INDIA
Asian Voice - Saturday 13th February 2010
Allow ceremonial ‘Kirpan’ at school Continued from page 1 Sir Mota Singh had said that he saw no objection to a young Sikh boy or girl being allowed to wear the Kirpan if they wanted to do. “I wear my Kirpan and I have always worn it for last 35 to 50 years. I have worn it even when I was sitting in court or visiting public places, including Buckingham Palace. Honoured by the Queen with knighthood this year, Sir Mota Singh was born in Kenya, but has spent his entire life in UK. The boy’s family has still not decided whether to bring in a discrimination claim against the school. They have though got the boy admission in another school and have taken a loan to pay the fees. The new school allows wearing kirpans. Compton school said they banned kirpans on security reasons and even offered a compromise that was rejected by the boy’s family. The responsibility for uniforms rules at present is that of individual schools and local authorities, although they must abide by the Human Rights Act, which guarantees freedom of religion. Sikh, Christian and Muslim teenagers have taken their schools to court in recent years for the right to wear jewellery and clothing that they claim is central to their faith. Dr. Rami Ranger, MBE, FRSA - Chairman
Dr. Rami Ranger
of British Sikh Association, in his comments on the issue said, “ As a Sikh I am in favour of Sikhs carrying a symbolic ceremonial dagger as a mark of respect to our founder, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, rather than the real thing.
Sikhs are one of the most successful communities in the world and contribute more than their number to society bears testament to their teachings. More importantly, those who look back cannot look forward. The fact of the matter is that the species that will survive in the future will not be the most intelligent or the strongest, but that which will adapt to change. Similarly, we Sikhs must adapt to change if we are to remain a modern and progressive race, rather than monuments of the past. I am confident that the Sikh leadership will find a compromise in order to send a positive signal that we are a pragmatic race
• Sir Mota Singh, QC defends Sikh rights • A Barnet school forced a Sikh boy to leave for wearing the ceremonial dagger Many will agree with me that these days there is no use in carrying the real thing as we are no longer fighting against the tyranny and oppression of the then Mogul Emperor, Aurangzeb. As a matter of fact, the next war will not be fought with swords; instead it will be fought with the help of science and technology. The Sikhs are the product of the most modern and progressive religion as our Gurus wanted us to be the best amongst the rest. The very fact
and can see the rationale of carrying symbols rather than the actual weapon which is now considered offensive in a modern and civilized society where equality and basic human rights for everyone are enshrined in the constitution.” Harpreet Singh, an Indian city worker thought Judge Mota Singh is not supporting a right cause. He said, “There is a reason why a law has been formed not to carry knifes on the street and no religion should be allowed to
Fonseka charged for plotting a coup, arrested Continued from page 1 Sources in Sri Lanka say the retired general still has many supporters in the army and the government fears they could stage a rebellion. Keheliya Rambukwella, a government minister and spokesman, confirmed that General Fonseka would be tried in a military court on charges of conspiring against the President and planning a coup. “He had been plotting against the President even while in the military ... with the idea of overthrowing the Government,” he said. Rajapaksa won easily, but the general did not accept the results, accusing the Government of monopolising the state media and tampering with ballot counting. After the election results, Rajapaksa has cracked down on the media, closing two newspapers, arresting one editor and detaining dozens of journalists. A purge was also carried out in the army. Voicing concern over the arrest of Fonseka, Philip Crowley, a US State Department spokesman, said: “There is a tremendous need for the Government of Sri Lanka
to work to overcome the fissures that exist within its society.” General Sarath Fonseka is still widely admired within the Lankan armed forces, drawn from the ethnic Sinhalese majority, for his no-nonsense style of leadership during the victorious campaign over the Tigers last year. Although his supporters in the army top brass have almost all been replaced, he remains hugely popular among the rank and file. He also has powerful friends overseas. Kaveri Alagappan, a Tamil student from Lanka in the UK said, "Rajapaksa is evil. He has tortured so many of us back at home. I have lost so many of my family members. I am sure he manipulated the results." Shivrajan, an Indian Tamil shop keeper in East London said, "Foneska is a good man. Rajapaksa has tortured my fellow Tamilians in Sri Lanka. Its high time people realise what we need. We desperately require a government that looks at everybody equally and does not do injustice to people because they are Hindu Tamils."
Anita V, a house maker, living in the UK said, "We NRIs and the asylum seekers should have a voting right in Sri Lanka. We know what we have lost in Rajapaksa's regime. Our friends spent days without food and water to bring justice to my homeland. We made protests in the Parliament square for over two months. With the help of some British MPs including David Miliband, we improved the condition of Lanka. We hoped a change in the government will ease out the condition of our fellow Tamils. But now that hope also dims out." Crackdown feared Parliamentary elections in the island nation are due in April and political parties fear a crackdown ahead of the polls. The series of incidents will heighten fears over curbs on freedom of speech following attacks on journalists and independent commentators in recent years. It will also raise the political temperature in Sri Lanka at a time when many business executives had hoped the government would focus on the economy following the end of the war.
be bigger than the law of the land. Kirpans, even though may not be exactly like a knife, can still be used like a weapon and cause serious harm. I would like him to go and show the Kirpans to all the victim's families who have lost their beloved and ask them if any one should be allowed to carry them even though beneath their clothes. Kirpans religiously had to be carried by Sikh people to protect oneself and do the right things, but in this day and age, who is to say what is right and what is not. You never know which child becomes a vandal and mis uses what Sikhism has given them as a Godly protection.” Alok Verma, a high street lawyer added, “what Judge Mota Singh is trying to do here is protect a heritage and multi culturalism. But this country and its ways do not allow use of tradition in the right way. If someone dies because of the mis use of Kirpan in school that is definitely hazardous. Personally speaking, it depends on a family how he brings up his child. Not only one should know that using Kirpan is to protect himself alone and not otherwise, but he should also learn that anger management is a part of being responsible.”
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Modi on top once more, says Sunday Indian It’s Narendra Modi and Gujarat again. The Sunday Indian and C-Voter nationwide survey of India’s best governed states has seen Gujarat emerge on top among the big states and the incumbent chief minister is adjudged best in all categories. Orissa and Bihar have tied to fill the rest of the podium. Among the small states, Haryana has run away with the top spot, followed by Chattisgarh and Delhi. In terms of perception outside one’s own state, Narendra Modi is the most popular chief minis-
ter, Sheila Dikshit and Nitish Kumar coming in at distant second and third positions respectively. One thing has come out crystal clear from the responses. People have given primacy to development and governance in rating the state governments and chief ministers. However, the survey held among 20,000 respondents (people eligible to vote) has a lesson in store even for the toppers. None of the chief ministers have got a net approval rating of over 40 per cent.
Quota for Muslims quashed by Andhra Pradesh HC West Bengal announces 10 per cent reservation for the minorities in jobs In a huge setback to the ruling Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, a seven judge bench of the state High Court on Monday quashed a bill providing 4 per cent reservation for backward Muslims in educational institutions as well as government jobs. In another related development, even as the Union government is yet to take a decision, West Bengal announced 10 per cent job quota for backward Muslims in the state. Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee, addressing the media on Monday at Kolkata, said the state government decided to accept the report of the Ranganath Mishra committee and will be providing job quotas for educationally, socially and economically backward Muslims in the state. Congress had given electoral promise of reservations for Muslims. Hence, the High Court judgement is seen as a huge setback for the party as well as for a large number of Muslim bodies.