Firstly let me apologize to those of you who I left hanging for the last little without any updates. Fortnuatlly I was busy for the better part of the month and then lazy for the other half. None the less when I saw this story I thought that maybe its time to take a break from taking a break and get back into the mix of things.

Most of you have probably heard about the ban on Singh and Kaur that has been going on by the Canadian Immigration offices in Delhi. All though the practice has been going on for 10 years now, most of us had been oblivious to it until it made headlines recently. Anyway’s the government has since issued an apology and something along the lines of stating a change in policy.

Without getting to much into that though, I was kind of surprised to be reading the following from the CBC today:

Sikh name-change letter challenged on Facebook

Last Updated: Monday, July 30, 2007 | 7:20 AM ET

CBC News

Sikh groups angry about a controversial government letter requesting name changes for Sikh immigrants have taken their fight to the popular social networking website Facebook.

At least five online groups dedicated to discussing the government letter, which asked people with the common Sikh surnames Singh and Kaur to change their last names before coming to Canada, have been created.

Kupreet Singh, an administrator for one of the groups protesting the letter, said his forum has already attracted more than 400 members.

He said the online members are proof that Canadians are dissatisfied with Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley’s response last week. A spokesman from her department told CBC News a letter from the Canadian High Commission stating “the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada” was not government policy and was “poorly worded.”

Finley added that the letter did not demand that people named Singh or Kaur change their names, but was actually a request for them to add a surname in order to help the department be more efficient.

Singh said the members of his Facebook group are demanding more clarification on the issue.

“We would like [Minister Finley] to instruct her New Delhi office that not only should they not require people to change their names,” he said, “but not even request [a name change].”

Immigrants fear delays in applications

Immigrants are in a vulnerable position, Singh said. They fear that if they do not comply with a government request, their immigration applications may be delayed or even ignored.

Asking people to change their names simply to ease up some bureaucratic filing is unreasonable, he said.

The name-change controversy erupted after Tarvinder Kaur, waiting for her husband Jaspal Singh to arrive in Canada, learned his application to become a permanent resident had been delayed for more than a month because of his last name.

When CBC News first asked about the letter, immigration officials said the policy to ask for a third name was put in place 10 years ago.

More then anything, I was surprised by the fact that the CBC actually noticed the Facebook group and used it as the base of the Sikh voice. Not that this is a bad thing, just an interesting trend that I’ve seen emerging amongst the media, where they’ve now started to scour Facebook and other social networking sites to gauge the reaction of the public. The Toronto Star has written a few stories based souly from accounts taken from Facebook including the more recent Turban ban @ Marlowe story. Whether this trend will continue or not is still to be seen, however it does offer an interesting alternative to all those petitions that are often prepared that rarely get anyone’s attention.

It didn’t take Rex Murphy and his crew of merry men at the CBC to once again jump on the whole Nagar Kirtan thing, even if it is only a few months later. Nonetheless as with most other things, the latest CBC special helped highlight the real problem and there real motives.

Firstly I’ll give Rex some credit, at least this time around he made an effort to properly identify the various groups. i.e not labeling theKhalsa School Gatka Akhara as being members of the ISYF, but apart from that he seemed to really just be out shit it up.

Ignoring the obvious angle that is being displayed, Sikh Separatism = Air India, it was more interesting to watch the shots that the CBC directed at the prodigal son, M.P from Brampton, Mr.Navdeep Singh Bains himself.

Its weird that on one hand you have the Toronto Star, who only months ago was all about lamenting Navdeep’s success in politics, especially after his pivotal role in the leadership race, on the other you have the CBC going after the WSO and painting a dotted line that points right to Nav, highlighting the fear that they have of him gaining any power and influence on both the federal and provincial scene.

What was really notable to watch was how the CBC attempted to perform the Kansas City shuffle, making us look one way while they went the other. For the most part I think they did skillfully accomplish this thanks in large part to none other then Mr.Ujal Dosanjh . A perfect selection because he seems to be the one person who may actually have a vested interest against the so called separatist agenda and nothing more, and lets not forget that he himself after all is a “moderate Sikh”, (moderates the new buzz word that equates to good). But while the media tries to play us with a Kansas City shuffle one needs not get distracted by everything else that’s going on and recognize what this really is, an internal political struggle. Back in November,Dosanjh backed Bob Rae, while Nav has been noted for securing the victory for Dion, which has many speculating a Ministerial role for Mr Bains , if the Liberals get back in power. Of course at this point that remains a big IF, but all the same a liberal government would mean that former Health MinisterDosanjh is thrown back to the backbenches, replaced instead by the great brown hope. So it’s obvious that there is a vested interest to seeBain’s clout and creditability get tarnished. After all you’re going to need someone as minister and if you can get the public and media againstBains then selecting him would definitely get a lot of unwanted attention on Dion and the party, don’t forget the earlier attempts made by the Vancouver media and the Federal Conservatives as trying to paintBains as having ‘terrorist’ links. (It works for the Conservatives since they want to try and damage Bains to try and loosen his grip on his riding, so they can sneak in some desi to make a strong run at him). Yet, with all these subtle jabs at Bains (the bus load of delegates coming to the convention, the delegates not freely voting, etc.), the CBC still chose not to interview the man himself. One would think that after the CBC chose to go afterBains the way they did they would at the very least have given him the courtesy to say his peice, but then again that wouldn’t have served their modus operandi.

