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Will seek community’s consensus on withdrawing Rajoana’s mercy plea: SGPC

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami during a meeting in Amritsar on Monday. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on May 06, 2025 08:32 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

Sikh man asks Rahul Gandhi about Operation Blue Star. His reply

Rahul Gandhi's remarks came during a question-and-answer session at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University.

india news

Updated on May 04, 2025 03:35 PM IST

ByHT News Desk

‘English proficiency must for truckers’: US Prez signs order

Sikh advocacy groups say the order can have a “discriminatory impact” on truckers from the community and create unnecessary barriers to employment.

Approximately 1,50,000 Sikhs work in the American trucking industry. (HT File)

cities

Published on Apr 30, 2025 05:06 AM IST

ByPress Trust of India, New York/washington

Punjab CM condemns ‘misbehaviour’ with ex-jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh

In a statement issued here, Punjab chief minister said that the incident of “maltreatment” of the former jathedar was highly condemnable.

Former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh

cities

Published on Apr 26, 2025 09:48 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Chandigarh

Appear before Takht with clarification: Giani Gargaj to Dhadrianwale

Responding to a media query, Giani Gargaj called upon the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Damdami Taksal, Nihang bodies, Sikh organisations, missionary colleges, institutions, and preachers to move forward unitedly to strengthen the campaign for preaching the Sikh faith.

Nearly five years after the Akal Takht asked Sikhs to boycott the discourses of preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale for his controversial utterances on the Sikh principles and traditions, incumbent acting jathedar of the highest Sikh temporal seat Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday invited him to rejoin the Sikh fold by appearing before the Takht with clarification. (PTI File)

cities

Published on Apr 22, 2025 05:28 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Gurdwara in Vancouver desecrated with anti-India, pro-Khalistan graffiti

A historic gurdwara in Canada’s Vancouver was desecrated with pro-Khalistan graffiti in the early hours on Saturday and its management placed the blame for the vandalisation on “extremist forces”

cities

Published on Apr 21, 2025 05:36 AM IST

ByAnirudh Bhattacharyya

Gurdwara desecrated in Canada's Vancouver with pro-Khalistan graffiti

On Saturday, a group of unidentified men spraypainted the slogans on the gates and outer walls of the Ross Street gurdwara, KDS’ recording secretary told HT.

The Khalsa Diwan Society gurdwara in Vancouver, better known as the Ross Street gurdwara, was spraypainted with pro-Khalistan and anti-India graffiti.(Hindustan Times)

world news

Published on Apr 20, 2025 10:08 AM IST

ByAnirudh Bhattacharyya

Punjab: Sacrilege incident reported in Hoshiarpur village, FIR registered

SAD leader Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan said the act of desecrating the sacred scripture has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

Around 15 'Angs' (pages) of the holy Guru Granth Sahib were found torn inside the Gurdwara in Nurpur Jattan village early on Friday morning.(Representative)

india news

Published on Apr 18, 2025 05:43 PM IST

PTI |

Gurdwaras mustn’t have govt interference, Giani Gargaj tells Haryana CM

Jathedar urged chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to ensure that students are taught Punjabi from the beginning in Haryana schools; says Haryana should hire employees who can read and write Punjabi.

Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj with Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini in Anandpur Sahib on Sunday. (HT photo)

cities

Published on Apr 14, 2025 08:00 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

Punjab: Bains must support resolution of Sikh issues, says jathedar

The statement cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains made in the assembly pertained to an internal Sikh matter that would be decided by the ‘Khalsa Panth’ itself and not the House, says Akal Takht’s officiating jathedar

cities

Published on Apr 14, 2025 07:58 AM IST

ByPress Trust of India, Amritsar

Manpreet Singh: “I wanted to talk of Sikhs in normal everyday urban contexts”

The author of ‘The Sikh Next Door’ on cutting through stereotypes and recognising the many social strands within the community.

Author Manpreet Singh (Courtesy the subject)

books

Updated on Apr 07, 2025 06:07 PM IST

BySimar Bhasin

Amid protests by Sikh organisations, pride parade in Amritsar cancelled

“This year, due to opposition, we are informing that Pride Amritsar is cancelling the Pride Parade 2025 scheduled to be held on April 27 at Rose Garden,” said the organisers.

Following widespread opposition from people, especially the Sikh community, the Pride Parade which was slated to be held in Amritsar on April 27, was cancelled by the organisers. (HT File)

cities

Published on Apr 07, 2025 08:30 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Amritsar

Lecture on Master Tara Singh was not finalised: PU history dept on cancellation row

The controversy was stoked by Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Tarlochan Singh who wrote to the V-C regarding cancellation of the event

History department chairperson clarified that the invitation were sent by the Guru Nanak Research Institute from Birmingham without informing the Panjab University. (File)

cities

Published on Mar 22, 2025 09:46 AM IST

ByRajanbir Singh, Chandigarh

Harjinder Singh Dhami relents, to resume duty as SGPC chief

After closed-door meeting with SAD leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Balwinder Singh Bhunder, agrees to resume office soon.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Balwinder Singh Bhunder addressing the media after meeting Harjinder Singh Dhami (centre) at his residence in Hoshiarpur on Tuesday. (Harpreet Kaur/HT)

cities

Published on Mar 18, 2025 04:29 PM IST

ByHarpreet Kaur

In Hola Mohalla address, Giani Gargaj urges Sikhs to unite, announces Panthic Lehar

Three-day Hola Mohalla celebrations at Takht Kesgarh Sahib conclude peacefully with nihangs taking out traditional procession.

