Tuesday, November 30, 2010

SONIA’S FAITH IS HER PRIVATE MATTER: HC

Chandigarh November 30:

A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissed an appeal to seek information under Right to Information Act on the religion practised by Sonia Gandhi.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the appeal on whether the registrar general, Census Operations, is bound to provide details of the religion practised by the UPA chairperson and her children under the RTI Act.

The appeal was filed by former Haryana DGP PC Wadhwa. While dismissing it the bench said, ''It is evident that the petitioner is making efforts to make unjustified inroads into the privacy of said individuals even if they are public figures. Consequently, the information provided to the Census Officer cannot be made public.''

The judges said, ''In our view, the provisions of section 15 of the Census Act, 1948 are not inconsistent with provisions of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005 and both can be read harmoniously. Accordingly, Section 22 of the RTI Act, 2005 will not come into operation and cannot sustain the pleas of the appellant.

BROTHER QUESTIONS BADAL'S DECISION ON SUKHBIR

Chandigarh November 30:

Gurdas Singh Badal, the younger brother of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has created a flutter in Punjab politics by saying that his elder brother virtually blocked the political growth of his son Manpreet Singh Badal by making Sukhbir Singh Badal the State's Deputy Chief Minister.

This is for the first time that former Akali Dal veteran Gurdas Badal has trained his guns on Chief Minister Badal, saying that as per an agreement between the two brothers, Sukhbir had to move to Central politics, and Manpreet had to become his heir-apparent in Punjab. His revelations, which he made in an interview to a Punjab Daily, have brought forth the long simmering differences among the Badal family as to who would succeed Chief Minister Badal when he retires. "It was of course Manpreet Singh," said Gurdas Badal.

According to SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh Grewal: "It is pertinent to mention here that Gurdas Singh Badal revealed in the interview that he and Parkash Singh Badal decided to keep Sukhbir in Central politics and Manpreet was to be the Chief Minister of the State, but with the induction of Sukhbir in State politics, the way for Manpreet's becoming Chief Minister had been blocked and Manpreet was left with no other option than quitting the Government as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal."

Though the SAD is trying to attack Manpreet saying that he was overambitious and that is why he chose to revolt, the issue has once again brought out the fact that at one time Chief Minister Badal, himself, was keen to declare Manpreet as his heir-apparent. Grewal said that nobody should have any doubt regarding Manpreet's narrow political ambition which led to compelling circumstances for his ouster from the party and the Government, which was countered by a supporter of Manpreet, who said that in politics everybody has ambition.

"Manpreet has justified ambition to grow bigger than others in State politics. Sukhbir Singh Badal has also become Deputy Chief Minister with hopes of donning the mantle of Chief Ministership as soon as possible," he said. Gurdas Badal has also said that Manpreet would not resign his Gidderbaha seat in Muktsar district.

MANPREET SAYS HE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE PARENT PARTY

Ludhiana November 30:

Expelled Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said he would neither rejoin the SAD nor float a new political outfit.

"I will never go back to the Shiromani Akali Dal," he told media persons after addressing a rally near Badowal here. He would also not create a new political outfit, said the nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. To a question, he said voters in Punjab should not be taken for granted.

"They are mature enough to guide their own destiny." Manpreet lamented even 63 years after independence, problems like poverty, unemployment, gender discrimination and corruption continued to afflict the nation. "The country cannot wait for another 60 years for eradication of these evils," he said.

SONIA’S FAITH IS HER PRIVATE MATTER: HC

Chandigarh November 30:

A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissed an appeal to seek information under Right to Information Act on the religion practised by Sonia Gandhi.

CID FILES CHARGE SHEET AGAINST NITYANANDA, FOUR ASSOCIATES

Bangalore November 30:

Controversial self-styled godman Nityananda and four of his associates have been accused of rape and unnatural sex in a charge sheet filed by CID in a court near here.

The 430-page charge sheet filed before Ramanagara Chief Judicial Magistrate on November 27 has named Nityananda, Nitya Bhaktananda, Nithya Sachidananda, Nithya Sachidananda and Maa Sachidananda alias Ragini on the basis of two FIRs filed against them, a CID statement said here.

While charges under IPC Sections 376 (Rape), 377 (Unnatural sex), 417 (Cheating) 506 (Criminal Intimidation) and 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) have been made out against Nityananda, Nithya Bhaktananda has been booked under IPC Section 212 (Harbouring an offender) and 120 (B). Nityananda, who ran an ashram at Bidadi in the city outskirts, was mired in a controversy and had absconded after a purported video footage of him in a compromising position with an actress was aired on local Tamil channels. He was arrested in Himachal Pradesh on April 21.

The charge sheet was filed by CID officer K N Yogappa, who investigated the complaint by two former disciples K Lenin of Chennai and T N Vishwanath after examining 101 witnesses in India and abroad and collecting more than 60 documents, it said. Nitya Sachidananda, Nitya Sadananda and Maa Sachidananda have also been accused of assisting Nityananda in committing rape and unnatural sex.

Nityananda and Nitya Bhaktananda, who were arrested from Himachal Pradesh have been enlarged on bail, while Nitya Sachidananda arrested recently is now in judicial custody. Maa Sachidanand and Nithya Sadananda have not been arrested. During investigation, a woman witness, whose identity was kept confidential, appeared before the Investigating Officer and deposed that she was repeatedly raped by Nithyananda, not only at his Bidadi ashram but in other parts of the country as well, the CID said.

Nityananda allegedly deceived the victim by stating she would achieve enlightenment if she subjected herself to his sexual demands and it would lead to the path of 'moksha' (salvation). During investigation, a number of agreements signed between devotees and ashram authorities taking consent of devotees for taking part in 'tantrik sex' were also seized. Many more such agreements were destroyed a few days before the case came to light, the CID said.

The video CD produced by the complainant while lodging the FIR was sent for forensic analysis, which confirmed the recording was genuine and the image was that of Nityananda. Meanwhile hearing on the criminal petition filed by Nityananda seeking quashing of two FIRs was today adjourned by the High Court to December 1.

RANDHAWA LOOKING FORWARD TO WEAVE OLD MAGIC AT INDIAN OPEN

New Delhi November 30:

Ace Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa is looking forward to weave his old magic at the Hero Honda Indian Open, which returns to his favourite hunting ground - the Delhi Golf Club - from December 2.

''I am really looking forward to the Indian Open 2010. The Delhi Golf Club has always been a happy hunting ground for me so I want to take all the positives to the ground and hope to play my best, despite I am not in a great form'' Randhawa told mediapersons on the sidelines of unveiling the Hex City - Albatross International Junior Golf Championships Trophy.

Randhawa, the three-time Indian Open champion, further picked up PGA Tour champion Arjun Atwal as the favourite to win the event. ''(Arjun) Atwal would be my favourite to win the event this year. He is at the peak of his career and is coming back from his win at the US PGA Tour.

''Atwal has tendency not to play well in small tournaments but I believe he would come up with the best scores among all as Indian Open has now become a big tournament in recent years,'' he said. Indian leading golfers like Atwal, Randhawa, Jeev Milkha Singh, Daniel Chopra and Shiv Kapur had confirmed their participation in the event, though reports have emerged today that Jeev had pulled out of the event due to a back problem.

Jeev had also earlier withdrawn midway through the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour last week because of the same problem. ''I just heard about it. We will definitely be missing him. He had a great chance in the event. ''Jeev has been playing very less tournaments in the recent past. I believe the age is catching us with all of us like Jeev and me. We are in our 30s, so we need to play fewer tournaments to hit the form,'' the 38-year-old said.

Randhawa further said a score of 12 to 18 under would be ideal at the DGC during the Indian Open, though he said he was yet to play at the course. The Indian Open which is usually scheduled in the month of October has been postpond this year due to the Commonwealth Games and the Gurgaon-based golfer said it is, indeed, for the Indian golfers as everyone can participate now.

''Its better for all of us. The conditions may be little different and it would be little drier and colder,'' Randhawa said. He was also delighted to know about top Indian amateur Rashid Khan turning a pro in the Indian Open 2010. Randhawa also feels that the bunch of Indian golfers like C Muniyappa, Ashok Kumar, Mukesh Kumar were no different than top golfers, but what differentiate them is the way the top pros handles pressure.

''They are good players. But what differentiate them is how they handle the pressure situation. ''There might be a surprise package this time as well stored because in golf, one hits his form wins,'' he added.

CENTRAL TEAM TO VISIT STATE TO SETTLE FOOD PAYMENTS

handigarh November 30:

A team of senior officials of the Union Ministry of Food will be visiting Punjab this week to resolve the longstanding disputes, including clearance of pending dues running into thousands of crores of rupees.

The visiting team, to be headed by Joint Secretary RK Garg, will hold meetings not only with the senior functionaries of the Department of Food of the Punjab Government, but also with the top managements of other agencies associated with food procurement, storage and handling.

To pave the way for the settlement of longstanding demands of the Punjab Food Supplies Department, senior functionaries of the regional office of the Food Corporation of India also had a series of meetings with their Punjab counterparts. The Union Food Secretary, Dr Bhushan Chander Gupta, who was also on a visit here, also met the Punjab Chief Secretary, Subodh Chander Aggarwal, to discuss other demands of the state pending before the Union Food Ministry.

Talking to reporters, Dr Gupta, a 1975-batch Punjab-cadre IAS officer, also confirmed the visit of the central team to the state. The central food agencies owe to the state government more than Rs 8,000 crore as cost of procurement, transportation and storage of foodgrains on their behalf. The Punjab Government had been complaining that these costs were not being reimbursed on a regular basis. All that the Punjab food agencies got was ` 15 a quintal on shelling of paddy.

The Punjab Government, however, had been claiming over the years that the cost of transportation of foodgrains from grain markets to the place of storage was not being reimbursed. The shelling charges cover only the transportation of paddy from the place of storage to the rice mill and its subsequent delivery. One of Punjab agencies, Markfed, for example, had been demanding reimbursement of over Rs 2,500 crore incurred on food procurement operations.

Another disputed area between the Punjab Government and the Union Food Ministry had been the payment of administrative charges. The state agencies are responsible for 80 to 90 per cent of the total procurement operations for the central pool. In 2003, the Union Government agreed to pay 2.5 per cent of the total procurement cost of wheat. Nothing was being paid for paddy procurement. In fact, the paddy procurement operation is much bigger than the wheat procurement operation. Most of these issues are likely to be thrashed out during the coming visit of the central team.

SONIA’S FAITH IS HER PRIVATE MATTER: HC

Chandigarh November 30:

A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissed an appeal to seek information under Right to Information Act on the religion practised by Sonia Gandhi.

BROTHER QUESTIONS BADAL'S DECISION ON SUKHBIR

Chandigarh November 30:

Monday, November 29, 2010

SENSEX REBOUNDS AFTER 4-DAY FALL, UP 268 PTS LED BY RIL

Mumbai November 29:

Snapping its 4-day weak trend, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today shot up over 268 points as investors judged the recent fall excessive in view of the sound economic growth outlook and a firm global trend.

The Sensex, which had lost over 820 points in the last four trading sessions following housing scam racket last week, bounced back 268.49 points to 19,405.10 on the back of a steep rise in blue-chip stocks led by Reliance Industries and Ranbaxy lab.

The Sensex has lost 7.6 per cent since reaching all-time high on November 5, on account of 2G spectrum allocation scam and the CBI arrest of eight senior officials of public banks and a private brokering firm on charges of bribery. The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also picked up and posted a gain of 78.05 points at 5,830.00.

