News for 'Sikhs'

Have better...: Shashi Tharoor slams 'zealots' amid Cong criticism

Have better...: Shashi Tharoor slams 'zealots' amid Cong criticism

Rediff.com29 May 2025

Tharoor said his remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by India's responsible respect for the LoC and the IB.

Kejriwal promises Rs 18,000 a month for Hindu, Sikh priests

Kejriwal promises Rs 18,000 a month for Hindu, Sikh priests

Rediff.com30 Dec 2024

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal announced the "Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana" which promises a monthly allowance of Rs 18,000 for Hindu temple priests and granthis of gurdwaras. This scheme is intended to support an often neglected section of society and registration for the scheme begins tomorrow. Kejriwal will visit the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place on Tuesday to oversee the registration process for priests there.

Sikh priests disqualified for performing same-sex wedding

Sikh priests disqualified for performing same-sex wedding

Rediff.com17 Oct 2023

Two women got "married" at Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Bathinda district on September 18. Following this, the Akal Takht had then suspended the 'granthis' (sikh priests), the management and the 'ragis' (gurbani exponents) of the gurdwara.

'Don't worry': Rahul meets Pak shelling victims in Poonch

'Don't worry': Rahul meets Pak shelling victims in Poonch

Rediff.com24 May 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, offering condolences to families affected by cross-border shelling and encouraging students who lost two classmates to the violence. During an hour-long visit, Gandhi met with students at the convent school that lost the twins, and visited families whose homes were damaged in the shelling.

Why Trudeau Cannot Ignore Canadian Sikhs

Why Trudeau Cannot Ignore Canadian Sikhs

Rediff.com6 Oct 2023

Sikhs have more in the way of domestic clout and electoral representation in Canada than they do in India. No politician in Ottawa can ignore the concerns of a community with this level of representation, notes Devangshu Datta.

Detention centre or torture cell? US deportee recounts 18-day ordeal

Detention centre or torture cell? US deportee recounts 18-day ordeal

Rediff.com18 Feb 2025

He said the air conditioners were run non-stop at a very low temperature, and they were given thin blankets, which were even thinner than silver foil paper and one could see through them.

Ask Sikhs In Punjab If They Want Khalistan...

Ask Sikhs In Punjab If They Want Khalistan...

Rediff.com11 Oct 2023

Almost all will say no. Then ask them why they don't push back at those who rise the slogan of Khalistan. Somebody would confront you with a counter-question: If people can talk of a Hindu Rashtra, why get so upset if others talk of a Sikh Nation, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Sunny Deol Returns This April!

Sunny Deol Returns This April!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

Joginder Tuteja looks at the month's releases in theatres.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim gets 21-day furlough

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim gets 21-day furlough

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been granted a 21-day furlough.

Sikhs protest near Kolkata BJP office over cop being called Khalistani

Sikhs protest near Kolkata BJP office over cop being called Khalistani

Rediff.com21 Feb 2024

Around 200 people belonging to the Sikh community staged a demonstration in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Kolkata on Wednesday, expressing solidarity with an Indian Police Service officer who had alleged that West Bengal party leader Suvendu Adhikari labeled him as a 'Khalistani'.

Ties with Pak will never improve until...: Farooq Abdullah

Ties with Pak will never improve until...: Farooq Abdullah

Rediff.com1 May 2025

Terming Pakistan as a 'failed state', National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Thursday said relations between New Delhi and Islamabad would never improve until a peoples' government is elected in the neighbouring country.

Sukhbir Badal returns as Akali Dal chief

Sukhbir Badal returns as Akali Dal chief

Rediff.com12 Apr 2025

The 62-year-old former deputy chief minister was first elected the party president in 2008. His re-election at the outfit's general delegate session in Amritsar comes barely four months after he quit after he was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht for "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its government from 2007 to 2017.

Court to rule on death plea for Sajjan Kumar on Feb 25

Court to rule on death plea for Sajjan Kumar on Feb 25

Rediff.com21 Feb 2025

A Delhi court reserved its order on the quantum of sentence against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots for February 25. The complainant, whose husband and son were killed, sought the maximum punishment of death penalty for Kumar. The court on February 12 convicted Kumar for the offence and sought a report from Tihar jail on his psychiatric and psychological evaluation.

Presumption of constitutionality in favour of Waqf law, says SC

Presumption of constitutionality in favour of Waqf law, says SC

Rediff.com20 May 2025

Underscoring the 'presumption of constitutionality in favour of law', the Supreme Court on Tuesday said petitioners challenging the waqf law needed a 'strong and glaring' case for interim relief.

Meet Delhi's new cabinet: A diverse power mix

Meet Delhi's new cabinet: A diverse power mix

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

The cabinet of the new government led by Rekha Gupta balances representation of all major communities that propelled the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in Delhi with a massive majority after over 26 years.