Newly installed Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj (centre), who was also recently appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht, on Saturday reiterated his appeal for the Sikh community to unite. (HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Mar 15, 2025 03:03 PM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber

Bhagwant Mann pays obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib on Hola Mohalla

india news

Published on Mar 14, 2025 04:56 PM IST

PTI |

Happy Hola Mohalla 2025: 20 wishes, images, quotes, greetings, SMS to share

Hola Mohalla 2025 is a significant 3-day Sikh festival. Share these quotes and wishes with your loved ones to celebrate the spirit of Hola Mohalla!

Happy Hola Mohalla 2025 wishes, and greetings you can share on social media. (Pic courtesy: Wallpapercave.com)

lifestyle

Published on Mar 13, 2025 10:22 AM IST

BySanya

40 Gurudwaras unite to foster Hindu-Sikh unity and communal harmony

MUMBAI: The Sikh community commemorates Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom, promoting Hindu-Sikh unity and interfaith harmony through various initiatives in Mumbai.

cities

Published on Mar 12, 2025 08:52 AM IST

ByLinah Baliga

Amid jathedars’ removal row, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj takes charge of Takht Kesgarh Sahib

After nihangs threatened to disrupt ceremony scheduled for 10am at Anandpur Sahib, installation of the new jathedar, who has also been given the additional charge of the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, was carried out at 2.45am on Monday.

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, 40, being honoured after he was installed as the jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib in the presence of the ‘Panj Pyare (five beloved ones of the Guru)’ of Akal Takht at 2.45am, seven hours before schedule, on Monday. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Mar 10, 2025 02:47 PM IST

BySurjit Singh

Jathedars who were shown the door abruptly

This is not the first time that the SGPC has removed jathedars, whose positions are considered sacrosanct within the community, with many critics dubbing it as a direct attack on the supremacy and sacredness of Sikh temporal seats founded by the Gurus.

cities

Published on Mar 09, 2025 08:26 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Removal of jathedars seems act of vengeance: Punjab CM Mann

SGPC removed Giani Raghbir Singh from post of Akal Takht jathedar and Giani Sultan Singh as Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar on Friday and appointed Sikh scholar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as the new jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. He would also serve as the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, until an appointment is made.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann at an event in Chandigarh to flag off a batch of school principals for training in Singapore on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

cities

Published on Mar 08, 2025 03:02 PM IST

ByPress Trust of India

Black day for Sikh institutions, says Giani Harpreet Singh

Sikh leaders criticize SAD and SGPC for removing jathedars, calling it a black day for Sikh institutions and damaging community trust in leadership.

cities

Published on Mar 08, 2025 08:58 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Jathedar removal deepens Sikh religio-political crisis, say experts

SGPC's removal of jathedars Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh fuels Sikh outrage, deepening SAD's crisis amid factional infighting.

SGPC executive members’ meeting in Amritsar on Friday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

cities

Published on Mar 08, 2025 08:40 AM IST

ByGurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh

SGPC removes Giani Raghbir Singh as Akal Takht jathedar

Former SGPC member Baba Tek Singh Dhanuala, who was the Barnala district president of the SAD, has been appointed as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib

cities

Published on Mar 08, 2025 07:32 AM IST

BySurjit Singh, Amritsar

Akal Takht panel to kickstart SAD membership drive from March 18

After failing to get support from the Sukhbir Singh Badal faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Akal Takht-constituted panel on Tuesday announced to start the party’s membership drive from March 18 after holding ‘ardas’ before the highest Sikh temporal seat

cities

Published on Mar 05, 2025 08:28 AM IST

BySurjit Singh

Takht jathedar-SGPC tussle: 1999 resolution surfaces, adds new twist to row

The ongoing controversy over questioning of authority of the Akal Takht jathedar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has intensified following the resurfacing of a 1999 resolution

cities

Published on Feb 26, 2025 08:40 AM IST

BySurjit Singh

Canada provincial election: Indo-Canadian candidate suspended over offensive social media posts

Viresh Bansal was a candidate for the riding (as constituencies are called in Canada) of Oshawa. On Tuesday, he had issued a public apology for the comments made in X and Facebook posts in 2023

Indo-Canadian Viresh Bansal had posted comments against Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Supplied Photo)

world news

Published on Feb 22, 2025 11:31 AM IST

ByAnirudh Bhattacharyya

Sajjan Kumar indictment and the rise of hate politics

Another court indictment of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar brought back the memories of the 1984 riots.