The upsurge in the market on expectations of better GDP data to be released tomorrow, further supported by a firming trend in the Asian region and higher opening in Europe this afternoon. Reliance Industries, the most valuable company and heaviest weighted on the benchmark, surged the most since May by adding 3.70 per cent to 998.20. Ranbaxy gained the most in a month, rising 3.84 per cent to Rs 565.75, on reports that it has got US approval to sell Aricept, Alzheimer's treatment drug.

The recently bashed banking and realty stocks were seen recovering on fresh buying by funds in fundamentally strong scrips available at cheaper rates. The oil and gas sector index was the best performer followed by banking sector, as stocks led by ICICI Bank, State Bank of India and Bank of India ended with gains.

LIC Housing Finance, which had lost significant ground after the break of the lending scam, recovered by 1.72 per cent to Rs 948.10 on renewed interest in buying. Meanwhile, Money Matters, a company at the centre of the controversy remained under pressure and hit its daily lower limit by losing 10 per cent at Rs 344.30. It has recorded a loss of 50 per cent since the outbreak of the finance racket. Another firm in trouble after the CBI probe, D B Realty dropped 6.49 per cent to Rs 198 on panic selling.

WE WERE JITTERY ABOUT ASIAD CHANCES: INDIAN BOXERS

New Delhi November 29:

They have returned with an impressive haul of seven medals, including an unprecedented couple of golds, but Indian boxers were a "jittery" lot before the Asian Games due to "lack of practice and recovery time" in the build-up to the event.

Indian boxers clinched two gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Asiad. This was for the first time that Indian boxers pulled off two gold medals in the Games -- through Vijender Singh (75kg) and the 18-year-old sensation Vikas Krishan (60kg).

Vikas and Vijender's golds are also first Asiad boxing golds for India since the 1998 Games when Dingko Singh clinched the yellow metal. "Frankly, I was skeptical about what the results would be like.

JEEV MILKHA SINGH SUFFERS BACK INJURY

New Delhi November 29:

Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh has been advised three weeks of complete rest following extensive medical tests on his problematic lower back on Monday.

The Chandigarh golfer, who had to withdraw halfway through the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour on Saturday, will also have to sit out of the Hero Honda Indian Open this week. After a series of tests and MRI scans, Jeev said he was lucky the injury did not turn out to be as serious as he initially thought it would be.

"I was actually feared the worst. There is a muscle tear around the L4 and L5, and there is a slight bulge in one of the discs which was pinching against a nerve and causing the intense pain," said Jeev. "The doctor has asked me to take complete rest for three weeks with intensive physiotherapy sessions. Hopefully, the disc will move back in place soon and there should not be any long-term damages. If all goes well over the next few days, I will be able to resume practicing in the New Year."

He further said: "Unfortunately, the injury means I will have to pull out of the Hero Honda Indian Open. It's a huge disappointment for me because I was looking forward to playing in India after a long gap, and also because I greatly admire what Hero Honda has done for Indian golf, as well as for me personally." "I wish the tournament all the best, and hope that the best man will win on Sunday," added Jeev.

BRASA HUMILIATED ME DURING WORLD CUP: RAJPAL

Chandigarh November 29:

Deeply hurt with the treatment meted out to him by chief coach Jose Brasa, a "powerless" Indian hockey captain Rajpal Singh on Monday said he has decided to call it quits from the post and will soon air his views to the national federation (HI).

Rajpal accused Brasa of constant "humiliation" during the World Cup earlier this year and said all these days he kept silent only for the sake of the team. "I had made up my mind to quit 3-4 months back, but decided not to go ahead as Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games were up ahead. But now I feel time has come to speak up as it is difficult to continue as a powerless captain who even does not know what his duties are," Rajpal said after returning from Guangzhou where he led India to the bronze medal.

Just before the World Cup in Delhi, a captaincy crisis rocked Indian hockey after Brasa vouched for senior player Prabhjot Singh to be made the skipper but the national selectors gave the responsibility to Rajpal. "Brasa wanted to make one of his favourite player as captain. But when he did not happen he started humiliating me during the World Cup and then the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia. I was like the 16th player of the team despite being the captain," Rajpal said.

He also alleged that the mental torture, which he was subjected to, reflected in the team's poor performance in the World Cup, where India finished a lowly eighth. "I decided to keep quiet knowing that it would affect the team if I speak in the middle of important tournaments. I tried to give my 100 per cent as for any player playing the game is the first aim and rest is secondary.

"But now with no international tournament lying ahead for the next three months, I have decided enough is enough," said Rajpal, who plays for the Indian Oil Corporation. "In a day or two when I go to Delhi, I will meet senior officials, including (Hockey India secretary general) Narinder Batra and apprise them about the whole thing," he said.

DEFIANT KALMADI TO FACE SCRUTINY OVER CWG

New Delhi November 29:

Indian Olympics Association chairman Suresh Kalmadi returned to Delhi on Sunday night. The under scrutiny CWG Organising Committee chairman was in China for the Asian Games.

“I have done nothing wrong from my end. I’m ready to face any probe, have done no wrong,” Kalmadi told reporters before entering the Parliament on Monday. Kalmadi also said that the success of the Commonwealth Games has rubbed off well on the international sports bodies. “I have been told that India can host Olympics in the future by international sports bodies during my visit to China, Morocco and Iran,” he said.

He returns at a time when three of his closest aides - TS Darbari, Sanjay Mohindroo and M Jayachandran - are behind bars for their alleged involvement in corrupt deals during the Queen's Baton relay in London last year. Kalmadi’s biggest concern, according to sources is that with Asian Games in Guangzhou drawing to a close, focus of investigations could shift to the Commonwealth Games and its mishandlings.

Reports that three ex-OC officials arrested in Queen's Baton Relay scam have been busy pointing fingers in Kalmadi's direction cannot have increased Pune MP's comfort levels. There is an expectation that Bhanot and other Kalmadi aides like R K Sacheti, joint director general, could be next in line for questioning by central agencies.

Meanwhile, a panel of senior IAS officers working with OC will be looking at payments due to major vendors like Agarwal Foods, Tata Motors and Australian firm Howard and Sons which was contracted for fireworks display. The Australian company has complained that its USD 300,000 dues have been held up despite successful show. But officials said contracts will be scrutinised carefully to ensure that obligations are met.

WE AIM TO EVOLVE A DIALOGUE STRUCTURE: J&K INTERLOCUTOR

New Delhi November 29:

With two visits to Jammu and Kashmir and scores of discussions involving a cross-section of people in the State over the past month, the three government-appointed interlocutors are treading cautiously on their path of putting in place a framework that will lead to the political settlement of the Kashmir problem.

“Our aim is to work out a dialogue structure — through the widest possible consultations with all shades of political opinion — which will be uninterrupted and uninterruptible no matter who tries to break it,” said Radha Kumar, Delhi Policy Group trustee and one of the interlocutors.

The other two interlocutors are senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar and Information Commissioner M. M. Ansari. The interlocutors are planning their third visit to the State in December third week. They had submitted reports and recommendations of their earlier visits to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, which have remained out of the public domain.

With the Central government giving the interlocutors the mandate to chart out a course towards finding a “political solution,” the group is eliciting views of main political parties and holding discussions with community leaders, youth, media, women, teachers, lawyers, businessmen and social activists.

Acknowledging that the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference, led by hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Mirwaiz Omar Farooq are the key stakeholders, the interlocutors hope to meet them in the coming months. “We plan to work out the framework on which the government and the stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir can rely upon and which would ultimately lead to a political solution to the problem,” Professor Kumar told reporters.

Mr. Chidambaram stressed recently that the aim was to find a “political solution to a political problem” and pointed out that there were no “red lines” for the interlocutors. Their appointment came after the Kashmir Valley witnessed incidents of stone-pelting, strikes, police firing during June-August. About 110 people, mostly youth, lost their lives as the police and security forces tried to break the vicious cycle of violence by firing at the protesters and stone-throwing youths. The interlocutors had suggested releasing of about 50 political prisoners, beginning with youths.

Over the past month, the State government has released nearly 30 prisoners, mostly youths, who were arrested after the incidents of stone-throwing. “It was not at all easy to approach people in the Kashmir Valley who were suffering under spells of curfew and grappling hard to put together basic necessities for leading normal lives under such circumstances. Their confidence and trust in instruments of governance had been completely shaken,” Professor Kumar recalled. She also cautioned of the pitfalls and the dangerous prospect of youth joining the ranks of militant organisations. “Kashmir is teetering on edge, the situation needs to be handled with great care.”

Insisting that the “ground situation” had to change for the people in Kashmir to move towards a political solution, she said the group was overwhelmed at the response it received during their interactions at several places in five districts in the Valley. “At some places, we found a gathering of 150 to 300 persons waiting for us. It was indeed a positive sign that people came out to interact with us,” she said. Professor Kumar flagged some points on which there was near-unanimity among people — they want a comprehensive and lasting political settlement and the sooner it comes about is better; they stress the need for good governance; and the way to resolve the problem is to recognise the honour and dignity of all concerned actors.

“We realise that there is a diversity of opinion on what a political solution could be based on,” said Professor Kumar, who has had experience in conflict resolution and handling of situations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. Admitting that the biggest challenge facing the interlocutors was to demonstrate their credibility insofar as arriving at a political settlement of the Kashmir problem was concerned, she felt that the recent release of youth, removal of security bunkers in Srinagar and an attempt by the administration to reach out to people had, in some ways, contributed towards building a “conducive” atmosphere.

Professor Kumar, however, pointed out that terrible individual sufferings were there and the challenge was to respect the suffering while “we have to ensure that key political issues are addressed.” She felt that the gains made during 2003-06 in terms of peace, and confidence building measures had, by and large, gone in 2010. “The challenge is also to regain that level and start building upon it. It is not impossible but it surely is a daunting task. Release of political prisoners, addressing the aspirations of youth, easing restrictions and putting in place a responsive and effective public grievance redressal machinery can help in bringing about a change in the ground situation.”

The 2003-06 period saw considerable improvement in the ground situation. During her visit to Srinagar earlier this month, Professor Kumar said that engaging Pakistan for solution of the entire former princely State was a necessity as Pakistan was in control of a large part of Kashmir. Interestingly, several Kashmiri youth have engaged themselves in Facebook conversation with Professor Kumar, asking her questions about India's sincerity in solving the problem. “Peace is to be brought by way of peace only and no economic package or change of political dispensation is ever going to make up for the same,” a comment stated.

Another commented that peace was an “assiduous exercise, rather a process.” While acknowledging weakness in the UPA, he said the appointment of interlocutors was in itself a “step forward and not backward.” They also seemed to agree with Professor Kumar's observation and assurance: “Peacemaking is a hard, slow and painful task and all I can say is that I will not give up.”

PAK, US IN WORRYING STAND-OFF OVER NUCLEAR FUEL: WIKILEAKS

Washington November 29:

A cache of a quarter-million confidential American diplomatic cables from the past three years, released by WikiLeaks on Sunday despite a hacking attack on its website, provides an unprecedented look at backroom bargaining by embassies around the world and brutally candid views of foreign leaders.

The documents show Saudi donors remain chief financiers of militant groups like al-Qaida and that Chinese government operatives have waged a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage, targeting the US and its allies, according to a review of the WikiLeaks documents published in the New York Times.

One of the revelations was a dangerous stand-off with Pakistan over nuclear fuel. Since 2007, US has mounted a highly secret effort, so far unsuccessful, to remove from a Pakistani research reactor highly enriched uranium that American officials fear could be diverted for use in an illicit nuclear device. In May 2009, Ambassador Anne W Patterson reported that Pakistan was refusing to schedule a visit by American technical experts because, as a Pakistani official said, "if the local media got word of the fuel removal, 'they would portray it as the US taking Pakistan's nuclear weapons,' he argued."