'Waqf Bill Targeted, Unfair Legislation'

'Waqf Bill Targeted, Unfair Legislation'

Rediff.com4 Apr 2025

'It is not as if Hindus are not being touched at all, and only Muslims are.'

Strategic Calculus Driving Pakistani Actions

Strategic Calculus Driving Pakistani Actions

Rediff.com10 May 2025

It is important for India to pay close attention to both the tone and substance of authoritative remarks coming out of Pakistan, explains former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

4 kids among 13 killed in Pak shelling, 57 injured

4 kids among 13 killed in Pak shelling, 57 injured

Rediff.com8 May 2025

The worst-hit in the Pakistani shelling was Poonch district which accounted for all the civilian deaths, the officials said, adding 28 persons were also injured and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.

Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh portraits removed? AAP, BJP spar

Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh portraits removed? AAP, BJP spar

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

The election of Vijender Gupta, a three-time BJP MLA, as the speaker of the Delhi Assembly has sparked controversy, with AAP members accusing the BJP of being "anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh." The accusations stem from the removal of photographs of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh from the chief minister's office, a move condemned by AAP leaders as a display of the BJP's alleged anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh stance.

Sajjan Kumar convicted in another 1984 riots case, faces death

Sajjan Kumar convicted in another 1984 riots case, faces death

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar now faces a maximum of death penalty and a minimum of life term in prison after being convicted on Wednesday by a Delhi court in a murder case stemming from 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

'Saugat e Modi Is Not Muslim Appeasement'

'Saugat e Modi Is Not Muslim Appeasement'

Rediff.com28 Mar 2025

'During Eid Muslims get Eidi, but Opposition parties never gave that to them.' 'When PM Modi is giving Eidi to Muslims Opposition leaders are getting upset.'

Pahalgam ponywallah died trying to save tourists: Omar

Pahalgam ponywallah died trying to save tourists: Omar

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a 30-year-old pony ride operator, was killed while trying to protect tourists from terrorists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. He was shot dead while trying to snatch a weapon from one of the terrorists. The attack claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Pahalgam to offer condolences to the families of the victims and praised Shah's bravery. Shah was laid to rest in his ancestral village with hundreds of mourners attending.

Sikh student attacked in Canada in suspected hate crime

Sikh student attacked in Canada in suspected hate crime

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

In an apparent case of hate crime, a 17-year-old Sikh high school student was assaulted at a bus stop after an altercation with another teenager in Canada's British Columbia province, according to a media report on Thursday.

Waqf amendment bill gets President's okay, old act repealed

Waqf amendment bill gets President's okay, old act repealed

Rediff.com6 Apr 2025

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which has sparked controversy and legal challenges. The Bill, passed by Parliament after heated debates, has been criticized by opposition parties as "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional". The government, however, maintains that the reform will benefit the Muslim community. Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Bill, alleging discrimination against Muslims and undermining their religious autonomy. The Bill repeals the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, and introduces restrictions on Waqf properties and their management, which have raised concerns about the impact on the Muslim community.

'OTT Has Become Desi Porn'

'OTT Has Become Desi Porn'

Rediff.com6 May 2025

'This kind of content will destroy our culture.'

Tale of two Adils of Pahalgam: One a terrorist, the other a hero

Tale of two Adils of Pahalgam: One a terrorist, the other a hero

Rediff.com25 Apr 2025

The story of two Adils, one a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist and the other a pony 'wallah' who died protecting tourists, highlights the contrasting realities of life in Kashmir. While the terrorist, Aadil Thokar, is accused of the deadly attack on tourists in Baisaran, the heroic pony 'wallah', Syed Adil Hussain Shah, sacrificed his life to save them. Their stories, though separated by a tragic event, reveal the deep-rooted conflict and the enduring spirit of compassion in Kashmir.

Can Baby Revive CPM?

Can Baby Revive CPM?

Rediff.com7 Apr 2025

M A Baby faces several significant challenges: Helping the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front secure a third consecutive term in Kerala's 2026 assembly elections, and regaining ground lost in the party's traditional strongholds of West Bengal, Tripura, and other regions.

'Mamata's Fundamental Concern Is The Muslim Vote'

'Mamata's Fundamental Concern Is The Muslim Vote'

Rediff.com18 Apr 2025

'Rather than assuaging the feelings of the Hindus accommodated in schools and hospitals, she calls a meeting of imams and tries to assuage them.'

Third US aircraft with 112 Indian deportees lands at Amritsar

Third US aircraft with 112 Indian deportees lands at Amritsar

Rediff.com17 Feb 2025

A US military aircraft carrying 112 Indian deportees landed at the Amritsar airport late on Sunday night, marking the third such flight in recent weeks. The deportees, who hail from various states across India, will be allowed to return home after completing necessary immigration procedures. The deportations are part of a crackdown by the Donald Trump administration against illegal immigrants.

