision is an outcome of Sukhbir's failure to appear before the Takht despite being summoned twice. It is understood that this development would further escalate clashes between Sikh religious authorities and political figures. Badal was called to present himself before the panj pyaras (five be ...Read More >
Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President and senior advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on Wednesday demanded the death penalty of the culprits of sacrilege. Dhami said, "The culprits of sacrilege should get the death penalty. After 2015, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government brought a strict law against sacrilege by amending Section 295-A, but till date, neither the incidents of sacrilege that took place in Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Sri Darbar Sahib and elsewhere have been properly investigated nor have any of the culprits been punished." Dhami, while explaining ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday extended his greetings on the occasion of Guru Purnima. In a post on X Rahul Gandhi stated,Heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Thanks to all the Gurus who show us the path of compassion, kowledge, patience and truth in life. A Guru is considered an essential guide for one success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on Gur ...Read More >
Pune: The occasion of Guru Purnima, celebrated across India as a tribute to teachers and spiritual guides, unfolded on Thursday with reverence, music, prayer, and acts of service.The festival, rooted in several faiths and traditions, honours the sacred relationship between guru and disciple, a bond of spiritual and intellectual mentorship.Numerous city-based educational institutions marked the occasion, as is the custom. At the Sri Balaji University Pune, Guru Purnima was observed informally but meaningfully. "Students greeted teachers with flowers, sweets, heartfelt letters, and poetry," said ...Read More >
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], July 15 (ANI): The Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar received another bomb threat on Tuesday. The dog squad has been deployed at the Golden Temple premises as part of a security check. The holy site for Sikhs received a bomb threat via e-mail for the second consecutive day. Also Read | India Raises Pahalgam Terror Attack at SCO Meeting: EAM S Jaishankar Calls for 'Uncompromising Position' on Combatting Terrorism. Pratap Singh, Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), demanded strict action against the miscreants. Pratap Singh told reporte ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jan 21 (VOICE) Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh's fates are intertwined through their films "Emergency" and 'Panjab 95" due to the chatter around both the movies. On Tuesday morning, Diljit took to Instagram, where he posted a note apologising that his film "Panjab 95", has once again faced a hiccup in its release in India. "We are very sorry and it pains us to inform you that the movie Panjab 95 will not release on 7th Feb due to circumstances beyond our control," he wrote. The movie, which is based on the life of prominent Sikh human rights act ...Read More >
The Chief Minister highlighted that marginalised communities, particularly Scheduled Castes, are being "lured, or coerced" into changing religion Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday termed illegal religious conversions a "calculated conspiracy to undermine the nation's identity and social fabric," asserting that the Uttar Pradesh government is taking firm action to curb the menace. Adityanath made the remarks while flagging off the UP-Delhi Shri Tegh Bahadur Sandesh Yatra from his Luckno ...Read More >
Ujjain, July 10: On the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, the sacred Bhasma Aarti was performed at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Ujjain. Devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the early morning ritual, which is considered very divine. The temple resonated with chants and spiritual fervor, marking the worship of Lord Shiva and spiritual gurus. Today also marks the end of the month of Ashadh and the beginning of the month of Sawan. From today, the Kanvar Yatra will also begin. Guru Purnima 2025 Date and Shubh Muhurat: Know Vyasa Purnima Tithi Timings and Significance of the Day De ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jun 8 (PTI) Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday said all Akali factions should set aside their "egos" and differences and unite, asserting that a strong 'panthic' party is required not only for the state but also for the nation. He asserted that that would be a "true tribute" to veteran Akali leader and former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Also Read | Bodoland Lottery Result Today, June 8, 2025: Assam State Lottery Sambad Sunday Lucky Draw Results Declared, Check Winners List With Ticket Numbers. Dhindsa died on May 28 following age-related health issues at a pri ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a social media post on Monday, BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey claimed that former prime minister Indira Gandhi mounted an attack, Operation Blue Star, on Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar in 1984 in collusion with Britain, when officials of the British Army were present in the city. "In 1984, Indira Gandhi launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain, with British army officers present in Amritsar at that time," Dubey wrote on X. Taking a dig at Congress, he claimed the Grand Old Party treated the Sikh community merely as a toy. "(The then home minis ...Read More >
Ludhiana: Punjab government's new law against sacrilege proposes a minimum jail term of 10 years and the bill will be tabled in the special session of the Assembly on July 10-11. Assembly Speaker Kultar Sandhwan said sacrilege of any religion is unacceptable. "Guru Granth Sahib is of great dignity for us and a strict anti-sacrilege law should be introduced," he said. However, this is not the first anti-sacrilege bill that is being introduced in Punjab. A bill against sacrilege was first introduced in 2016 during the tenure of BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal government in the wake of rising sacrilege ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The best way to honour teachers is by empowering them, said Priti Adani Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, on the occassion of Guru Purnima on Thursday. Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to expressing reverence for spiritual and academic mentors. "A beautiful way to honour teachers is to empower them," Priti Adani said, in a post on social media platform X. Priti Adani informed that teachers from Adani Schools are being groomed to become master trainers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). "Our STEM Leadership Training in par ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar offered wishes on the occasion of Guru Purnima on Thursday. In a post on X he said, 'Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I bow to all the Gurus. The knowledge and guidance of the Gurus shape our lives.' https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1943149215766712441 A Guru is considered an essential guide for one's success in life. Thousands of people visit their respected Gurus on this day, presenting gifts to them as per their abilities. The belief is that respecting Gurus on Guru Purnima brings positive ...Read More >
Chandigarh, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday asserted both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab are politicising the sensitive issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib for their political ambitions even as it asked Leader of Opposition Partap Bajwa to tell why the previous Congress government did nothing to either probe or punish the perpetrators responsible for this heinous crime. Reacting to Bajwa's statement in the Vidhan Sabha in which the former claimed that the AAP government had failed to charge sheet both former Chief Minister Parkash Si ...Read More >
Amritsar (Punjab) [India], July 15 (ANI): The Golden Temple in Punjab Amritsar received another bomb threat on Tuesday. The dog squad has been deployed at the Golden Temple premises as part of a security check. The holy site for Sikhs received a bomb threat via e-mail for the second consecutive day. Pratap Singh, Secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), demanded strict action against the miscreants. Pratap Singh told reporters, Golden Temple is the centre of faith of the world, and we received an email threatening a blast in the Golden Temple. It is the responsibilit ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jul 17 (PTI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee receiving e-mails threatening to blow up the Golden Temple spurred Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to urge people on Thursday to be wary of rumours and assert that his government would not allow any compromise with security. He held a meeting here with senior police officials, including Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, in the wake of the threatening emails received by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Also Read | 'Arvind Kejriwal Used Government Funds to Buy Mobiles Costing Up to INR 1.63 Lakh' ...Read More >