The White House condemned WikiLeaks' "reckless action" in releasing classified diplomatic cables, repeating its charge that the leak endangered lives and risked hurting relations with allies. Here are just some of the startling revelations that have emerged from the new WikiLeaks release:

* American and South Korean officials discussed the prospects for a unified Korea, should the North's economic troubles and political transition lead the state to implode. South Korea was even willing to offer economic incentives to China.

* China's Politburo directed the intrusion into Google's computer systems in the country, as part of a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and Internet outlaws recruited by the Chinese government.

* The Yemeni government has sought to cover up US role in missile strikes against the local branch of Qaida. At a January meeting, Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh tells Gen David Petraeus: "We'll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours".

* When Afghanistan's vice president visited the UAE last year, local authorities working with the Drug Enforcement Administration discovered that he was carrying $52 million in cash. With wry understatement, a cable from the American Embassy in Kabul called the money "a significant amount" that the official, Ahmed Zia Massoud, "was ultimately allowed to keep without revealing the money's origin or destination" (Massoud denies taking any money out of Afghanistan).

* American diplomats in Rome reported in 2009 on what their Italian contacts described as an extraordinarily close relationship between Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian PM, including "lavish gifts", lucrative energy contracts and a "shadowy" Russian-speaking Italian go-between. They wrote that Berlusconi "appears increasingly to be the mouthpiece of Putin" in Europe.

The 251,287 cables, first acquired by WikiLeaks, were provided to NYT by an intermediary. Many are unclassified, and none are marked "top secret," the government's most secure communications status. But some 11,000 are classified "secret," 9,000 are labelled "noforn," too delicate to be shared with any foreign government.

INDIA, CHINA DISCUSS BOUNDARY ISSUE

Beijing November 29:

Ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's New Delhi visit, India and China on Monday explored ways to resolve the vexed boundary issue as the Special Representatives of the two countries held the 14th round of border talks here.

The two designated officials -- National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo -- held a lengthy meeting to find ways to resolve differences over demarcation of the 4000-km-long border, especially at Aksai Chin in the Ladakh sector and Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part southern Tibet.

Menon, a specialist in Chinese affairs, is familiar with the top echelons of the leadership of this country as he had served as India's ambassador here and was also Foreign Secretary in the past. Menon and Dai, who are also friends, exchanged pleasantries, reminiscing their old association before settling down for the talks.

Welcoming the National Security Adviser, Dai, in his opening remarks, said "I know you are directly involved in establishing the Special Representatives (SR) mechanism" which was set up in 2003, referring to Menon's efforts as ambassador to Beijing at that time. He also thanked the NSA for "recommending" his name as the Chinese Special Representative for the boundary talks.

"But you would have never thought you will come as India's SR for talks here," Dai said. Applauding Menon's contribution for the betterment of Sino-India ties, Dai said "you are not only a senior Indian diplomat but also a famous expert on China. You are also a very good friend of China. I am convinced that as an SR and NSA you will make your unique contribution to further the relations and settlement of border issues between the two countries."

Responding to Dai's remarks, Menon said that "in India we believe in 'karma'." Later, the two met again over a banquet hosted by Dai in honour of Menon. The two diplomats are scheduled to hold the final round of the two-day talks tomorrow. The 13th round of boundary talks was held in New Delhi in 2009 between the then NSA M K Narayanan and Dai, which ended without much progress. India and China have been holding talks since 1980 to work out a formula to resolve the differences. The process got an impetus after the two countries agreed to establish the Special Representatives' mechanism.

In the process, the two countries also signed agreements in 1993 and 1996 to maintain peace and stability along the border areas, besides inking a political guiding principle on demarcation of the boundary in 2005.

GOVT TO ISSUE SHOW CAUSE NOTICES TO 119 TELECOM COMPANIES

New Delhi November 29:

Facing allegations of massive financial irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation, the government on Monday said show cause notices will be issued to 119 licencees for suppressing facts and also for missing roll-out obligations as per the terms and conditions of licence.

“... we believe that some of the companies might have suppressed facts, might have got an undue advantage in accessing licences,” Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters. Asked about the revenue loss to the exchequer by allotting spectrum at 2001 prices, as pointed out by the CAG, the Minister said, “The CAG has stated this. This is something which the Ministry will decide and we will apply our mind individually to each case.”

The notices will be issued to 119 licencees of which 81 fall under both categories of ineligibility to get licences and 38 for not meeting roll-out obligations alone as spelt out in the licences, Mr. Sibal said. He, however, declined to name the companies which would be issued show cause notices. Sources said that among the new operators, the companies who will be served notices are Uninor, S Tel, Loop Telecom and Videocon.

The licencess would be given 60 days time to respond to show cause notices, Mr. Sibal said, adding each case would be dealt with separately. “After studying their response, a decision will be taken on whether these (licences) need to be cancelled or a penalty should be imposed,” the Minister said. The ministry will start issuing the notices in next three to four days, senior DoT officials said, adding the Minister has cleared the file.

WIKILEAKS: HILLARY WANTED INDIANS SPIED OVER UNSC BID

Washington November 29:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described India as a “self-appointed front-runner” for a permanent UNSC seat and directed U.S. envoys to seek minute details about Indian diplomats stationed at the United Nations headquarters, according to classified documents released by WikiLeaks on Monday.

In a potentially damaging disclosure, the whistle-blower Website released a cable labelled “secret” issued by Ms. Clinton on July 31, 2009, as part of its massive leak of a quarter million classified documents of the American government. The cable gave directions to U.S. diplomats to collect information on key issues like reform of the U.N. Security Council and India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal and pass it on to the intelligence agencies, including on foreign associates’ credit card and frequent-flier numbers that could be used to track a person’s movements.

It asked the U.S. diplomats to ascertain deliberations regarding the UNSC expansion among key groups of countries like “self-appointed front-runners” for permanent UNSC seats — India, Brazil, Germany and Japan (Group of Four or G-4); Uniting for Consensus group — especially Mexico, Italy and Pakistan — that opposes additional permanent UNSC seats; African Group; and European Union, as well as key U.N. officials within the Secretariat and the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) Presidency.

It also sought biographical and biometric information on key NAM/G-77/OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries) permanent representatives, particularly China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Senegal and Syria; and information on their relationships with their capitals. The cable also wanted to know about members’ plans for plenary meetings of the Nuclear Suppliers Group; views on the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation initiative; besides members’ views on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); prospects for country ratifications and entry into force.

Quoting from the cable, The New York Times said, it gave a laundry list of instructions for how the State Department employees can fulfil the demands of a “National Humint Collection Directive” in specific countries. Humint being the spy-world jargon for human intelligence collection. One cable asks officers overseas to gather information about “office and organisational titles; names, position titles and other information on business cards; numbers of telephones, cellphones, pagers and faxes,” as well as “internet and intranet handles, internet e-mail addresses, web site identification-URLs; credit card account numbers; frequent-flier account numbers; work schedules, and other relevant biographical information,” it said.

Among the secret U.S. documents released by WikiLeaks, a total of 3,038 classified cables are from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. A breakdown indicates that as many as 2,278 cables are from the U.S. mission in Kathmandu, 3,325 from Colombo and 2,220 from Islamabad. These cables are often candid and some time personal assessment of the day to day events, functioning and meetings of U.S. diplomats. The documents are being published by several media outlets across the globe, despite repeated insistence from the U.S. that it may put at risk many lives and harm American ties with its friends.

The 251,287 cables, first acquired by WikiLeaks, were provided to The New York Times by an intermediary on the condition of anonymity, the daily said. Many are unclassified, and none are marked “top secret,” the government’s most secure communications status. But some 11,000 are classified “secret,” 9,000 are labelled “noforn,” shorthand for material considered too delicate to be shared with any foreign government, and 4,000 are designated both secret and noforn.

Ahead of the leak of the documents, the State Department had reached out to India warning it about the impending release. “We have reached out to India to warn them about a possible release of documents,” State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley had said. The U.S. has termed the leak as illegal and said that this would affect its relationship with its friends and allies. “These cables could compromise private discussions with foreign governments and opposition leaders, and when the substance of private conversations is printed on the front pages of newspapers across the world, it can deeply impact not only U.S. foreign policy interests, but those of our allies and friends around the world,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

AMARINDER OPPOSES HANDING OVER PHILLAUR FORT TO ASI

Chandigarh November 29:

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh today strongly opposed any move to hand over the historic Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort at Phillaur to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder Singh said the Punjab Police had been maintaining the Fort exceedingly well and any move to hand it over to ASI would not be in any way helpful or beneficial to preserve this monument.

He said several monument sites which had been taken over by the ASI in the past had gone from bad to worse. ''Most of the monuments under their possession were in a dilapidated condition,'' he said and added that the Fort at Phillaur was being managed, maintained and preserved so well by the Punjab Police.

The former Chief Minister said the condition of the historic Bathinda Fort, where Razia Sultan was imprisoned, and which was with the ASI was quite pitiable thanks to the carelessness of the ASI. ''The Bathinda Fort is collapsing wall by wall and we do not want the same thing to happen to the Phillaur Fort''. Capt Amarinder Singh said the Phillaur Fort was with the Punjab Police Academy since 1891. ''The association itself is historic and it is being maintained so well I don't think the ASI can maintain it in any better manner''.

He regretted that the ASI was not able to maintain important monuments which were in its possession in Punjab with the result that these were getting dilapidated with the passage of time.

CAN POLITICAL PARTIES SUSTAIN ELECTIONEERING FOR OVER A YEAR?

Chandigarh November 29:

Has Manpreet Singh Badal been the instigator for both the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress to be in the election mode more than a year before the 2012 Assembly poll?

Though it may be too early for the consolidation and polarisation of political forces for the next elections, Jago Punjab Yatra by Manpreet from Faridkot last week has put both the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress on the alert. An important factor for the early start to the electioneering for the 2012 Assembly poll may be the coming elections to the apex body of Sikhs - the SGPC.

According to indications available, the general house elections of the SGPC might be completed by the end of the first quarter of the New Year. The results of the SGPC poll will have a long bearing on the 2012 Assembly poll. Now even Manpreet has started indicating that he and his men would challenge the SAD supremacy in the SGPC also. The battle for the 2012 Assembly poll will once again veer around two major political stalwarts - Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh. They will be joined among others by Sukhbir Singh Badal and Manpreet Singh Badal.

Though many expect Sukhbir to play a bigger role in the next elections, he will find himself mainly confined in countering his cousin, Manpreet. Whatever be the factors, the state is all set to witness some fierce political activity in the coming months before the actual or formal start to electioneering. The Congress has a reason to plan a series of roadshows for its new president Capt Amarinder Singh to be face to face with workers at the grassroots level, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance plans rallies and roadshows for projecting the “developmental works” it has undertaken since coming to power in early 2007.

While Manpreet plans to cover 71 Assembly constituencies in 110 days with 11-day break in January, it may not be easy for any political party to sustain a campaign for that long and that too so long before the poll. The ruling alliance plans some joint rallies in different parts of the state to showcase its achievements. Manpreet will no longer be required to spend days and nights in January and February with the Finance and Planning teams to give finishing touches to the budgetary proposals. Instead, he will be spending this time touring length and breadth of the state, for awakening people about putting Punjab’s fiscal health and ways and means to put the economy back on the track.

On the other hand, the new Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur will have to orchestrate the 2011-2012 crucial Budget not only to “nullify Manpreet factor” but also to keep the next elections in mind. The Budget session will also give the Opposition, Congress, an opportunity to put across agenda for the state for the next five years by picking failures of the present regime. It is not for the first time that the state has been witnessing beehive in electioneering long before the actual poll. Even last time, Akalis had taken the lead in naming the candidates long before the election process was set in motion. The only difference was that at that time it was in the Opposition.