Furthermore its always disheartening when the publicly funded news station chooses to rock a one sided approach in their media coverage, such as the fact that the CBC grabsmonay to represent the “moderate” voice of Sikhi, at the very least grab a sardar, some missionary scholar or something, but stop trying to use those who haven’t made the forward steps toward Sikhi as the voices of the Sikh nation, there go painting a picture that anyone who is a Singh is by virtue an extremist. Something about Doasnjh or Hayer being my Sikh voice in parliament and to the rest of Canada is just wrong.

As for everything else, the portrayal of Sikhs as being evil militants, etc. doesn’t and shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It is however ironic and somewhat hypocritical to demonize Sikhs for all the weaponry depictions when it’s a mace (a weapon) that is used to open up Parliament and is found on most government insignia. Furthermore about the Air India link, it’s only fair to note that the RCMP’s primary suspects were acquitted with no case made against them. As for Parmar, seems like a matter of convenience more then anything else considering Parmar was never tried nor allowed a defense, but hey I guess if they can get the shoe to fit then why not go with it.

Anyways, it should be interesting to see the follow up that I’m sure the CBC will prepare. Hopefully WSO won’t let this go without a fight and seeing as how they are the only real established organization we have as Sikhs in Canada, will get the Sangat’s support in this matter.

Lastly shout out to Manjot Singh aka Dark Fusion, for getting some national air time for his Gatka performance aired all over Canada on National TV. Also for those wanting a more in depth analysis on whats happened in regards to the media bias make sure you check out the BC Sikh Youth website who prepared a list of the lies and mis-truth’s being spurred by the CBC’s coverage on their website [BCSikhYouth.com].

Found this picture on the Tribune india website, thought it was pretty pimp still, Nihangs are the new unofficial spokesmen for Coke-a-Cola classic.

If the death of a conscience is a sure death then by the same virtue, the creation of one must be a true birth. It was on this day 23 years ago that the Indian Army took it upon themselves to storm the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandir Sahib aka The Golden Temple, in what they dubbed Operation Blue Star. What followed was the genocide of Sikhs from within the Punjab and India itself. Hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were wiped out in fake police encounters, mob riots and other government sponsored programmes. It was an attempt to cleanse the state of what was dubbed by many in Parliament as the “Sikh Problem”, and they decided the best cure was amputation at its very roots, by wiping out an entire generation of Sikhs.

Now as much as people want to dilute what happened in 84 as being a political problem, or one that was between a minority and the government they fail to recognize the actual facts of what happened. When they ask why was Harmandir Sahib fortified I ask why were hundreds of other Sikh temples sieged? Why did they not convict Sant Jarnail Singh, as they had done previously, if he’s all they wanted? Why did they lock hundreds of women and children in the Parkarma and not let them leave having left the fight between them [the army] and the Singhs? Why was it that those who committed the atrocities, that Human Rights organizations the world over recognize, go on to receive awards, and seats in Parliament? Why was it that hundreds of girls were raped in front of their fathers? Why was it that those who investigated the happenings of 84 were kidnapped and killed? Why is it that any independent news reporter or source who looks at what happened in 84 come to learn of the same reality that Sikhs have been holding onto for years?

1984 was never about a single person or a group of people. It was about sending a message that Sikhi in its purest form would not be tolerated. It was about sending a message through intimidation that we own you, and you are ours. They never did accomplish that in its entirety, instead through Guru Sahibs kirpa, they created a day that is ire marked in the fathoms of history as the day when a few hundred Singhs withstood the brute might of the Indian army for a few days. A day when, with nothing more then a limited supply of bullets and resources, a few hundred Singhs withstood the fury and might of the largest hypocrisy in the World, and gave birth to a relative new  consciousness amongst Sikhs the world over.

A consciousness that inspired thousands at that time to give up their illicit ways and return to adopt the values of their forefathers. A day that continues to inspire hundreds of youth to realize the truth of their not so distant past and make an effort to return to their roots. A day that the Indian army tried to bring death to an ideology and kill away the conscience beliefs of the Sikhs, instead turned into a day that they helped plant the seed that continues to give birth to that very conscience every day. It was the very conscience that made me look into my past and history and dwelve deeper into learning about Sikhi. A day that made me go the Gurdwara and ask why, and a day that I give thanks, as it was the day that inspired me and gave birth to my very own consciousness. It truly is a day of birth, not one that is physical or biological in nature, but a real birth, the birth of a conscience.