Elderly Sikh man assaulted after car accident in New York, dies

Elderly Sikh man assaulted after car accident in New York, dies

Rediff.com23 Oct 2023

Jasmer Singh was attacked by 30-year-old Gilbert Augustin after their vehicles collided in Queens in New York last Thursday.

K'taka budget: Sidda announces Muslim quota for govt supplies

K'taka budget: Sidda announces Muslim quota for govt supplies

Rediff.com8 Mar 2025

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced reservation for Muslims in supplying goods and services up to a value of Rs 1 crore to various government departments, corporations and institutions in the state budget for 2025-26. The budget also increased the value limit of government contracts in which Muslims can avail reservation to Rs 2 crore. The reservation to Muslims under 2B category is in addition to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Castes coming under Category-1, Category-2A. The budget also included various welfare schemes for minorities, including Rs 50,000 to support simple marriages and Rs 1,000 crore under the Chief Minister's Minority Colony Development Programme.

Dr Singh's Asthi Visarjan

Dr Singh's Asthi Visarjan

Rediff.com30 Dec 2024

Dr Manmohan Singh's ashes were immersed in the Yamuna river near the Majnu ka Tila gurdwara by members of his family following Sikh rituals.

Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi fear deportation

Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi fear deportation

Rediff.com26 Apr 2025

Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in Delhi's Majnu Ka Tila are experiencing anxiety over their visa status despite government clarifications regarding Long Term Visas (LTVs). The government's decision to revoke all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, has left many refugees worried about their future. While LTVs for Hindu Pakistani nationals remain valid, the renewal process every two years and ongoing citizenship applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, have fueled concerns. The Delhi Police has initiated a verification drive, adding to the unease among the refugees, who fear being uprooted yet again. The article highlights the plight of these refugees, who have fled Pakistan seeking a better life in India, and the uncertainties they face in the current political climate.

Security tightened at Aurangzeb's grave amid calls for its removal

Security tightened at Aurangzeb's grave amid calls for its removal

Rediff.com17 Mar 2025

Following calls for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave, authorities in Maharashtra, India, have increased security at the site. Visitors are now required to show identification before entering. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has staged protests and submitted memorandums demanding the grave's removal, citing Aurangzeb's history of conflict with the Marathas and his persecution of other religious groups. The caretaker of the grave has maintained that the situation is peaceful and that visitor numbers have declined since the controversy arose.

Why The ISI Targeted Hindus In Pahalgam

Why The ISI Targeted Hindus In Pahalgam

Rediff.com6 May 2025

The ISI strategy has been to use its proxies to target Hindus in India. They want an outrage and counter-targeting of India's minorities. Further, even the whiff of it restores the Pakistan army's popularity, especially when it's in the dumps, like now, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Why the court didn't award Sajjan Kumar death penalty

Why the court didn't award Sajjan Kumar death penalty

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

A Delhi court sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of two Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court cited Kumar's age and illness as mitigating factors in its decision to impose a lesser sentence than the death penalty. Kumar was convicted for being part of a mob that set fire to the victims' home and killed them. This is the second life imprisonment sentence for Kumar in connection with the 1984 riots. He is also facing other charges related to the riots.

Canada panel finds 'no foreign link' to Nijjar killing

Canada panel finds 'no foreign link' to Nijjar killing

Rediff.com30 Jan 2025

A Canada commission report has said that 'no definitive link' with a 'foreign state' in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was 'proven', smashing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that accused the involvement of Indian agents in the killing.

Canadian gets lifer for killing man acquitted in Air India bombing case

Canadian gets lifer for killing man acquitted in Air India bombing case

Rediff.com29 Jan 2025

A Canadian court has sentenced a 24-year-old man to life after he pleaded guilty to the killing of a Sikh businessman, a suspect in the 1985 Air India bombing who was later acquitted, according to local media reports.

Canadian MP Chandra Arya's leadership bid revoked over India ties

Canadian MP Chandra Arya's leadership bid revoked over India ties

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

Canada's Liberal Party has revoked Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya's bid to run for the party leadership and his nomination in his own Ottawa Nepean constituency over alleged ties to the Indian government. Citing a source with top-secret clearance, the Globe and Mail daily reported that Arya, who visited India last August and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had not informed the government of that trip even though bilateral relations are in a deep freeze. The Liberals have never revealed why they barred the three-term Liberal MP from the party's recent leadership race or from running again in Nepean constituency. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service had briefed the government about Arya's "alleged close ties to the government of India, including its High Commission in Ottawa". Arya has rejected the allegations and believes he was removed because of his stance against the Sikh Khalistani movement in Canada.

US, UK call for calm amid heightened India-Pak tensions

US, UK call for calm amid heightened India-Pak tensions

Rediff.com30 Apr 2025

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the US has called on both countries "not to escalate" the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow. The US State Department said Washington is reaching out to both India and Pakistan "regarding the Kashmir situation" and telling them "not to escalate the situation."