For the Opposition to sustain a long election campaign is easier than for the ruling alliance or the party. The Opposition remains on look out for opportunities it could accuse the ruling party of misusing its official machinery so as to keep it on the defensive.

PUNJAB & HARYANA HC HAS 11 ‘UNCLE JUDGES’

Chandigarh November 29:

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has at least 11 judges with their kith and kin practising in the same court. Their list was forwarded to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice long before the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Allahabad High Court on this issue.

The list was sent in response to a communication received by the high court from the ministry. In the beginning of this year, the ministry had asked the high courts across the country to identify and furnish the list of all such judges.

The list: Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice M.M. Kumar, Justice S.K. Mittal. Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice TPS Mann, Justice K.C. Puri, Justice K.S. Ahluwalia, Justice Sabina, Justice Jora Singh, Justice M.S. Sullar and Justice Gurdev Singh. The issue of ‘uncle judges’ in the Punjab and Haryana High Court was first raised by the then Chief Justice B.K. Roy during his tenure from October 14, 2002, to March 20, 2005.

He had issued an administrative order barring a group of 10-12 judges from hearing any case argued by their relatives. In his order, Justice Roy had said: “It was generally believed that A, B, C and D (all judges) constituted a mutual cooperative society in the sense it was believed that each of the four judges (A, B, C and D) would protect the sons of the three other judges.” The order at that time had led to widespread protests.

Available information suggests that some of the judges do have their sons, daughters and brothers, and also their nephews and brothers-in-law practising in the same court. The list earlier forwarded by the high court mentions the names of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, Justice M.M. Kumar, Justice S.K. Mittal. Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice V.K. Sharma, Justice TPS Mann, Justice S.D. Anand, Justice K.C. Puri, Justice K.S. Ahluwalia, Justice Sabina, Justice Jora Singh, Justice M.S. Sullar, Justice Gurdev Singh and Justice Harbans Lal.

Justice Anand and Justice Lal have since retired upon attaining the age of superannuation, while Justice Mohanta and Justice Sharma have been transferred out. In an exclusive interview, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily had told The Tribune that the Law Ministry was asking the judges to give an undertaking at the time of their elevation that they would not function in the same court where their relatives were practising.

Moily’s assertion had come in the presence of attorney-general Goolam E. Vahanvati, additional solicitor-general Mohan Jain and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at a ceremony to felicitate the law minister. The Law Commission too had discussed the issue in its 230th report. The commission had made it clear that it was against the policy of transferring Chief Justices and he should rather be from the same high court. But while making appointment of judges, advocates with kith and kin practising in a high court, should not be posted in the same high court. This would eliminate ‘uncle judges’, it said.

PUNJAB TO RELEASE RS 337 CR FOR WATER SUPPLY,SEWERAGE

alandhar November 29:

Punjab Local Bodies, Industry and Commerce Minister Manoranjan Kalia today said a sum of Rs 337 crore would be released soon to complete the ambitious 100 per cent drinking water supply and sewerage works taken up by the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation.

Inaugurating Sangat Darshan programme here, Mr Kalia said the programme was aimed at bringing the administration to the doorsteps of the people to get their official works done on the spot. The officers and the people came face to face in such programmes in which the official works of the people were done under the supervision of the senior officers, he said.

The Minister also handed over a cheque of Rs 25 crore to Mayor Rakesh Rathore for expediting the ongoing water supply and sewerage works in the city.

SGPC SENDS FIRST SIKH JATHA TO BANGLADESH

Amritsar November 29:

To ensure the proper maintainance of Sikh shrines in Bangladesh, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday flagged off a Sikh delegation to that country.

During this maiden visit, members of the Jatha will celebrate Guru Nanak Dev's 542nd birth anniversary at a Sikh shrine in Dhaka. According to a six-page report, published by the SGPC in 2005, four out of nine gurudwaras have disappeared in Bangladesh and the remaining ones are in poor condition. The report also says the land attached to these gurdwaras has been encroached upon by unscrupulous persons.

Avtar Singh Makkar, the President of the SGPC, called on the Government of Bangladesh to allow the "Sambh Sambhal" (care taking) of these shrines. The gurdwaras in Bangladesh were constructed to commemorate the religious journeys of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Teg Bahadur in 1506-1507 and 1665-67 respectively.

Senior members of American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC) have also visited Sikh shrines in Bangladesh recently and highlighted their concern about their upkeep to the Bangladesh Government. Dr. Pritpal Singh, convener of the AGPC told reporters that the AGPC has conveyed its concerns about Sikh shrines around the world, and particualrly in Bangladesh to the US State Department. The SGPC intends to keep sending Jathas to Bangladesh to ensure that the government takes the initiative to maintain the shrines.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sikh Itihaas

Bhai Subeg Singh and Bhai Shahbaz Singh

Bhai Subeg Singh was resident of village Jumber district Lahore. He was well educated and scholar of Persian. He was working as a government contractor at Lahore. He mediated between the government and the Sikhs in 1733 A.D., when the Dal Khalsa was given an estate. During 1745 A.D., when the Governor Zakria Khan could not pass urine, Bhai Subeg Singh was sent by him to the Dal Khalsa. As advised by the leader, the Governor had kept on passing urine when hit on the head with the shoe of Bhai Taru Singh.
After the death of Zakria Khan on the 1st July, 1745 A.D., his son, Yahiya Khan became the Governor of Lahore. To avenge the death of his brother Jaspat Rai, who had died in an encounter with the Singhs near Eminabad in January, 1746 A.D., Diwan Lakhpat Rai said to the new Governor, "Subeg Singh is in league with the Singhs. Your father had to hit himself on the head with a Singh's shoe at his bidding which caused his death. He should be punished for that crime."
The Governor ordered Bhai Subeg Singh to become a Muslim and spy on the Singhs. Eighteen year old son of Bhai Subeg Singh, Shahbaz Singh, studied Persian from a maulvi. When the maulvi came to know of the arrest of Bhai Subeg Singh, he asked Bhai Shahbaz Singh to embrace Islam so that he may marry his daughter to him as he was handsome and genius. Bhai Shahbaz Singh refused his offer. The maulvi asked the Governor and had him arrested also. The qazi said to them, "If both of you embrace Islam, you will be pardoned . " At their refusal both of them were mounted on rotating wheels in sight of each other so that they might embrace Islam seeing each other suffering. But they did not forsake their faith although both became unconscious due to excessive loss of blood.
Next day, the qazi said to Bhai Shahbaz Singh, "Son ! your father has been executed. I can ward off your death if you become a Muslim even now." Bhai Shahbaz Singh replied, "Death cannot be put off. It must come one day." The qazi sent the son away, called for the father and said to him, 'Your son has agreed to embrace Islam and you should also consent to do so." Bhai Subeg Singh said, "I cannot give up my faith at any cost." The qazi again brought the father and son face to face. He again asked both of them to come to the fold of Islam. On their refusal, the qazi ordered both of them to be killed. On the 10th March, 1746 A.D., the executioners beheaded both of them. It was on that day that Diwan Lakhpat Rai had got together the Sikhs of Lahore and handed them over to the scavengers of the city for slaughter in order to exterminate Sikhs. The prominent Hindus of the city pleaded with the Diwan, not to murder innocent Sikhs. He replied, "If God Himself comes and forbids me, I shall not stop."

Salute to Great Sikh Martyr Bhai Subeg Singh and Bhai Shahbaz Singe of Muktsar

Place where battle held

Battle of Muktsar

Date: Apr 1705

Location : Near Muktsar and Khidrana Lake

Reason : Creation of Town over Ruhela
Revenge of Death of Bhagvan Das

Commanders

Guru Gobind Singh Wazir Khan

Combatants

Majhails and other sikhs Mughal Force

Results

40 Sikhs Killed 3000+ Mughals were killed

The Battle of Muktsar took place in 1705, following the seige of Anandpur. In 1704 Anandpur was under an extended siege by the allied forces of the Mughals and the hill chiefs.[1]
The forty deserters from Anandpur lived in the Majha region in Punjab. A woman who also lived in the village, Mai Bhago, convinced the deserters to fight with her at Muktsar, where they fought and died under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, who blessed them for their service.

In 1704 Anandpur was under an extended siege by the allied forces of theMughals and the hill chiefs. Provisions were completely exhausted and theKhalsa lived on leaves and the bark of trees. The Jats of Majha made up their mind to go home. The Guru would not let them leave unless they signed a disclaimer saying that they were no longer the Sikhs of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Out of hundreds of Sikhs, only forty put their thumb impression on the disclaimer; they were then permitted to leave Anandpur. This was during the siege of Sri Anandpur Sahib, which lasted eight months long, resulting in about 10,000 Sikh Soldiers under the 10th Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji giving a devasting defeat to the one million mughals who had invaded the holy city. Each of the Hill Rajas, except about three groups were fighting along side the Mughal Imperial Army.

Nawab Wazir Khans Warnings
Nawab Wazir Khan, the viceroy of Sirhind, became aware of the Guru's escape only after the latter had reached Dina. Wazir Khan also learned about the Guru's warm welcome and stay with Lakhmir and Shamir, the Chaudhries (Land Owners) of Dina. He, therefore, sent a stern warning to the Chaudhries telling them to hand over the rebel Guru. And if they failed to do so they would be severely dealt with. Chaudhri Lakhmir did not care about Wazir Khan's warning and replied that it was their moral duty to help the great Guru in his just cause.
Wazir Khan was greatly angered at the letter from Chaudhri Lakhmir. He immediately started mobilising his forces. This news spread through the whole country and reached the Guru. As the news spread, the Guru's followers thronged to his court. The Guru himself made an extensive tour of the villages in the Malwa and organised his Sikhs in a few days. People In large numbers received the baptism of the double-edged sword and got ready to resist Wazir Khan's forces. The Guru did not consider Dina a suitable place for battle. He, therefore, moved on to Kot Kapura. It was decided that the mound of Khidrana was a very suitable place to defeat the invading armies. The Khidrana lake was the only source of water throughout the wild country. The mound was also surrounded by thorny bushes for mites. The Guru planned the defence in such a way that the Imperial forces should be checked at a distance so that they should not have access to the lake.

Mai Bhago
The Sikhs who deserted the Guru at Anandpur were put to shame by their womenfolk when they reached their homes. The forty deserters from Anandpur lived in the Majha region in the district of Amritsar. In one of their villages, called Jhabal, there lived a brave woman named Mai Bhago. She was known for her faith and courage, and she had a great zeal to serve the Guru. Her blood boiled at the timidity of those who, beaten by the ravages of the prolonged siege of Anandpur, disclaimed Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji to return to their homes. She was smitten at the ignominy shown by these forty deserters. Mai Bhago charged them with cowardice and lack of faith. She was determined to wipe out this stain of infamy on Majha Singhs.
She went around the neighbouring villages and exhorted the women folk not to be hospitable to the deserters who had disclaimed the Guru. She shamed and censured the Singhs for their cowardice and eventually brought them back to the path of devotion and sacrifice. She, donning a man's dress, inspired them to return to the fold of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Feeling ashamed for their act of cowardice, they followed her banner and joined in the famous battle of Muktsar, which was fought against the Mughal forces at Khidrana in the district of Ferozepur.

