Declining number of registered voters for SGPC polls, scheduled for later this year, has given fresh impetus to traditionally excluded Sehajdhari Sikhs' demand for voting rights.
Sikh body regrets govt's 'negative attitude' towards Akal Takht panel, which is seeking release of 'Bandi Singhs' jailed during militancy in 1980s-1990s & incarcerated for decades.
An amendment to Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925, a central law, barred sehajdharis from voting in SGPC polls. It was challenged by Sehajdhari Sikh Party in 2017 in HC, where case is still pending.
Every Sikh adult with unshorn hair is eligible to cast ballot. While total number of voters till Thursday was 27.45 lakh, it was over 52 lakh when SGPC polls were last held in 2011.
Maharashtra cabinet Monday proposed that govt would nominate 12 members to 17-member board, while cutting number of members to be nominated by SGPC to two from four.
SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, SGPC & Akal Takht thank Ram Mandir trust for invite to consecration. Meanwhile, Congress’s Bajwa says he will take people to Ayodhya to seek blessings of Ram.
The expulsion follows strong protests from members of the BJP's Punjab unit. Dayma had earlier apologised for saying in Rajasthan that Congress win will see number of masjids & gurdwaras rise.
Protests broke out soon after Sandeep Dayma's statement at rally in Rajasthan's Tijara. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee says speaking against mosques 'equally condemnable'.
Two separate FIRs have been lodged in Jalandhar and Amritsar against actor, directors & producer for hurting Sikh sentiments through alleged use of kirpan in film song.
Peter Manuel's ‘Cassette Culture’ showed the booming Bhakti music during the '80s and '90s when Anoop Jalota, Gulshan Kumar achieved success by singing the sanitised Bhajans.
Economists say there are weaknesses in India’s GDP data. But statisticians claim the accusations are based on flawed understanding, saying while GDP has problems, the economists are looking in the wrong places.
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