So here we are almost two weeks later and the situation in Punjab with the dera is still volatile as ever. Although calm has taken its course over the last week, the whole drama still has many anxiously sitting at the edge’s of their seats, waiting to see what the next move is. Like a game of chess every one’s eyes are now on the board and it’s the Panths turn to make its play, after the Baba released his devious “apology” in the last turn. The idleness keeps the minds searching, keeping it analyzing every possible move, keeping a look out for those nefarious angles the whole time trying to grip and make sense of what’s happening, the reason and logic behind the madness.

As always I continue to see this as less of a religious or panthic situation, rather a political tango between India’s Capulet’s and the Montague’s with the Panth being held captive in between. This has little to do with ones own faith rather the manipulation of that faith for something of its ones own desires. If nothing else a glaring result as to why the Panth should remain independent of any political party and remain independent as the permanent opposition of Punjab, for its only in its own independence can it remain objective.

The last angle focused completely on Badal, him being the puppet master, the ring leader of this fiasco, but as Harp notably pointed out that their are inherit flaws with that frame of logic, after all it takes two to tango, and that being the case one needs to consider an angle with more then just one ring leader. So lets do just that, lets add in more angles more actors and check the path it leads.

Quick Review:

• The Akali’s blame the Dera for his strong hold and clout on the Malwa region, which saw them loose some top seats in the past elections.
• The Dera put its weight behind the Congress the long sworn enemies of the Akali Dal.
• The Dera is centered in Sirsa located in Haryana and thus out of the Akali’s jurisdiction.
• Haryana’s government is Congress, and being boys with the Dera got his back.
• SGPC and Sri Akal Takhat are greatly influenced by Akali’s and Badal.

There should be little doubt as to what Badal and them want to gain from this, by raising up hell against the Dera there is the plausible chance that his grip over the Malwa region will slip, giving the Akalis a better chance in the region next time around. But see a war against the Dera naturally ensues a war against Congress after all what type of friend lets another go at it alone. There are inherit questions that one needs to ask: who fed the news to the media to get it pushed and make it “news”. See the Dera released the ad’s, but why?  There’s no doubt that the Akali’s wanted to deal with the Dera, but I doubt that this was the way they had in mind. So where did the dera gain the fortitude to be so bold in its actions, which I accredit to the older cousin theory; that when one knows that they got older cousins behind them who are down for ruckus, then by virtue that younger cousin gets a little ballsy.

There’s no question about the Indian media’s loyalties and its history to take a story and sensationalize it, twist it, manipulate it, without any shame when it comes to the regard of spearheading a campaign of propaganda and the news reports that have been coming out of this fiasco prove this point. The news is both hook and bait, on one end its saying, “so what you going do about it”, taunting the Sikhs to take action against the dera, and on the other “look at what you did”, as if the reaction was out of the blue and totally unforeseen. This plays well to the congress since it now agitates a community within Punjab that everyone has tried to keep dormant for so long, what the media has come to dub, “Sikh militancy groups”.

The thing with Sikh Nationalists that’s worth keeping in mind is that at least seemingly, they despise Badal and the current Akali’s, they also despise Congress and for them it’s not a matter of power as much as it is of Independence and the freedom of the Akal Takhat and the Sikh faith. To this regard, pushing them only knows one end, and that’s to be pushed back, which of course is what Congress would love to see happen. Once you push this group then the Congress has only but to slip back into Haryana and seeing how this is a Punjab problem leaves Badal to deal with an agitated group who is willing to go at it. Now Badal’s left to deal and take charge against the same people who he is supposed to represent, if not directly then at least through the SGPC and the voice of the Akal Takhat.

Now look at the past events, taking the Dera and the Congress to be one and the same, we see how both have helped to agitate this situation. Same time Badal and his BJP cronies have done what they can to reveal a sound level of diplomacy, (the Swami was from the pockets of the BJP). So it leaves the problematic play in the hands of Badal yet again. If the Akal Takhat rejects the apology then we can assume chaos will ensue with riots similar to that of the weeks past, leaving Badal to quell the situation, which could hurt him politically. Accepting the apology leaves Badal vulnerable to attack by the Nationalists as it would see Badal siding with the Dera, which again brings the potential to have riots start up all over Punjab. Therefore leaving the only real play Badal can make is to get the SGPC and Akal Takhat to reject the apology yet grant an extension to the dera so that diplomacy can ensue, which could show a weakness on the part of the Sikhs, yet would buy Badal and group, more time to deal with the situation.