The Battle
It was May 1705. The Sikhs engaged the Mughal forces. A large number of Sikhs who were lighting on the Eastern side of the mound were giving way to pressure from the Royal armies when all at once the forty deserters charged and cut off the ambitious band of attackers. The Guru also sent reinforcements, He showered arrows from his strategic position on the mound, down on the Imperial army, killing a number of them. The resistance of the Sikhs became so fierce that the invaders were completely demoralized. The enemy became restive for want of water. It was not possible for them to reach the lake of Khidrana. As it was semi-desert terrain and the summer heat was reaching its peak Guru Ji knew of its importance and based his defences around the water hole. The only water they could get was fifteen miles behind them. Thirst and oppressive heat, and the tough resistance offered by the Sikhs, compelled the Mughal army to retreat.
Water sources, points of communication and maintenance in the desert or semi-desert terrain are few and far apart, hence strategically important. Defence should therefore be based on or around axis of maintenance with an aim to deny the opposing forces accessibility to them.
Employment of fresh troops in order to maintain the momentum of attack against an exhausted and bruised enemy invariably disorganises and demoralises him. Only a 300 strong cavalry contingent for fresh troops attacked a thirsty and exhausted enemy numbering 16,000. This had a dramatic effect on the outcome of the battle.
Some 250 soldiers of the Khalsa engaged an enemy of 20,000 strong for the whole day. The enemy no doubt put each one to death, but in the bargain left approximately four thousand dead or wounded in the day long battle.
The 40 men who had disavowed their Guru, by afixing their thumbprints, were led by the great female general Mai Bhago had brought such damage onto the Mughal force of 10 000 strong, they had no option but to retreat. At the end of the battle, when Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was looking for survivors, Mai Bhago, who was lying wounded, greeted him. She told him how the forty deserters had valiantly laid down their lives fighting in the battlefield. Guru Saheb was greatly touched by her sense of remorse, self-sacrifice, and heroism. Mai Bhago recovered and remained in the Guru's presence after the battle of Muktsar.
After the defeat of the enemy at the battle of Muktsar, the Mughals realised the futility of their efforts and became so badly demoralised that they altogether gave up. Automatically, hostility towards Guru Sahib Ji and the Khalsa army vanished never to resurface again as long as Guru ji was alive.

Torn Bedawa
Tearing bedawa
When Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with his Sikhs were collecting the dead bodies for cremation, he found one man named Mahan Singh still clinging to life. On seeing the Guru, he made an effort to rise, the Guru at once took him in his embrace, and sat down with him. Mahan Singh, tearful and exhausted, requested the great Master to destroy the Bedahwa the letter disclaiming his being a Sikh of the Guru. Before Mahan Singh died his merciful Guru took the document and tore it up. Showing infinite mercy towards his followers he named the 40 deserters who had fought until there last breath, after returning to Sri Anandpur Sahib and fighting for their beloved Guru, the Chali Mukte (40 liberated ones).
Then Guru Ji moved towards the South to meet with Aurangzeb.

P

The Battle Of Chamkaur or also known as Battle Of Chamkaur Sahibwas a battle fought between Khalsa led by Guru Gobind Singh against the Mughal forces led by Wazir Khan and other Mughal Generals. Guru Gobind Singh makes a reference to this battle in Zafarnamah. He tells how an estimated more than a million Mughal troops^[1] attacked his Sikhs who were only forty in number and without food.^[2] In spite of their numerical strength, the Mughal soldiers were unable to kill or capture the Guru. The Guru also talks of cowardice of one of the Mughal generals and how he hid himself behind a wall, not having the courage to face the Guru.

After the Guru left Anandpur on the night of December 5, 1704, they had crossed the Sarsa river and stopped in Chamkaur. They asked, permission of the city chief for shelter to rest for the night in their garhi or haveli. The older brother thought giving him shelter would be dangerous so he refused. But the younger brother gave permission to let them stay there for the night.The Battle
Despite giving assurance of safe conduct, the Mughals soldiers were looking for Guru Gobind Singh, to take his head as a trophy. After learning that the party of Sikhs had taken shelter in the haveli, they laid siege upon it.
After the attack on the haveli the next morning, Singh archers and the twosahibzadas took up their positions. The Guru's numbers of his Sikh supporters were 40 Sikhs. Though many of the Guru's Sikhs were greatly experienced in war before conversion they still had no much for the Mughal soldiers of 1,000,000. However The Sikhs kept repeatedly going out into the battlefield in teams of five to attack the Mughal soldiers but were martyred after inflicting heavy casualties on the Mogul forces.
As night approached, the battle was heavily underway. After seeing such losses of men, the two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh went into the battle themselves and attacked the Mughal soldiers. They both fell whilst fighting, thus achieving on of the highest honours in Sikhism. With over most of the force dead, the Sikhs decided that the Guru should escape the haveli because such a loss will be impact greatly on the Sikh community. It was proposed that the Guru should change his attire with Sant Singh, another Sikh who somewhat resembled him in stature. Guru Gobind Singh left through the back with three Sikhs whilst Baba Sant Singh and Baba Sangat Singh (the last two left alive) kept fighting until they too were martyred. Seeing the clothes of Guru Gobind Singh on Bhai Sant Singh, the Mughals were ecstatic and mistakenly took the corpse of Bhai Sant Singh to be the slain Guru Gobind Singh. They then cut the head off from the corpse and took it to Delhi thinking it was the dead Guru.
Only Guru Gobind Singh, Daya Singh, Dharam Singh, and Mann Singh escaped the assault of the vast force (estimated at a minimum of hundred thousand strong) that had been dispatched by Aurangzeb to destroy them.
Aftermath
After finding out that the Guru had escaped, the Mughals started searching the woods and the area surrounding Chamkaur.
The Mughals hastingly chased after the Guru once they realised he had escpaed. Guru Gobind Singh made a last stand against the Mughals atMuktsar, where the imperial army was defeated outright and retreated. The battle of Muktsar was the last battle fought by Guru Gobind Singh.
There he wrote Zafarnamah, ("the notification of victory"), a letter toAurangzeb in which he wrote
"...But still when the lamp of daylight (sun) set and the queen of night (moon) came up,then my protector (God) gave me passage and I escaped safely, not even a hair on my body was harmed".
The Guru emphasised how he was proud that his sons had died fighting in battle, and that he had 'thousands of sons - the Singhs'. He also said that he would never trust Aurengzeb again due to his broken promises and lies.
P

