SAD SPOKESPERSON RAISES ISSUE OF IDENTITY OF SIKHS IN CANADA

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 10^th November: -- Shiromani Akali Dal's Spokesperson and Secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema presided over a special seminar on leadership skills organized as part of the Day 2's programme of the 41 st Annual Convention of the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (GGSSC) in Ludhiana. Dr Cheema was all praise for the manner in which the key speaker of the session Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udoke, an Eminent Sikh Scholar, brought out characteristics of a leader by giving historical perspectives from the Sikh Gurus' times.

 

While giving his comments on leadership, Dr. Cheema in his address also expressed the fear that the identity of Sikhs living in Quebec Province of Canada was under threat from the tabling of Quebec Charter of Values in the National Assembly on Nov 7. Dr Cheema said,that the charter is a violation of human rights and will not allow Sikhs and members of other religions to wear characteristic symbols to work. We have raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly and the resolution passed there has been sent to the External Affairs Ministry for the Centre to pursue the matter with the Canadian Government.

 

In the session on leadership, Ram Singh, Chief, GGSSC and Inderpal Singh, Chief Collaborator, GGSSC also expressed their opinion on the subject. Iqbal Singh, GM, Pb & Sind Bank, LHO, Chandigarh said that a good leader should be humble and down to earth as in Guru Nanak's words these qualities are the essence of all virtues. Today the GGSSC convention saw a session in which Regional, State and Zonal heads of the Circle shared their respective Annual reports and experiences in the field. Challenges being faced by NGO's and solutions were also discussed elaborately. A session focused on Developing Organisational Skills amongst students and teachers was also held.          

 

The convention assumes importance as it is witnessing participation of as many as 250 delegates from Punjab, other Indian States and even Abroad. The discussions are aimed at identifying issues concerning people from different walks of life and the country so as to implement initiatives to redress these. Says Mr. Pirthi Singh, Chief Secretary, GGSSC,"One major decision taken was that the Circle will conduct examinations of moral education in 3500 schools & colleges and in this as many as 2,00,000 students from across the country will be targeted. Propagation of languages and culture will be another thrust area. Under this, seminars in the name of the legendry Bhai Veer Singh will be organized in Amritsar, Chandigarh and Ludhiana. The Circle plans to unveil a Hindi Magazine Suchintan in Jan 2014. In an ambitious plan the Circle's monthly magazine 'Sada Virsa Sada Gaurav' will be distributed in 10000 villages of Punjab and other parts of the country.  The Circle has planned to involve youth in a big way. 50 youth festivals involving 1000 schools and colleges in India will be organized. In these aspects like quiz, declamation, poetry, Shabad, Gurbani Gayan etc will be included.