Peacekeepers find the going tough when people holding high office, wittingly or unwittingly, lean towards hate-mongering (PTI)

opinion

Published on Feb 16, 2025 08:18 PM IST

ByShashi Shekhar

US Punjabi association writes to homeland security, appeals to maintain sanctity of gurdwaras

NAPA’s executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said the presence of law enforcement officials conducting immigration enforcement operations within or around religious sites not only undermines their sanctity but also deeply hurts the sentiments of the Sikh community

US Immigrations and Customs (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents detain a person in Tucson, Arizona. (Reuters File)

cities

Published on Jan 29, 2025 06:10 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Jalandhar

SAD leaders ‘forcing’ jathedar to make ‘changes’ in Dec 2 order: Rebel group

The Akali rebel group has accused the senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders of putting pressure on Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to make certain alterations in the orders issued by him on December 2.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bibi Jagir Kaur along with party leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala addresses a press conference on current issues of the Sikh community, in Jalandhar on Monday. (ANI)

cities

Updated on Jan 28, 2025 09:34 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent, Jalandhar

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sikh community news

Latest from sikh community

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role as a backup bomber in the suicide attack in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995, that killed former CM Beant Singh and 16 others.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks came during a question-and-answer session at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University.

Sikh advocacy groups say the order can have a “discriminatory impact” on truckers from the community and create unnecessary barriers to employment.

In a statement issued here, Punjab chief minister said that the incident of “maltreatment” of the former jathedar was highly condemnable.

Responding to a media query, Giani Gargaj called upon the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Damdami Taksal, Nihang bodies, Sikh organisations, missionary colleges, institutions, and preachers to move forward unitedly to strengthen the campaign for preaching the Sikh faith.

A historic gurdwara in Canada’s Vancouver was desecrated with pro-Khalistan graffiti in the early hours on Saturday and its management placed the blame for the vandalisation on “extremist forces”

On Saturday, a group of unidentified men spraypainted the slogans on the gates and outer walls of the Ross Street gurdwara, KDS’ recording secretary told HT.

SAD leader Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan said the act of desecrating the sacred scripture has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

Jathedar urged chief minister Nayab Singh Saini to ensure that students are taught Punjabi from the beginning in Haryana schools; says Haryana should hire employees who can read and write Punjabi.

The statement cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains made in the assembly pertained to an internal Sikh matter that would be decided by the ‘Khalsa Panth’ itself and not the House, says Akal Takht’s officiating jathedar

The author of ‘The Sikh Next Door’ on cutting through stereotypes and recognising the many social strands within the community.

“This year, due to opposition, we are informing that Pride Amritsar is cancelling the Pride Parade 2025 scheduled to be held on April 27 at Rose Garden,” said the organisers.

The controversy was stoked by Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Tarlochan Singh who wrote to the V-C regarding cancellation of the event

After closed-door meeting with SAD leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Balwinder Singh Bhunder, agrees to resume office soon.

Three-day Hola Mohalla celebrations at Takht Kesgarh Sahib conclude peacefully with nihangs taking out traditional procession.

Bhagwant Mann pays obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib on Hola Mohalla

Hola Mohalla 2025 is a significant 3-day Sikh festival. Share these quotes and wishes with your loved ones to celebrate the spirit of Hola Mohalla!

MUMBAI: The Sikh community commemorates Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom, promoting Hindu-Sikh unity and interfaith harmony through various initiatives in Mumbai.

After nihangs threatened to disrupt ceremony scheduled for 10am at Anandpur Sahib, installation of the new jathedar, who has also been given the additional charge of the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, was carried out at 2.45am on Monday.

This is not the first time that the SGPC has removed jathedars, whose positions are considered sacrosanct within the community, with many critics dubbing it as a direct attack on the supremacy and sacredness of Sikh temporal seats founded by the Gurus.

Sikh leaders criticize SAD and SGPC for removing jathedars, calling it a black day for Sikh institutions and damaging community trust in leadership.

SGPC's removal of jathedars Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh fuels Sikh outrage, deepening SAD's crisis amid factional infighting.

Former SGPC member Baba Tek Singh Dhanuala, who was the Barnala district president of the SAD, has been appointed as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib

After failing to get support from the Sukhbir Singh Badal faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Akal Takht-constituted panel on Tuesday announced to start the party’s membership drive from March 18 after holding ‘ardas’ before the highest Sikh temporal seat

The ongoing controversy over questioning of authority of the Akal Takht jathedar by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has intensified following the resurfacing of a 1999 resolution

Viresh Bansal was a candidate for the riding (as constituencies are called in Canada) of Oshawa. On Tuesday, he had issued a public apology for the comments made in X and Facebook posts in 2023

Another court indictment of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar brought back the memories of the 1984 riots.

NAPA’s executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said the presence of law enforcement officials conducting immigration enforcement operations within or around religious sites not only undermines their sanctity but also deeply hurts the sentiments of the Sikh community

The Akali rebel group has accused the senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders of putting pressure on Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to make certain alterations in the orders issued by him on December 2.

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