Khalsa Panth
Khalsa Panth (meaning: a group of baptized Sikhs) (Punjabi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ,khālsā panth) is the theocracy that manages the affairs of the Khalsa.(Khalsa meaning: a baptized Sikh). It refers to the entire group of people who have taken the way of the Khalsa, and hence they are self-managed through democratic votes.
The Khalsa Panth is an evolute from Guru Nanak’s Nirmal Panth - both terms meaning the way of the pure or the holy. It is the way of pure spirituality, unadulterated with ritualism and free from the clutches of priests. The term Khalsa has another connotation also. In the revenue records in India during the Muslim rule, this term signified crown lands, administered by the king himself without the mediation of Jagirdars, etc. Metaphorically employed in the Sikh parlance, the term Guru ka Khalsa means the guru’s very own, unmediated by masands.
The term acquired a more specific connotation after Guru Gobind Singhintroduced Khande-di-pahul (initiation with a double-edged sword) in 1699. Since then, all those thus initiated have been collectively designated as the Khalsa Panth.
After the line of corporeal gurus was brought to an end by Guru Gobind Singh, the Khalsa Panth was installed its own leader under the abiding guidance of Guru Granth Sahib. Since then, the Khalsa have evolved into a kind of spiritual commonwealth - a spiritually welded collectivity which awakens in each individual spontaneous discipline as well as disciplined spontaneity (Rehat).
Setting ideals for life: There have been some contrasting ways of setting ideals of life. One is the way of hedonism, or pursuit of sensual pleasure advocated by those consider this life as a sole opportunity for enjoyment. This outlook is epitomized in the famous lines of Babur.
Enjoy life’s pleasures to the full, for this world is never going to be again for you.
or, by the apparently hedonistic meaning of Omar Khayyam’s verse which has been translated by Fitzgerald as:
"Dreaming, when dawn’s left-hand was in the sky,
I heard a voice within the tavern cry, awake my little ones, and fill the cup, before life’s liquor in it’s cup be dry."
This is the materialist way, looking for material gain, amassing wealth and power, lavishly indulging in sensuality. It is the way of pravirti or involvement in the world.
Contrasted with this has been the way which considers the world an illusion and its materiality a mirage. Hence, it advocated withdrawal from the outside and seeking the joy of self-realization within.
Even when one chooses to withdraw from the world and concentrates within, the world may still interfere with one’s spiritual pursuit. In that case, one has two choices. One may run away from the world, i.e. renounce the world. It is the way of nivirti or renunciation. Alternatively, one may choose to become so strong that no one dare interfere with his spiritual pursuits.
The Khalsa outlook of spirituality considers both involvement (pravirti) and renunciation( nivirti) as extremes and advocates the middle path. The Guru’s word affirms.
Involvement as well as renunciation are stubborn obstinacies.
Dharma, somewhere in the middle, stands as the real guide.
- Malhar Var: M.1.p.1280.
The middle path is: continuing to be in the world but staying there dis-attached, just like the lotus flower which grows out of mud unblemished by it.
The Khalsa point of view, since it does not approve of renunciation, prescribes valour as a safeguard against interference from others. However, this has to be disciplined valour, compassionate valour and an altruist valour; not one which is self-willed and tyrannical. In this context, the Guru ordains:
You shall not terrorize anyone nor shall allow anyone to terrorize you.
-Slok. M.9 p.1427
Such, then is the "valour" prescribed for the Khalsa.
Two Pillars of the Khalsa Spirituality: The twin pillars of the Khalsa spirituality are (a) Naam, the vehicle of inner spirituality and (b) Kirpan, the symbol of outer spirituality or valour. It would be useful to consider these two in some detail.
Naam: Naam is the foundation stone of Sikh spirituality. Naam has usually been translated as "Name", implying God’s Name. However, "Name" does not fully convey what Naam comprehensively means as a metaphysical term in Sikh theology. It is very much more than God’s Name, though it is God’s Name as well.
The Guru says:
Blessed by Naam I live - my body and soul blossom forth.
- Slok M. 5 p. 1429
Here Naam appears to mean the principle of life. Again, the Guru affirms:
Naam and egoism are mutually opposed - the two cannot exist together.
And again:
Naam sustains all living beings.
Sustains also all Regions of the Universe.
- Gauri M:5 p. 284
Here Naam is the Divine Sustainer. Naam yet has another connotation:
The Lord of Himself created himself
Himself he assumed the Naam;
In the Second place he created Nature
And adiding in it observed it with favour.
- Var Asa M. 1 p. 463.
Here Naam stands for Divine creativity, coming as does between God Himself and His creation.
Let us now consider what Naam Japna is, which is a prescribed spiritual praxis. Japna is usually translated as "muttering". But Naam Japna is not mechanical muttering of God’s Name. Guru Amar Das says:
Everyone has "Hari!" on his lips;
very few have him in the heart.
They alone in whose heart he abides attain liberation.
- Vadhans M.3 p. 565
There are thousands upon thousands of Naam-mutterers who get nowhere. They seem to be looking for peace. But what kind of peace do they get, if they get at all? It would be dead peace, not living peace. Living peace is characterized by creativity. It is not just getting absorbed in the formless, unknown, infinite. It is making the void alive with a myriad dynamic forces and forms. Mechanical muttering may lead to mental abstraction in which all dualities and all opposites come to an end. It would be uncreative peace - a spiritual inanity.
Naam Japna in the Khalsa terminology is a process creatively inspired. It is dwelling in Him with one’s entire Being. It is practicing the presence of God. It is feeling Him around - He who sustains us, supports us, provides for us, takes care of us, loves us, showers His gifts on us unasked, and having given never repents. It is He
Who has dispersed Himself as Love here there and everywhere.
- Jaap Sahib
Remembering Him with loving gratitude is Naam Simrin or Naam Japna. It is to be aware of God at our back. It is remembering Him as we remember our absent friends - with love and expectation. It is inebriation with love - madly inspired.
The key factor in Naam japna in dhyan (focused attentively). In the liturgical prayer (Ardas) the ardasia time and again invites the congregation to focus their attention and call on "Waheguru!" Sustained attention is meditation. Naam Japna or Naam Simran, then, is the specific Khalsa way of meditation. Naam is the Guru’s gift - a special gift to his disciples.
Everyone utters the Naam by his lips.
Those alone who follow the guru really attain Naam.
- Malar M.3 p. 1262
The Guru is essential for Naam. But the Guru need to be a corporeal Guru. The real Guru is his precept or bani. The embodiment of the Guru’s spiritual precepts is Sri Guru Granth Sahib which, therefore is the source of Naam.
Meditation of Naam leads to a spiritual implosion, when torrential cascades of energy are released within. This energy may appear as nad (sound) or joti (light). Sound and light are interchangeable modes of energy - as has lately been demonstrated by the scientific experiments on sonoluminesence.
Guru Arjun Dev records evidence of this in a Sloka:
The sparrow chirped. The dawn broke out. A myriad streams unrolled.
Creation of wondrous sights the saints witnessed through absorption in Naam.
- Gauri Var M. 5 p. 319.
In this slok, the chirping of the sparrow signifies the nad and breaking of the dawn signifies joti. Those who meditate on Naam are familiar with these experiences as also with unrolling of a myriad streams of unstuck musicality.
Kirpan: Kirpan (the sword), also called Sri Sahib in the Khalsa parlance, is the second symbol of the Khalsa spirituality. It is a symbol of divine dynamism. God is active all the time. everywhere. I sometimes think, God is not a name, but a verb. He is superdynamic and Sri Sahib is the symbol of his superdynamism. While Naam represents the ingoing side of nature, Sri Sahib represents its outgoing side. It stands for the Divine Power - the Divine Sword. Guru Gobind Singh leaves no doubt that it is the Divine Sword when he describes it in the following terms :
Hail to you, Creator of the Universe,
Protector of the world, My own sustainer,
Hail to you, the Sword (Divine)!
- Bachitra Natak - 39
Although Jesus Christ is believed to be the great pacifist, yet he said; "think not that I came to send peace on Earth. I came not to send peace but a sword." (Matthew X 34). While "peace" is the stilling, calm, negative condition, the "sword" is the outgoing or positive condition. All that is evil or obstructive has to be destroyed before reconstruction is possible.
That is why Guru Gobind Singh says:
At first You made the double-cutting sword,
And then You shaped the whole world.
- Chandi di Var 2:1
Here, like Naam, the double-edged sword (Khanda) also represents Divine Creativity. The sword of the Khalsa is then the Divine Sword which destroys evil. It is not unsheathed in anger, or out of vengeance. It rises only out of compassion. It does not take away life, but protects it. It does not slaughter, it only saves.
One is reminded here of a fascinating story from the history of the Khalsa. Baba Sahib Singh Bedi was a respected leader of the Khalsa - so highly respected that the natural choice to anoint Maharaja Ranjit Singh to kingship fell on him. The story, however, pertains to his earlier days when the Baba had been proclaimed as a rebel by the Mogul rulers and he was wanted dead or alive. That was the time when he had taken sojourn in a forest. An army officer, Din Mohammed by name, got scent of him and started searching the forest. Finally he found the Baba but most unexpectedly was struck by the Baba’s extraordinary compassion, his God-fearing fearlessness and his exemplary hospitality. So, instead of killing him or taking him prisoner, he respectfully took leave of him.
Hardly had he proceeded a few steps after leaving the Baba’s cottage that he noticed three Pathans dragging a young girl towards their waiting camels. It did not take him time to recognize the girl as the deaf and dumb young lady who was living with the Baba and had been his co-host the previous night. He had learnt from the Baba that this handicapped girl when only an infant was deserted by her parents, and abandoned in the forest. The Baba found her and in compassion brought her up.
Seeing her in distress, the officer pounced upon the Pathans but being outnumbered he was overpowered. However, hearing the noise, the Baba came out and fell upon the Pathans. One of them he seized but the other two fled scared. The Baba threw the seized Pathan on the ground and mounting on his chest said: "You attempted on the modesty of an innocent girl. Your punishment cannot be anything short of death, so be prepared!" The Pathan, upon this, employing the foulest language not only hurled coarse abuses on the Baba but also spat on his face and said. "Now do what you like". The Baba got down from his chest saying, "I would surely have killed you, but now I spare you, lest it be construed that I killed you out of vengeance after this insult. If Din Mohammed has to square any accounts with you, I leave you into his hands."
So, in addition to Naam as the prime symbol of Divinity for the Khalsa, a complementary symbol of the Divine is also Kirpan or Siri Sahib which has been referred to as "all-steel" (Sarab-loh), "all-time" (Sarab-kal) and "supreme mortality" (Maha-kal). Guru Gobind Singh, in an invocative verse, said :
In this Kali Age our great reliance can only be
On the mighty arm of the supreme Kala.
- Bachitra Natak 1292.4.
The Fusion of Naam and Kirpan: The fusion of Naam and Kirpan is witnessed in the initiation ceremony of the Khalsa called Khande-di-Pahul (initiation with the double-edged sword).
Designed by Guru Gobind Singh, this ceremony was first introduced on the Vaisakhi day of 1699. In a steel bowl he stirred sweetened water with a double-edged sword while reciting gurbani (Guru’s word). Thus he prepared Amrit (nectar) to he partaken by the five beloved Sikhs (Panj Piarey) who had volunteered to offer their heads to him to the call of his sword. They were thus the twice-born, with whom the Khalsa Panth came into being. After they had been initiated, the Guru requested them to initiate him in the same manner. Thereafter many thousand followed to be so initiated. It is thus that the Khalsa Panth came into being through the joint-spirit of Naam and Kirpan. This Khalsa was eulogized by the Guru himself saying:

The Khalsa is my own special form
Within the Khalsa I’ll ever abide,
The Khalsa is the life of my life;
The Khalsa is the breath of my breath.
The Khalsa is my worshipful lord.
The Khalsa is my saintly kinght.
Chardi Kala: Initiation through the fusion of the spirit of Naam and Kirpan, not surprisingly, generated a higher level of consciousness among the Khalsa which has been designated as Chardi Kala. Chardi Kala is a subtly composite concept. Though it is commonly translated as "high spirits" or "high morale", in fact, it signifies much more. It stands for a perennially blissful spirit, aperpetual state of certitude based on Naam. It is the everlasting spirit of valor which makes light of all hardships and handicaps. It is that spirit which can prompt one, who only gets mouthful of grams to eat, to declare that he or she is eating almonds; or leads one to describe death as an expedition to the other world. In Chardi Kala there is confidence in the ultimate victory of truth over falsehood and of good over evil. Perpetual readiness (tiar-bar-tiar) is also a characteristic of Chardi Kala. It is in action that a man of Chardi Kala exists - not just in pious resolutions. He pursues the ideals that he cherishes, makes no noise about them, but proceeds to another, and yet another.
In short, Chardi Kala is not just high spirits, but also unwavering faith in Divine support, sublimity of action, and certainty of moral victory. One of the most memorable proclamations of Chardi Kala was made by Guru Gobind Singh during the most desolate of his days in a friendless forest sojourn. He said:

With Three O Lord! I’d prefer to sleep on a straw bed,
Accurst is living with those whom one loves not.

Khyal: Shabad Hazare
The fundamental premises of the spirituality of the Khalsa are unique in the history of world religions. So too is the character of the consciousness that it generates. It resolves a number of basic paradoxes, such as those between participation and renunciation, compassion and courage, valour and non-violence, justice and forgiveness. It unfolds disciplined spontaneity and an unwilting blissful confidence (Chardi Kala) in the Khalsa.

Saka Nankana Sahib
Saka Nankana sahib

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Saka Nankana forms a very important part ofSikh history. In political significance, it comes next only to Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saka constitutes the core of theGurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in early twentieth century. The interesting part of this saka is the unprecedented discipline, self-control and exemplary patience displayed by the peaceful Sikh protesters even in the face of extreme barbarism. Even the national leaders likeMahatama Gandhi had to acknowledge in no ambiguous terms the glory and the prestige which the peaceful and passive resistance of the Sikhs had brought to the India's Struggle for freedom.

The Sikh faith was founded by Guru Nanak in fifteenth century and his divine torch was carried on by nine gurus who had followed in succession. The concepts of Sangat, Pangat, Dharamshala (Gurdwara) and Kirtan took firm roots during this period and became important constituents ofSikhism. Congregations in Gurdwaras had played crucial roles in the religious and social affairs of the early Sikhs. Later, they assumed wider dimensions by transforming into religio-political organisation. The peacefuland non-political budding Sikh brotherhood was transformed into a proud and fiercely martial nation through the baptismic process of Amrit-pan. After a long and continuous resistance of several decades against the tyrannies of Mughal rule, the brave Sikhs finally emerged victorious and succeeded in carving out 12 Khalsa principalities in Punjab which soon led to the creation of a unified Khalsa kingdom with Ranjit Singh at the helms.Maharaja Ranjit Singh reconstructed the Gurdwaras earlier destroyed by the Moghuls and also raised many new ones at the sacred places connected with the Sikh Gurus. For the sustenance of the Mahants, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had attached handsome landed properties with many of these Gurdwaras. The earlier Mahants were devoted Sikhs and true missionaries who did a lot for the spread of Sikhism. As the times rolled by, the Gurdwara incomes swelled enormously and the enormous money corrupted and degenerated the later-time Mahants into loose lived individuals. They started treating the Gurdwara properties as if they were their personal fiefs. This changed the things for Sikh Panth.Historical Background
Depraved activities within Nankana
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib was managed by Mahant Narayan Das in early 20th century. This Gurdwara had a huge property of over 19000 acres (77 km²) of highly fertile land attached to it which yielded enormous income per year. Money-power made the Mahant corrupt and he started using the Gurdwara money for wrongful deeds. Mahant was a very desolute and wicked person who also used Gurdwara premises for immoral and highly objectionable activities. He had kept a Muslim girl as his mistress and all kinds of imaginable debauchery was committed within the Gurdwara premises. Dance girls were brought to the Gurdwara and dances were held and obscene songs were sung within the holy premises. In 1917, he arranged a dance-show by a prostitute near the holy Gurdawara. In 1918, a retired A.A.C. officer paid visit to the Gurdwara with his 13 years old daughter to offer prayers to the Guru. As the Rehraas was being read in the Gurdwara, a Pujari rogue was raping the minor girl in another room within the Gurdwara premises. When the father lodged a complaint with the Mahant to take action against the Pujari rogue, Mahant simply ignored his request. In the same year, six young female devotees from Jaranwal village (Lyallpur) visited the Gurdawara on Puranmashi (full Moon) to pay their offerings at Gurdwara and they too were similarly raped ^[1].

Sikhs Nation awakens
All this went on before the very eyes of the Sikhs which had sent shock waves across Punjab. The issue was effectively raised in the The Akali(Punjabi), published from Lahore by Master Sunder Singh Lyallpuri (q.v.), a true patriot and the founder-father of the Akali Movement and Shiromani Akali Dal ^[2]. Lyallpuri belonged to Bohoru village close to Nankana Sahiband he personally preached against the debauchery of the Mahant in the nearby villages and also continued to organise the Sikhs for a dynamic movement to bring reforms into the Gurdwaras^[3].
In October 1920, a congregation was held at Dharowal in Sheikhupura for reform in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The misdeeds committed within Gurdwara by Mahant were revealed to the Sangat. On January 24, Shiromani Committee held a general meeting and took decision to hold a Dewan in Nankana Sahib on March 4, 5 and 6 and advise Mahant to mend his ways.