Now Congress’s angle in this would be that getting riots to ensue and by putting Badal in the hot seat, they could then react on a federal level, where congress reigns supreme, and voice that presidents rule be implemented in Punjab, effectively throwing out the Akalis and putting power and Punjab into the hands of the Congress party. They could then continue to feed and ride the Punjab situation for as long as they need effectively kicking Badal and company to the curb.

Of course this is all speculation, but lets face it nothing about this situation adds up. End of the day, both parties Congress and the Akali’s are merely separate sides to the same coin, but it remains that neither truley have the Panths welfare at the heart of any of there decisions, so it’s up to the Panth to dictate and exert there own level of leadership to find a way out of this situation.

When the rich wage war its the poor who die, when the Akali’s wage war its the blood of the Panth that’s spilled.

For years now we’ve heard accusations of Badal being the puppet master, using the SGPC and the Akal Takhat to do his dirty work, but in recent weeks with the situation in Punjab, Badal’s grip on Punjab, the Panth and his true motives have never been clearer.

See as much as we want to believe that the recent weeks have shown the Panths ability to come together and group against a common foe, that the Singh’s in Punjab are tired of taking things lightly and are ready once again to rise up, the truth is far from it. Rather what the events of the recent weeks have shown is that Badal has the power to manipulate the Panth into serving as his own personal army.

Lets face facts although what the Dera chief did was wrong, it’s not the worst that’s happened . See as bad as doing beadbi and attempting to make a mockery of the amrit sinchar is, he’s not the first to do it. Mann Chand, the Naamdharis all beat him to that punch and have been doing it for a while now.

If it’s the fact that he’s a pakhandi sant with the guise of a Sikh, with multiple CBI cases against him ranging from murder, rape etc then again he’s not the first, there have been worse, Nang Phula, Mann Chand and countless other so called Babay who have raped innocent girls only doors away from Maharaaj ta Darbaar roam free in Punjab with seemingly full immunity, some even with Badals blessing and support.

If it’s the fact that his followers have hurt peaceful Sikh protestors leading to one Singhs shaheedi, then why is it that the likes of KPS Gill, Amita Bachan, Ashotoush and Noormalia, haven’t been asked to surrender, after all shirly they have spilled more sikh blood then this clown.

Why is it that a small band of “bhajangi Khalsa” a force that has been reported to be no greater then a few hundred young Sikhs, been placed in charge to deal with the Dera’s if they refuse to abide by the ultimatum set fourth by the Akal Takhat, knowing full well that the Dera and its followers won’t go without a fight. If this were to happen and a confrontation to ensue then the the Singhs involved would no doubt be outnumbered and made to give up their lives attaining Shaheedi, which could easily be avoided simply by increasing the #’s of these fauj’s. After all why sacrifice a drop of blood if it isn’t needed?

Now lets not also forget that Malwa the center in which the Dera has the most clout, reportedly voted 60% in favour of Congress as opposed to apparently having had a long history of being an Akali hot seat. Knowing that Badal has used strong armed tactics in various forms in the past to intimidate the electorate could this attack not be seen as nothing more then Badal merely flexing some muscle? It will be interesting to see how such of an effect on the polls closing of the Dera’s and everything else that has gone on, has next time around.

Lets not also dismiss the mixed signals coming out of the various parties. For instance the Hukamnaama for a full out closure which after realizing lack of jurisdiction to this regard has been re-evaluated to being a favourably worded apology. 

 The natural question that comes to mind after all of the above is why? What do the Badal’s and Akali’s have to gain from such actions. Well being able to coerce the Akal Takhat into making concessions does Badal not come out looking like the good guy the one who brought an end to the protests, exuberating the leadership expected of him? The cool head in a tense situation makes him look gold. Would sacrificing many more of our youth if need be not serve to rile up the Panth into a full out war against the Dera? Most likely the case, which again goes to server the Akalis more then anyone else. Why is it that the Dera is the target of all this as opposed to other individuals who have done the Panth more harm in the past 20 years? Is it because the others cooperate with Badal and are on his good side? Could it not be, because the Dera can be touched and the wrath of a few thousand poor is less feared then that of the political might that could be possibly felt if one went up against the likes of KPS Gill or Ashotoush? What about the fact that such actions serve to only strengthen the Akali party which Badals son is being groomed to take lead of in the near future. Giving him the party, after presenting the need for an Akali goverment in punjab, only serves to impower and ensure that the Badal legacy and tenure of terror continues.

I fully understand and realize that we could play the game of “what if” all day, and speculation is nothing more then hearsay with legs, but given the past history of the Badal’s and SAD, it would be ignorant and deviant-ly deceitful on our own parts to at least not look at the situation from as many different angles as possible, after all, “If you can’t see the angles no more, you’re in trouble.”

Shaheed Bhai Kanwaljit Singh, the first to recieve the gift of Shaheedi during the past week’s dera riots.