Mahant’s reaction
Mahant was a very shrewd and cunning person. He tried to play politics. Publicly, he wanted to leave the impression that he was very peace-loving person and anxious to settle the issues with the Panth. On February 14, Mahant held a secret meeting with his associates to chalk out a secret plan to kill the Sikh leaders on March 5 at Nankana Sahib. Mahant recruited 400hooligans including fierce Pashtuns paid at twenty Indian rupees per month to oppose the Sikhs. With government’s help, Mahant also collected guns,pistols and other arms and ammunition. He also arranged and stored fourteen tins of paraffin and further got the Gurdwara gate strengthened and the holes made in it so that he could use them for firing bullets at the Sikhs.
Mahant Narayan Das had the full backing from the Mahants of other Gurdwaras in Punjab. The Bedi Jagirdars who had received Jagirs from the English Government by virtue of their past connections with Guru Nanakalso supported the Mahant. Sardar Sunder Singh Majithia also maintained double standards. But Maharaja of Patiala flatly refused to back Mahant and offered him a healthy advice not to rebel against the Panth. He further advised the Mahant to create a committee of prominent Sikhs and hand over the Gurdwara charge to them. But Mahant ignored the well-intentioned advice of Patiala Royal house. The Shiromani Committee extended invitation to Mahant for talks at Gurdwara Khara Sauda to resolve the issue but he did not show up at the given time. Then he offered to hold talks with the Sikh leaders in Sheikhupura on February 15, 1921, but again he failed to show up. Third time he promised to meet the Shiromani Committee leaders at the residence of Sardar Amar Singh Lyall Gazette on February 16, but once again he failed to turn up.

Counter-response of the Sikhs
The Shiromani Committee decided of its own to meet the Mahant on 3 March 1921 to advise him to hand over the charge to the committee. But the Committee got the information from its own intelligence that Mahant was planning to invite the Sikh leaders at Nanakana Sahib and have them killed from hired gundas. This greatly angered Kartar Singh Jhabber and others. A meeting of the Sikh leaders was called at Gurdwara Khara Sauda on 16, 1921 to chalk out the future course of action. It was decided that Sangat would go in Jathas (squads) and take charge of the Gurdwara. Sikh leaders learnt that Mahant was going to Lahore on 20th of February 1921. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabbar and Bhai Lachaman Singh Dharowal decided to take their jathas to Nanakana Sahib on 20 February. They decided to take charge of Gurdwara in his absence as they had come to know of his wicked plan.
On the evening of February 19, 1921, Bhai Lachaman Singh Dharowali reached Nizam Deva Singhwala with his jatha of 8 Singhs (6 males and two females). At Nizam Deva Singh wala, Jathedar Tehal Singh (Kamboj Sikh) had already arranged a Jatha of about 150 Singhs, majority of them belonging to the Kamboj community. All these Singhs came from nearby Kamboj villages of Nizampur Moola Singh wala, Nizampur Chelewala, Dalla Chand Singh, Bohoru, Thothian and Nizam Deva Singh wala etc, all falling in District Sheikhupura (now Pakistan).

Peaceful Khalsa on the march
The combined Jatha took a Hukamnama and started for the Gurdwara at about 10 PM on that night so as to reach there by early morning at Amrit vela (nectral hours). On the way 50 more Sikhs joined the Shaheedi Jathaand total number swelled to about 200. At Chanderkot Jhal, Jathedar Lachhman Singh decided to wait for Kartar Singh Jhabber and his Jatha. They waited for a while in vain and finally Jathedar Dharowal decided to cancel the plan for further march to Nankana Sahib. But at this very moment, Jathedar Tehal Singh came forward and addressed the Shaheedi Jatha not to vacillate even for a moment from forward march since "the prayers having already been said and the action plan having already been decided with Guru’s word, it is now imperative for now to move forward". Advising further that "all the members shall keep cool even under extreme provocations". From here-onwards, Jathedar Tehal Singh took over the supreme command of the Shaheedi Jatha and resumed the march to Nankana ^[4]. By almost at Amritvela, the Shaheedi Jatha reached the Railway-crossing near Nankana Sahib. Some of the Jatha members raced towards Darshani Deori to take possession of the Gurdawara, but at this very moment, Chaudhury Paul Singh Lyallpuri showed up with the latest decision of Shiromani Committee advising to postpone the action for taking possession of the Gurdwara. Having conveyed the information, Bhai Paul Singh grabbed Jathedar Lachhman Singh from his waist behind and persuaded him not to proceed further. Once again, brave Jathedar Tehal Singh took the initiative and shaking Chaudhury Paul Singh forcefully off from the person of Jathedar Lachhman Singh, he once more challenged the Shaheedi Jatha to get ready for the sublime action. He once again spoke: " Khalsa ji, the time is not to stop now, but to act. We have come here to achieve martyrdom under Guru’s word. This is very un-Sikh-like to backout [sic] from one’s commitment at the last moment" ^[5] Saying this, Jathedar Tehal Singh walked with the Jatha towards the Gurdwara. Bhai Lachhman Singh and others repeatedly requested him to relent, but determined Bhai Tehal Singh stuck to his Ardas ^[6]

Slaugher of peaceful Khalsa
Enthused by the speech of Jathedar Tehal Singh, the entire Shaheedi Jatha followed him. By this time, another horseman messenger, Bhai Ram Singh, arrived. In vain did he too try to persuade Jathedar Tehal Singh and the Jatha to return. The Jatha soon entered Darshni Deohri of the Gurdwara and shut the main door from inside. While some of the devotees took their seats inside the Prakash Asthan, others sat on the platform and the Baran dari. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali sat on Guru’s tabia. Mahant Narayan Das came to know of the situation through the Jaikaras(victory slogans) of the Shaheedi Jatha. At first, he was utterly shocked thinking that the game was over but he soon recovered and ordered his hired gundas to kill all the Sikhs in the Jatha. They fired bullets at the Sangat in Gurdwara hall. Several bullets pierced through Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The hired gundas wielded swords, spears, hatchets and other lethalweapons to mercilessly slaughter the peaceful and unprovocative Sikhs within the very premises of the Gurdwara. The dead and dying Singhs were then dragged to a pile of logs which had been collected earlier and consigned to flame. By the time the police and local Sikhs came on the scene, all the dead men had been consumed by the fire. Bhai Lachhman Singh Dharowali who was wounded with a gun shot was tied to a Jand tree and burnt alive. It was a butchery at its worst form.
The news spread like wild fire and the Sikhs from every part of Punjab started their march towards Nankana Sahib. Bhai Kartar Singh Jhabber reached next day with 2200 Singhs armed with shastras (arms). Fearing more trouble, Mr King, Commissioner Lahore, handed over the keys of Nankana Sahib to Shiromani Committee and arrested Mahant Narayan Das and his hired gundas including Pashtuns and charged them with murder, but only Mahant Narayan das and a couple of Pashtuns got the death sentences for this heinous crime for over 86 barbaric murders.

Statistics on fatalities
There are different versions on number of fatalities in this holocaust. Some writers put the death figures at 120, 150 or even 200. The government reports placed the death figures at 126. Police inspector Bachan Singh had put the number at 156. The report by Nankana Sahib Committee published in Shaheedi Jeewan however, placed the deaths at 86 and also listed the strength of the Shaheedi Jatha at 200 ^[7]. It seems that, besides Shaheedi Jatha Singhs, many non-participant devotees and others staying within Gurdwara also fell victims to Mahant's barbarism.
In this tragedy a total of 86 Sikhs achieved martyrdom which included theJat, Kamboj, Khatri, Kumhar and Majhabi Sikhs. But the top score was achieved by the Kamboj community ^[8] According to Giani Partap Singh, out of a total figure of 86 Sikh Shaheeds of Nankana saka, the Kamboj community alone shared 31 ^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12].

Mahatama Gandhi in Nankana Sahib
Mahatama Gandhi visited Nankana Sahib on March 3, 1921. Addressing the gathering, Mahatama said: "I have come to share your anguish and grief. It is interesting indeed to note that the Sikhs in this drama remained peaceful and non-violent from the start to the end. This (role of the Sikhs) has greatly added to the glory and prestige of India " ^[13]..... "All indications point to the fact that the cruel and barbaric action is the second edition of Jallianwala Bagh massacre; rather more evil and more invidious than even Jallianwala" ^[14]. The Mahatama further spoke: "the action of these dimensions could not be perpetrated by Mahant alone. The government officers are also involved in this heinous crime. Where had the authorities gone when the Mahant was making preparations for murderous plans?"

Legacy
The supreme sacrifices made by these Sikhs Shaheeds have been acknowledged by the grateful nation. From that day onwards, the Sikh nation remembers these brave Sikhs in their daily ardas (prayer). Every year on 21 February at this Shaheedi Asthan, Guru Granth Sahib's Swaroop with Bullet marks is brought to Deewan (assembly) from 2pm to 4pm for darshan of the Sikh Sangat.

Bhai Taru Singh Ji
Bhai Taru Singh ji

Born in Punjab during the reign of the Mughal Empire, Bhai Taru Singh was raised as a Sikh by his widowed mother. During this time, Sikh revolutionaries were plotting the overthrow of the Khan and had taken refuge in the jungle. Bhai Taru Singh and his sister gave food and other aid to the rebels. An informant reported them to Zakaria Khan, the governor of Punjab, and the two were arrested for treason. Though his sister's freedom was bought by the villagers, Bhai Taru Singh refused to seek a pardon.^[2]Biography
After a period of imprisonment and torture, Singh was brought before the Khan and given the choice of converting to Islam or being executed. As a symbol of his conversion, Singh would have to cut off his Kesh and present it as an offering to the Khan. Upon his refusal, and in a public display, Bhai Taru Singh's scalp was cut away with razors to prevent his hair from ever growing back^{[citation needed]}.
The exact method of his execution is somewhat ambiguous. Sikhs believe that once Singh had been returned to prison to await a slow death, Zakaria Khan was stricken with unbearable pain and the inability to urinate^{[citation needed]}. As a last resort, he sent an apology to the Khalsa Panth for his persecution of the Sikhs and begged for their forgiveness. It was suggested that if Zakaria Khan had his own scalp hit with Bhai Taru Singh's shoes, his condition might be lifted. Although the shoe cured the Khan's condition, he died 22 days later. Upon hearing that he had miraculously outlived the Khan, Bhai Taru Singh died as well.^[1]
^[3]. A more elaborate version of this narrative includes attempts by the Khan's barber and cobbler to forcibly cut off first Singh's hair and, failing that, his scalp. God prevented them from touching him with their tools, and finally a carpenter was brought in to cut off his head with an adze.^[4] In what may be a variation of this story, others suggest that the top of the skull was removed along with the hair and scalp.^[2]^[5] Legacy
Today Bhai Taru Singh is viewed by Sikhs as a martyr and a symbol of the importance of Kesh and of steadfast faith. A gurdwara in the Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore marks the place where his scalp and hair was removed.^[3]
Posted by jobanat 8:32 AM
Bhai Mati Das Ji
Bhai Mati Das

In November 1675, Bhai Mati Das was sawn into two, from head downwards.
Bhai Mati Das (d. 24 November 1675) (Punjabi: ਭਾਈ ਮਤੀ ਦਾਸ) is one of the great martyrs in Sikh history. He along with his younger brother Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dyal Das, all disciples of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, were executed along with him at the Kotwali (police-station) near the Sunehri Masjid in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, under the express orders of emperor Aurang
Early life
Born to a Brahmin^[1]^[1] family of the Chhibber clan, Bhai Mati Das belonged to the village of Karyala, a stronghold of the Chhibbers, in theJhelum District in Punjab (Pakistan), about ten kilometres from Chakwal on the road to the Katas Raj Temple Complex. The village stands on the top of the Surla hills. This part of the country is known as Dhani meaning rich. A few kilometres away are the Salt Mines and coal mines of Dandot. The Katas lake is beautiful.
His grandfather, Bhai Paraga, had embraced the Sikh faith in the time ofGuru Hargobind and had taken part in battles with the Mughal forces. His uncle Dargah Mall served Guru Har Rai and Guru Har Krishan as Diwan or manager of the household. Bhai Mati Das and his brother, Bhai Sati Das, assisted Dargah Mall in his work during Guru Tegh Bahadur's time. The former was himself appointed Diwan along with Dargah Mall who was by then considerably advanced in years.
Diwan Mati Das accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur during his travels in the eastern parts in 1665-70. He was one of the companions of the Guru who were detained at Dhamtan in 1665 and then released from Delhi at the intervention of Kanvar Ram Singh, of Amber. In 1675, when the Guru set out from Anandpur for Delhi, Bhai Mati Das bravely faced certain death as he volunteered to accompany Guru Tegh Bahadur to Aurangzeb's Court to confront the Emperor over his threat of forcing the Pandits of Kashmir to convert to Islam or be killed. The Guru and his steadfast companions were arrested under imperial orders, and taken in chains to Delhi. Upon his refusal to forswear his faith, he was tortured to death. He was, on 24 November 1675, sawn in half, from his head - downwards.
Devotion to the Gurus
Sacrifice of Bhai Mati Das for the Sikh faith, being brutually killed by the Mughals, this image is from a Sikh History museum being run single handedly by one person in a small tin shed on way from Mohali to Sirhind in Punjab, India
Mati Das was the son of Hira Nand, a disciple of Guru Har Gobind, under whom he had fought in many battles. He survived the Guru, and a little before his death he had entrusted his two sons, Mati Das and Sati Das to the care of Guru Har Rai, who had assured the dying man of his full attention and help. Both the lads remained attached to the Guru's family atKiratpur. When Guru Har Krishan was summoned to Delhi by Aurangzeb, both the brothers, Mati Das and Sati Das, were present in his entourage along with Dyal Das and Gurditta, a descendant of Bhai Budha (different from Baba Gurditta, the son of Guru Hargobind, brother of Guru Teg Bahadur and father of Guru Har Rai).
Guru Tegh Bahadur
After Guru Har Krishan's death at Delhi, when Guru Tegh Bahadur was'found' among the many pretenders to the Sikh Guruship who had set up camp in the city where Guru Har Krishan had said the next Guru was to be found, these two brothers were included in the deputation of five men containing Dyal Das and Gurditta to sent to Bakala to confirm the nomination of Teg Bahadur as the ninth Guru at the village of Bakalawhere the new Guru had been residing. The Guru was pleased to offer the two important portfolios of finance and home departments to Mati Das and Sati Das respectively. Both knew the Persian language well, and were quite familiar with the working of the Guru's durbar. The departmnent of household affairs was entrusted to Dyal Das.
After Guru Tegh Bahadur was refused entry to the Harmandar Sahib at Amritsar and had founded a new city in at the base of the Sivalik Hills that later grew into Anandpur Sahib, the two brothers accompanied Guru Teg Bahadur during his journey to Assam. Guru Tegh Bahadur bought a hillock near the village of Makhowal five miles north of Kiratpur and established a new town. Mati Das and Sati Das were present at the foundation of the new city. (Which was later expanded and renamed Anandpur (the abode of bliss) by his son Guru Gobind Rai). The Guru's council of administration then consisted of Mati Das, Sati Das, Dyal Das and Gurditta. When the Guru was arrested and taken to Delhi, these four persons were with the Guru.
Martyrdom
"There was sadness on Earth but joy in Heaven"

At Delhi, the Guru and his four companions were summoned into the council chamber of the Lal Kila (the Red Fort}. The Guru was asked numerous questions on religion, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. It was suggested to the Guru that he should embrace Islam. On the Guru's emphatic refusal to abjure his faith, he was asked why he was called Teg Bahadur (Brave Swordsman). Bhai Mati Das immediately replied that the Guru, then named Tyag Mal, had won the title by inflicting a heavy blow on the imperial forces at the young age of fourteen. He was reprimanded for his breach of etiquette and outspokenness. As Mati Das was a Brahmin, the Guru was asked why he had courted the company of such men when he did not believe in caste, and why he was defending the Brahmins of Kashmir. The Guru replied that when a person became a Sikh, he lost his caste. As for the Kashmiri Pandits, it was his duty to raise his voice against cruelty and injustice. The Guru and his companions were ordered to be imprisoned and tortured until they agreed to embrace Islam.
After a few days, Guru Teg Bahadur and three of his companions were produced before the Qazi of the city. Gurditta had managed to escape. He remained in hiding in the city, and in spite of all the efforts of the Government, he could not be traced. The Qazi turned to Mati Das first and asked him to embrace Islam. He refused to do so. He was condemned to an instantaneous death.
The executioners were called and the Guru and all the three of his companions were made to sit at the place of the execution. Bhai Mati Das approached the Guru with his palms pressed together , as he asked for his blessings, saying that he was happy to be the first to achieve martyrdom.
The Guru blessed him telling that they must resign themselves cheerfully to the will of the Lord. He praised him for his lifelong single-minded devotion to him and his cause. With tears in his eyes, he bade him farewell saying his sacrifice would occupy an abiding place in history. Mati Das touched the Guru's feet, embraced his friend and brother, and came to his place.
Mati Das while standing erect was tied between two posts. He was asked if he had any parting words, to which Mati Das answered, "I request only that my head be turned toward my Guru as I am executed." Two executioners placed a double-handed saw on his head. Mati Das serenely uttered "Ek Onkar" and started reciting the Japji Sahib, the great morning prayer of the Sikhs. He was sawn in half from head to loins. It is said that even as the body was being sawn into two, the Japji continued to reverberate from each part until it was all over.
Sati Das and Dyal Das
Sati Das condemned these brutalities and spoke harshly to the people in-charge. His protests were ignored and he too was tortured. He was eventually wrapped in cotton and burnt alive. The Guru witnessed all this savagery with divine calm.
Dyal Das also spoke tersely to the Emperor and his courtiers for this infernal and barbaric acts. The government leaders refused to listen to him too. They tortured him and eventually, he was tied up like a bundle and thrown into a huge cauldron and boiled alive. He was roasted alive into a block of charcoal. The Guru was deliberately forced to witness these barbaric acts to torture on the 3 Sikhs.
Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom
Mati Das, Dyal Das and Sati Das were tortured and executed on three consecutive days.
Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded by an executioner called Jalal-ud-din Jallad, who belonged to the town of Samana in present-day Haryana. The spot of the execution was under a banyan tree (the trunk of the tree and the nearby well, where he bathed are still preserved), now opposite the Sunheri Masjid near the Kotwali in Chandni Chowk where he was lodged as a prisoner, on November 11, 1675.
His head was carried away by Bhai Jaita, a disciple of the Guru, to Chak Nanaki (later renamed Anandpur Sahib) where the nine-year old Guru Gobind Rai cremated it. The gurdwara now at this spot is called Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib as is anotherGurdwara in Delhi. His body, which was to be quartered, was stolen under the cover of darkness of a sudden sand storm. The bold daring of Lakhi Shah Vanjara, another disciple, abled him to carry it away hidden in his cart under a load of hay. He then sacrificed his meager home to cremate his Guru's remains, by setting it afire. At this spot, the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib stands today. Later on, theGurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib, was built at Chandni Chowk at the site of the Guru’s martyrdom.
Bhai Mati Das' legacy
In recognition of the devotion and supreme sacrifice made by Mati Das, Guru Teg Bahadur bestowed the title of Bhai on him. In course of time, all Chhibbers belonging to the village of Karyala adopted this title.
Bhai Mati Das occupies a premier position in the pantheon of Sikh martyrs.
Dialogue
One of these great men was called Bhai Mati Daas Ji. The Qazi, the Muslim priest, asked Bhai Mati Daas: “Accept Islam and you will receive all the happiness’ and comforts of the world. We will give riches, as many wives as you wish and make you a courtier of the Mughal royal court.”
Bhai Mati Daas replied: “And if I don’t accept Islam then what will I face?”
“Then you will be faced with death! You will be sawn alive”, said the Qazi.
Bhai Mati Daas said to the Qazi: “O Qazi I have tasted all of the world’s happiness’ and comforts. My family are well off, I have a wife, children and parents. I am healthy and experienced all the world has to offer me…” “…However I have not tasted the teeth of your beloved saw! I would rather taste the teeth of the executioner’s saw than have all the comforts of the world.”
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered the executioners to give a taste of the saw’s teeth. The executioners placed the saw on top of Bhai Mati Daas’ head and sawed downwards up to the length of four fingers.
Blood was pouring from the head. The hair was shining with bright red. The face was smothered with the colour of blood.
“You have tasted the teeth of the saw. Now tell me if you wish to accept Islam and have all the comforts and riches of the world or face death”, asks the Qazi.
Bhai Mati Das replies, “I would rather face death and take on the teeth of the saw than be engulfed in the pain and misery which the comforts of the world bring.” ‘Sir jaave ta jaave, par meri Sikhi sidq na jaave… if I have to die, so be it, but may my Sikh faith never go.” [Sikh proverb]
The Qazi, executioners and the rest of the crowds were shocked at Bhai Mati Daas’ decision.
The executioners ask, “What is your last request?”
Bhai Sahib says, “I don’t have one but two requests! Firstly may my body be facing Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji, I never wish to turn my back to me Beloved Guru. Secondly I request you to execute me slowly. I wish to recite ‘Jap Ji Sahib’. So do not saw my tongue off until I utter: ‘jinni naam dhiaayiaa, gaye masakhat ghaal; naanak te mukh ujley kehtee chhutee naal.’’ ‘Where the Holy people constantly vibrate on the Kirtan of the Praises of the Lord of the Universe, O Nanak - the Righteous Judge (Recorder of Karma) says, ""Do not approach that place, O Messenger of Death, or else neither you nor I shall escape [from God]!""’ [Ang. 256]
The executioners were moved by this. “People usually ask us to hurry up the execution, so that they feel as little pain possible. We have never been requested to kill somebody slowly.”
The saw was put on Bhai Mati Daas’ head. “Ek Oangkaar, Sat-naam, Karta Purkh, Nir-bhau, Nir-vair, Akaal Moorat, Ajooni, Sai-bhan, Gur-prasaad…” Bhai Mati Daas shows no sign of distress and continues to recite Jap Ji Sahib. Eventually the body split into two pieces.
Bhai Mati Daas never gave up Sikhi or the support of Gurbani when challenged with death. Bhai Mati Daas didn’t merely utter Gurbani but, he lived Gurbani and put Guru Ji’s Divine words into action.
Now we are not shadowed with the choice choosing between torturous deaths, conversion or keeping our Sikh faith

Battle of Muktsar
Date:	Apr 1705
Location :	Near Muktsar and Khidrana Lake
Reason :	Creation of Town over Ruhela Revenge of Death of Bhagvan Das
Commanders
Guru Gobind Singh	Wazir Khan
Combatants
Majhails and other sikhs	Mughal Force
Results
40 Sikhs Killed	3000+ Mughals were killed